1998Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
1998 election for U.S. Senate in North Carolina
U.S. Senate · North Carolina
John Edwards (D) won with 51.2% of the vote, defeating Lauch Faircloth (R) by 4.1 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
John EdwardsDemocrat · winner
51.2%1,029,237
Lauch FairclothRepublican
47.0%945,943
Barbara HoweLibertarian
1.8%36,963
2,012,143 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.
John EdwardsLauch Faircloth
$8.4M
Raised by the campaign
$9.4M
$8.3M
Spent by the campaign
$9.4M
$89.6K
Cash on hand
$32.6K
Other candidates' campaigns: Barbara Howe $11.9K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998