The 1984 United States Senate election in Iowa was held on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican Senator Roger Jepsen ran for re-election to a second term in office. Jepsen was opposed by U.S. Representative Tom Harkin, from Iowa's 5th congressional district, who won the Democratic primary uncontested. The general election was full of mudslinging and personal attacks, including the embellishment by both candidates of their military records; Harkin attacked Jepsen for failing to keep his promise to not sell AWACS aircraft to Saudi Arabia.^[1] Ultimately, Harkin defeated Jepsen by a comfortable margin of nearly 12 points, winning the first of five terms in the Senate.

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1984 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1978 November 6, 1984 1990 →

Nominee Tom Harkin Roger Jepsen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 716,883 564,381 Percentage 55.46% 43.66%

County results Harkin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Jepsen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Roger Jepsen Republican Elected U.S. Senator Tom Harkin Democratic

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• 1984 United States Senate elections