Chamber:
	Senate
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	6 November 1990
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the House of Representatives and one-third (35) of those of the Senate on the normal expiry of the members’ term of office. The US Constitution does not provide for dissolution of Congress or early elections.
Background and outcome of elections:
	At stake in the 1990 “mid-term” congressional elections were all 435 House seats and 35 in the Senate, three of which were uncontested by incumbents. Polling was simultaneously held for 36 of 50 governorships and State legislative races, the latter of which drew national attention because the decennial redrawing of political boundaries to conform the new (1990) census figures determined the national strength of the Democratic and Republican parties. Debate during the often volatile campaign focused less on one overriding theme than on key issues such as government spending and the budget, taxes, abortion, and the Republican (Bush) Administration’s handling of the ongoing Persian Gulf crisis. Local concerns, the character of candidates and the question of use or abuse of office were for their part significant. Women contested eight Senate seats and 68 in the House. Voter turnout - declining in mid-term polling since 1962 - reached the lowest point since 1942. Final results improved both the Democrat’s Senate and House majorities, the latter gained in 1955. But their share of the total nationwide vote was smaller than in any mid-term election since 1966. Overall, incumbents continued to meet with success: 31 of 32 Senators and 391 of 407 Representatives who continued to run. The new (102nd) Congress convened on 3 January 1991.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (6 November 1990): Elections results
Number of registered electors	121,105,630*
Voters	34,919,650

Comments:
	* Excluding the States of North Dakota and Wisconsin, which do not require voter registration.

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Candidates	Votes	%
Democratic Party	33	17,907,507	51.3
Republican Party	32	16,495,462	47.2

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Seats won at 1988 Elections	Gain/Loss
Democratic Party	56	18	+1
Republican Party	44	17	-1

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	98
Women:	2

Distribution of seats according to profession:
Law	61
Business or banking	31
Public service/politics	4
Education	10
Agriculture	8
Journalism	10
Aeronautics	1
Professional sports	1
Clergy	1
Military	1

Comments:
	Because some members have more than one occupation, totals are higher than total membership.