1996Final results
1996 election for U.S. Senate in North Carolina
U.S. Senate · North Carolina
Jesse Helms (R) won with 52.6% of the vote, defeating Harvey B. Gantt (D) by 6.7 points.
Jesse HelmsRepublican · winner
52.6%1,345,833
Harvey B. GanttDemocrat
45.9%1,173,875
Ray UbingerLibertarian
1.0%25,396
J. Victor PardoNatural Law
0.4%11,209
2,556,456 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.
Harvey B. GanttJesse Helms
$8.1M
Raised by the campaign
$7.8M
$8M
Spent by the campaign
$7.8M
$125.7K
Cash on hand
$19.6K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Jesse Helms (R)Harvey B. Gantt (D)
Also on the ballot: Ray Ubinger (Libertarian), 1.0%; J. Victor Pardo (Natural Law), 0.4%