99chambers
1994Final resultsSpecial election

1994 special election for U.S. Senate in Tennessee

U.S. Senate · Tennessee

Fred Thompson (R) won with 60.4% of the vote, defeating Jim Cooper (D) by 21.8 points.

Fred ThompsonRepublican · winner
60.4%885,998
Jim CooperDemocrat
38.6%565,930
Charles N. HancockIndependent
0.3%4,169
Charles M. MooreIndependent
0.2%2,219
Terry L. LytleIndependent
0.1%1,934
Kerry MartinIndependent
0.1%1,719
Jon WallsIndependent
0.1%1,532
Hobart R. LumpkinIndependent
0.1%1,184
Don SchnellerIndependent
0.1%1,150
1,465,862 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 1994

The seat's recent races

EvenD+5.21992 Pres.R+21.81994 special

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Money in this race

Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.

Jim CooperFred Thompson
$4M
Raised by the campaign
$3.9M
$4M
Spent by the campaign
$3.8M
$36.8K
Cash on hand
$43.2K

Other candidates' campaigns: Terry L. Lytle $5.1K.

Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1994.

Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1994

The candidates

Fred Thompson (R)Jim Cooper (D)

Also on the ballot: Charles N. Hancock (Independent), 0.3%; Charles M. Moore (Independent), 0.2%; Terry L. Lytle (Independent), 0.1%; Kerry Martin (Independent), 0.1%; Jon Walls (Independent), 0.1%; Hobart R. Lumpkin (Independent), 0.1%; Don Schneller (Independent), 0.1%

Also on this ballot here

U.S. SenateR+14.3
GovernorR+9.7

Results within this state. Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET