1988Final results
1988 election for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin
U.S. Senate · Wisconsin
Herb Kohl (D) won with 52.1% of the vote, defeating Susan Engeleiter (R) by 4.5 points.
Herb KohlDemocrat · winner
52.1%1,128,625
Susan EngeleiterRepublican
47.5%1,030,440
George W. ZaehringerIndependent
0.2%3,965
Patricia GroganIndependent
0.1%3,029
Arlyn F. WollenburgIndependent
0.1%1,198
2,168,190 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.
Herb KohlSusan Engeleiter
$7.6M
Raised by the campaign
$2.9M
$7.5M
Spent by the campaign
$2.9M
$84.9K
Cash on hand
$37.2K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988
The candidates
Herb Kohl (D)Susan Engeleiter (R)
Also on the ballot: George W. Zaehringer (Independent), 0.2%; Patricia Grogan (Independent), 0.1%; Arlyn F. Wollenburg (Independent), 0.1%