Arlen Specter
Last held office: U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania (1981–2011). Ran in 5 elections between 1980 and 2004, winning 5.
- Last margin
- +10.6
- Won 2004
- Elections
- 5
- 1980–2004
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET
Career
Offices held, and every time Specter was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Every race Specter has run
Baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year. Running ahead of it means Specter won voters the party’s presidential nominee did not; primaries have no baseline.
| Year | Office | Stage | Result | Opponents | Share | Margin | Raised | Baseline | Against baseline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania | General | Won | Joseph Hoeffel (D), James N. Clymer (CST), Betsy Summer (L) | 52.6% | R+10.6 | $15M | D+2.5 | |
| 1998 | U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania | General | Won | Bill Lloyd (D), Dean Snyder (CST), Jack Iannantuono (L) | 61.3% | R+26.6 | $6.3M | D+10.3 | |
| 1992 | U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania | General | Won | Lynn Yeakel (D), John F. Perry III (L) | 49.1% | R+2.8 | $6.9M | D+11.1 | |
| 1986 | U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania | General | Won | Bob Edgar (D), Lance S. Haver (I) | 56.4% | R+13.6 | $5.5M | R+7.4 | |
| 1980 | U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania | General | Won | Pete Flaherty (D), Linda Mohrbacher (SWP), David K. Walter (L) | 50.5% | R+2.4 | $1.5M | R+7.7 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Campaign money, 2003–04
- Raised
- $15M
- Spent
- $20.3M
- Cash
- $568.8K
Source: FEC filings through Dec 31, 2004Updated Oct 8, 2026, 10:36 AM ET
Seats Specter has held
- U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania · 1981–2011
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Specter has run against
- Joseph Hoeffel (D) · 2004 election, won
- Bill Lloyd (D) · 1998 election, won
- Lynn Yeakel (D) · 1992 election, won
- Bob Edgar (D) · 1986 election, won
- Pete Flaherty (D) · 1980 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
In the polls
Included in 32 polls; Specter’s best result was 63% (U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, 1998).
Specter’s polls in the database →How we know Specter
One person, matched across every source we use.
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET