1988Final results

1988 election for U.S. Senate in New York

Name: 1988 election for U.S. Senate in New York
Start: 1988-11-08
Location: New York

U.S. Senate · New York

Daniel Moynihan (D) won with 67.0% of the vote, defeating Robert R. McMillan (R) by 36.0 points.

Daniel MoynihanDemocrat · winner

67.0%4,048,649

31.1%1,875,784

1.1%64,845

0.2%14,770

0.2%13,573

0.2%12,064

0.2%11,239

6,040,980 votes

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 1988

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.

Daniel MoynihanRobert R. McMillan

$4.4M

Raised by the campaign

$536.8K

$4.8M

Spent by the campaign

$529K

$460.1K

Cash on hand

$7.7K

Other candidates' campaigns: Adelle R. Nathanson $52.1K · Charlene Mitchell $24.9K.

Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988.

Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988

Also on the ballot: Adelle R. Nathanson (Right to Life), 1.1%; Charlene Mitchell (Independent), 0.2%; Lydia Bayoneta (Workers World), 0.2%; William P. McMillen (Libertarian), 0.2%; James E. Harris Jr. (Socialist Workers), 0.2%