The U.S. Senate election, 1994 was an election in which the Republican Party was able to take control of the Senate from the Democrats by mobilizing voters discontented with congressional incumbents and the early presidency of William J. Clinton.

The Republicans captured eight seats from the Democrats, including the seats of sitting Sens. Harris Wofford (D-Pa.) and James R. Sasser (D-Tenn.), as well as six open seats in Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Notably, since Sasser's defeat coincided with the special election to replace Albert A. Gore Jr. (who had left the Senate to become vice president), the delegation of Tennessee changed from two Democrats to two Republicans in one election.

This defeat changed control of the Senate from Democrats to Republicans for the first time since 1986. In combination with the first change of control in the United States House of Representatives since 1954, this is sometimes called the Republican revolution. Minority leader Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.) became majority leader, while on the Democratic side, the new minority leader was Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.), previous majority leader George J. Mitchell (D-Maine) having left the Senate.

Initially, the balance was 52-48 in favor of Republicans, but after the power change, Democrats Richard C. Shelby of Alabama and Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado switched parties, bringing the balance to 54-46 before the resignation of Robert W. Packwood and his replacement by a Democrat returned the balance to 53-47.

Senate contests in 1994

¹ special election held due to resignation of David L. Boren (D-Okla.) -- next regular election held in 1996.
² special election held due to resignation of Albert A. Gore Jr. (D-Tenn.) to become Vice-President -- next regular election held in 1996.

See also

• U.S. Senate election, 1992
• U.S. Senate election, 1996
• U.S. House election, 1994

Senate composition before and after elections