1996 United States Senate election in Minnesota
Paul Wellstone Democratic (DFL) Paul Wellstone Democratic (DFL) The 1996 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held on November 5, 1996.Incumbent Democrat Paul Wellstone won reelection to a second term defeating former Republican Senator Rudy Boschwitz in a rematch.[5] As in 1990, Wellstone had a massive grassroots campaign that inspired college students, poor people and minorities to get involved in politics for the first time.Boschwitz significantly outspent Wellstone on campaign advertising and the race was closely contested, but Wellstone defeated Boschwitz by a nine-point margin in a three-way race.Dean Barkley received 7% of the vote[6] and was appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura to serve the last 60 days of Wellstone's term after Wellstone died in a plane crash 11 days before the 2002 election.