1996Final results
1996 election for Nevada's 1st District
U.S. House · Nevada
John Ensign (R) won with 50.1% of the vote, defeating Bob Coffin (D) by 6.6 points.
John EnsignRepublican · winner
50.1%86,472
Bob CoffinDemocrat
43.5%75,081
Ted GundersonIndependent
2.6%4,572
James DanLibertarian
1.9%3,341
Richard EidsonNatural Law
1.8%3,127
172,593 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 1996
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.
Bob CoffinJohn Ensign
$601.1K
Raised by the campaign
$2M
$592.7K
Spent by the campaign
$1.9M
$8.3K
Cash on hand
$133.6K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
John Ensign (R)Bob Coffin (D)
Also on the ballot: Ted Gunderson (Independent), 2.6%; James Dan (Libertarian), 1.9%; Richard Eidson (Natural Law), 1.8%