1998Final results
1998 election for Missouri's 5th District
U.S. House · Missouri
Karen McCarthy (D) won with 65.9% of the vote, defeating Penny D. Bennett (R) by 35.0 points.
Karen McCarthyDemocrat · winner
65.9%101,313
Penny D. BennettRepublican
31.0%47,582
Grant S. StaufferLibertarian
1.7%2,646
Elizabeth Ann DulaneyReform
1.4%2,144
153,685 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 1998
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.
Karen McCarthyPenny D. Bennett
$428.6K
Raised by the campaign
$21.8K
$316K
Spent by the campaign
$22.1K
$398.3K
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998; FEC, through Dec 3, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
Karen McCarthy (D)Penny D. Bennett (R)
Also on the ballot: Grant S. Stauffer (Libertarian), 1.7%; Elizabeth Ann Dulaney (Reform), 1.4%