1998Final results
1998 election for U.S. Senate in Nevada
U.S. Senate · Nevada
Harry Reid (D) won with 47.9% of the vote, defeating John Ensign (R) by 0.1 points.
Harry ReidDemocrat · winner
47.9%208,621
John EnsignRepublican
47.8%208,220
Michael CloudLibertarian
1.9%8,129
Write-ins and other votesOther party
1.9%8,113
Michael E. WilliamsNatural Law
0.6%2,781
435,864 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.
Harry ReidJohn Ensign
$3.9M
Raised by the campaign
$3.5M
$4.9M
Spent by the campaign
$3.5M
$7.5K
Cash on hand
$98.1K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
Harry Reid (D)John Ensign (R)
Also on the ballot: Michael Cloud (Libertarian), 1.9%; Michael E. Williams (Natural Law), 0.6%