United States Senate election in Nevada, 1986
Encyclopedia
The 1986 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican
U.S. Senator Paul Laxalt
decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Harry Reid
won the open seat.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Senator Paul Laxalt
Paul Laxalt
Paul Dominique Laxalt of Nevada was a former Republican District Attorney, Lieutenant Governor, Governor and U.S. Senator. In the media, the words "son of a Basque sheepherder" often accompanied his name. He was one of Ronald Reagan's closest friends in politics...
decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
won the open seat.
Democratic
- Harry ReidHarry ReidHarry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
, U.S. Representative from Nevada's 1st congressional districtNevada's 1st congressional districtNevada's 1st congressional district occupies most of Nevada's largest city, Las Vegas, as well as parts of North Las Vegas and parts of unincorporated Clark County. The district now leans Democratic....
(1983–1987)
Republican
- James David SantiniJames David SantiniJames David Santini was a United States Representative from Nevada.Santini was born in Reno, Nevada attended the University of Nevada, Reno where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He was a lawyer before entering politics. He was elected to the US House in 1974, easily unseating...
, former U.S. Representative from Nevada's At-large congressional districtNevada's At-large congressional districtNevada's at-large congressional district was created when Nevada was granted statehood in 1864, encompassing the entire state. It existed until 1983, when it was made obsolete by the 1980 Census and subsequent reapportionment in which Nevada was awarded a second seat in the House of Representatives...
(1975–1983)