1996Final results
1996 election for U.S. Senate in Idaho
U.S. Senate · Idaho
Larry Craig (R) won with 57.0% of the vote, defeating Walter Minnick (D) by 17.1 points.
Larry CraigRepublican · winner
57.0%283,532
Walter MinnickDemocrat
39.9%198,422
Mary J. CharbonneauIndependent
2.0%10,137
Susan VegorsNatural Law
1.0%5,142
497,233 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.
Walter MinnickLarry Craig
$2.2M
Raised by the campaign
$2.7M
$2.2M
Spent by the campaign
$2.8M
$38.3K
Cash on hand
$5.3K
Other candidates' campaigns: Mary J. Charbonneau $1.7K · Susan Vegors $101.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Larry Craig (R)Walter Minnick (D)
Also on the ballot: Mary J. Charbonneau (Independent), 2.0%; Susan Vegors (Natural Law), 1.0%