1988Final results
1988 election for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania
U.S. Senate · Pennsylvania
John Heinz (R) won with 66.5% of the vote, defeating Joe Vignola (D) by 34.0 points.
John HeinzRepublican · winner
66.5%2,901,715
Joe VignolaDemocrat
32.4%1,416,764
Darcy RichardsonOther party
0.6%25,273
Henry Haller IIILibertarian
0.3%11,822
Samuel Cross Jr.Other party
0.1%6,455
Sam BlancatoOther party
0.1%4,569
4,366,598 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
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Joe VignolaJohn Heinz
$531.8K
Raised by the campaign
$5.3M
$526.8K
Spent by the campaign
$5.1M
$5K
Cash on hand
$71.7K
Other candidates' campaigns: Henry Haller III $104.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988
The candidates
John Heinz (R)Joe Vignola (D)
Also on the ballot: Darcy Richardson (Other party), 0.6%; Henry Haller III (Libertarian), 0.3%; Samuel Cross Jr. (Other party), 0.1%; Sam Blancato (Other party), 0.1%