| Election Name: | 1996 United States Shadow Senator election in the District of Columbia |
| Country: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1990 United States Shadow Senator election in the District of Columbia |
| Previous Year: | 1990 |
| Election Date: | November 15, 1996 |
| Next Election: | 2002 United States Shadow Senator election in the District of Columbia |
| Next Year: | 2002 |
| Turnout: | 39.0% |
| Image1: | Paul Strauss, 2008.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Paul Strauss |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 107,217 |
| Percentage1: | 76.0% |
| Nominee2: | Gloria R. Corn |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 19,044 |
| Percentage2: | 13.5% |
| Image3: | 3x4.svg |
| Nominee3: | George Pope |
| Party3: | Umoja Party |
| Popular Vote3: | 13,148 |
| Percentage3: | 9.3% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Shadow Senator | |
| Before Election: | Jesse Jackson |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Paul Strauss |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1996 United States Shadow Senator election in the District of Columbia took place on November 15, 1996, to elect a shadow member to the United States Senate to represent the District of Columbia. The member was only recognized by the District of Columbia and not officially sworn or seated by the United States Senate. Incumbent Shadow Senator Jesse Jackson decided not to run for reelection. Local ANC Commissioner and lawyer Paul Strauss easily won the primary against little-known Eduardo Burkhart and also won the general election.
Party primaries took place on September 10, 1996.
Strauss faced Republican Gloria R. Corn, and Umoja candidate George Pope. As is usual for Democrats in the District, Strauss won in a landslide.