United States Senate elections, 1986
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Senate election, 1986 was an election for the United States Senate
in the middle of Ronald Reagan
's second presidential term. As in most midterm elections, the opposition Democratic Party
held the usual advantage. In this election, 34 seats in the Senate were up for election in 34 of the 50 states, corresponding to the Constitutional rule that about one-third of the Senators must be elected every two year to fill their six-year terms. Also, the Republicans
had to defend an unusually large number of freshman Senate incumbents who had been elected on Reagan's coattails
in 1980.
This was the last election — up through the present — in which the Democrats in this Class of Senators (1/3 of the Senate) amassed a gain in seats (not including special elections held in off-years in some states to fill the seats that had been vacated by Senators due to death, resignation, or otherwise).
(D-Nebraska) had died and had been replaced by David K. Karnes (R-Nebraska). This result has not been included in these summaries and totals.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in the middle of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's second presidential term. As in most midterm elections, the opposition Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
held the usual advantage. In this election, 34 seats in the Senate were up for election in 34 of the 50 states, corresponding to the Constitutional rule that about one-third of the Senators must be elected every two year to fill their six-year terms. Also, the Republicans
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...
had to defend an unusually large number of freshman Senate incumbents who had been elected on Reagan's coattails
Reagan's coattails
Reagan’s coattails refers to the influence of Ronald Reagan’s popularity in elections other than his own, after the American political expression to “ride in on another’s coattails.” Chiefly, it refers to the “Reagan Revolution” accompanying his 1980 election to the U.S. Presidency. This victory...
in 1980.
Results summary
| Parties | Last election: 1984 United States Senate elections, 1984 The 1984 elections to the United States Senate coincided with the landslide re-election of President Ronald Reagan in the 1984 presidential election... |
Before this election |
Not Up |
Up | Incumbent retired | Incumbent ran | Summary | Popular Vote | Result | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Held by same party |
Replaced by other party |
Won re-election |
Lost re-election |
Lost renomination, but held by same party |
Total Won |
Total Lost |
Total Picked-up |
Change | Elected | Votes | Share | |||||||
| Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
47 | 47 | 35 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 24,347,369 | 50.1% | 55 | |
| Republican 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... |
53 | 53 | 31 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 23,126,219 | 47.6% | 45 | |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 1,137,417 | 2.3% | 0 | ||
| Total | 100 | 100 | 66 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 24 | 9 | 10 | 34 | 48,611,005 | 100% | 100 | ||
Democratic gains
In this Senate election, the Democrats gained a net of eight seats, and recaptured control of the Senate from the Republicans with a 55 - 45 majority. Robert Dole (R-Kansas) and Robert C. Byrd (D-West Virginia) exchanged positions as the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader.This was the last election — up through the present — in which the Democrats in this Class of Senators (1/3 of the Senate) amassed a gain in seats (not including special elections held in off-years in some states to fill the seats that had been vacated by Senators due to death, resignation, or otherwise).
Republican gain
The only win by the Republican Party was for one "open seat" in Missouri. On the other hand, the Democratic Party won the "open seats" in Maryland and Nevada, and the Democrats also defeated seven incumbent Republican Senators, six of them who were first-term senators who had been elected in 1980.Incumbents who lost re-election
- Jeremiah DentonJeremiah DentonJeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. is a retired United States Navy rear admiral, naval aviator and a former Republican U.S. senator, for the state of Alabama...
(R-Alabama) - Paula HawkinsPaula HawkinsPaula Hawkins was an U.S. politician from Florida. She is to date the only woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Florida. She was the first woman ever elected to a full term in the Senate without a family connection....
(R-Florida) - Mack MattinglyMack MattinglyMack Francis Mattingly served one term as a United States senator from Georgia, the first Republican to serve in the U.S. Senate from that state since Reconstruction.-Early life:...
(R-Georgia) - James T. Broyhill (R-North Carolina). Broyhill was the only Republican who was defeated who had not been elected for the first time in 1980. However, Broyhill had been appointed to the seat that had been left vacant by the death of John P. East, a Republican who had been elected in 1980.
- Mark Andrews (R-North Dakota)
- James AbdnorJames AbdnorJames Abdnor is a Republican politician from the state of South Dakota.-Personal:He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1945 where he became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He served in the United States Army during World War II and from 1957 to 1969 was a member of the South Dakota...
(R-South Dakota) - Slade GortonSlade GortonThomas Slade Gorton III is an American politician. A Republican, he was a U.S. senator from Washington state from 1981 to 1987, and from 1989 to 2001. He held both of the state's Senate seats in his career and was narrowly defeated for reelection twice as an incumbent: in 1986 by Brock Adams, and...
(R-Washington).
Prominent freshmen
- John McCainJohn McCainJohn Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
(R-Arizona), future Presidential candidateUnited States presidential election, 2008The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, elected to the seat left by the retirement of Barry GoldwaterBarry GoldwaterBarry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr... - Tom DaschleTom DaschleThomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D-South Dakota), the future Senate Majority Leader , who retook George McGovernGeorge McGovernGeorge Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
's former Senate seat from Senator Abdnor - 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...
(D-Nevada), future Senate Majority Leader
Subsequent action
During 1987, Edward ZorinskyEdward Zorinsky
Edward Zorinsky was a Democratic U.S. Senator from Nebraska, serving from 1976 until his death.- Early life :...
(D-Nebraska) had died and had been replaced by David K. Karnes (R-Nebraska). This result has not been included in these summaries and totals.
Complete list of races
A bolded state name indicates an article about that state's election.| State | Incumbent | Party | Result | Other candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama United States Senate election in Alabama, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Alabama took place on November 3, 1986 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S... |
Jeremiah Denton Jeremiah Denton Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. is a retired United States Navy rear admiral, naval aviator and a former Republican U.S. senator, for the state of Alabama... |
Republican | Incumbent lost re-election, 49.1% Democratic gain |
Richard Shelby Richard Shelby Richard Craig Shelby is the senior U.S. Senator from Alabama. First elected to the Senate in 1986, he is the ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and was its chairman from 2003 to 2007.... (Democratic) 50.9% |
| Alaska United States Senate election in Alaska, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski won re-election to a second term.-Results:... |
Frank Murkowski Frank Murkowski Francis Hughes Murkowski is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was a United States Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2002 and the eighth Governor of Alaska from 2002 until 2006.- Early life and career :... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 54.0% | Glenn Olds (Democratic) 44.1% Chuck House (Libertarian) 1.7% |
| Arizona United States Senate election in Arizona, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Arizona was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater decided to retire instead of seeking a sixth term... |
Barry Goldwater Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr... |
Republican | Incumbent retired Republican hold |
John McCain John McCain John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election.... (Republican) 60.6% Richard Kimball Richard Kimball Richard Kimball is an American politician, and president of the nonprofit organization Project Vote Smart.-Biography:In 1986, after serving in the Arizona Legislature and the state's Corporation Commission, Kimball ran as a Democrat against John McCain for the U.S... (Democratic) 39.4% |
| Arkansas United States Senate election in Arkansas, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held November 8, 1986. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers won re-election to a third term.-Results:-References:... |
Dale Bumpers Dale Bumpers Dale Leon Bumpers is an American politician who served as the 38th Governor of Arkansas from 1971 to 1975; and then in the United States Senate from 1975 until his retirement in January 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Senator Bumpers is currently counsel at the Washington, D.C... |
Democratic | Incumbent re-elected, 62.9% | Asa Hutchinson Asa Hutchinson William Asa Hutchinson is a former U.S. Attorney for the Fort Smith-based Western District of Arkansas, U.S. Congressman from the Third District of Arkansas, Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the first-ever Under Secretary for Border & Transportation Security at the U.S... (Republican) 37.1% |
| California United States Senate election in California, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in California took place on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Alan Cranston won re-election to a fourth term.- Republican :*Ed Zschau, U.S. Congressman from the 12th district-Results:... |
Alan Cranston Alan Cranston Alan MacGregor Cranston was an American journalist and Democratic Senator from California.-Education:Cranston earned his high school diploma from the old Mountain View High School, where among other things, he was a track star... |
Democratic | Incumbent re-elected, 49.3% | Ed Zschau Ed Zschau Edwin Van Wyck Zschau represented California's 12th District in the United States House of Representatives from 1983-1987. In 1986 he ran as the Republican candidate for a seat in the United States Senate... (Republican) 47.8% Breck McKinley (Libertarian Libertarian Party (United States) The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration... ) 1.5% Edward B. "Ed" Vallen (American Ind. American Independent Party The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice... ) 0.9% Andrew R. "Paul" Kangas (Peace & Freedom) 0.5% |
| Colorado United States Senate election in Colorado, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Colorado was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Gary Hart decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Tim Wirth won the open seat.- Democratic :... |
Gary Hart Gary Hart Gary Hart is an American politician, lawyer, author, professor and commentator. He served as a Democratic Senator representing Colorado , and ran in the U.S... |
Democratic | Incumbent retired Democratic hold |
Tim Wirth Tim Wirth Timothy Endicott Wirth is a former United States Senator from Colorado. Wirth, a Democrat, was a member of the House from 1975 to 1987 and was elected to the Senate in 1986, serving one term there before stepping down. He was Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs during the Clinton... (Democratic) 49.9% Ken Kramer Ken Kramer For the stand-up comedian and Seinfeld character inspiration, see Kenny Kramer.Kenneth Bentley "Ken" Kramer is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Colorado.... (Republican) 48.4% Michael Bush Michael Bush Michael Bush is an American football running back for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft... (Independent) 1.0% Michael Chamberlain Michael Chamberlain Michael Leigh Chamberlain is an Australian writer, retired teacher and former pastor, best known due to the 1980 disappearance of his daughter Azaria whilst camping near Uluru/Ayers Rock in the Northern Territory. When Chamberlain's then-wife Lindy was found guilty of the baby's murder in 1982, he... (Socialist Workers) 0.4% Henry Olshaw (Unaffiliated American) 0.2% Calvin Dodge (Prohibition) 0.1% |
| Connecticut United States Senate election in Connecticut, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Connecticut took place on November 3, 1986, alongside other elections to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd won re-election to a second term.-Results:... |
Chris Dodd | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected, 64.8% | Roger W. Eddy (Republican) 34.8% Edward McCallum (Independent) 0.4% |
| Florida United States Senate election in Florida, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Florida took place on November 4, 1986 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S... |
Paula Hawkins Paula Hawkins Paula Hawkins was an U.S. politician from Florida. She is to date the only woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Florida. She was the first woman ever elected to a full term in the Senate without a family connection.... |
Republican | Incumbent lost re-election, 45% Democratic gain |
Bob Graham Bob Graham Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005... (Democratic) 55% |
| Georgia United States Senate election in Georgia, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Georgia was held on November 8, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. SenatorSenator Mack Mattingly decided to run for re-election and lost a close race to Wyche Fowler. -Results:... |
Mack Mattingly Mack Mattingly Mack Francis Mattingly served one term as a United States senator from Georgia, the first Republican to serve in the U.S. Senate from that state since Reconstruction.-Early life:... |
Republican | Incumbent lost re-election, 49.1% Democratic gain |
Wyche Fowler Wyche Fowler William Wyche Fowler, Jr. is an American politician and ambassador. He is a member of the Democratic Party and served as U.S. Senator from Georgia from January 1987 to January 1993. He had previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 until his senatorial election.-Early life... (Democratic) 50.9% |
| Hawaii | Daniel Inouye Daniel Inouye Daniel Ken "Dan" Inouye is the senior United States Senator from Hawaii, a member of the Democratic Party, and the President pro tempore of the United States Senate making him the highest-ranking Asian American politician in American history. Inouye is the chairman of the United States Senate... |
Democratic | Incumbent re-elected, 73.6% | Frank Hutchinson (Republican) 26.4% |
| Idaho United States Senate election in Idaho, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Idaho took place on November 4, 1986 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Steve... |
Steve Symms Steve Symms Steven Douglas Symms was a four-term congressman and two-term U.S. senator from Idaho. He was among the most conservative members of the Republican Party... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 51.4% | John V. Evans John V. Evans John Victor Evans, Sr. was the 27th Governor of Idaho from 1977–87. He is a member of the Democratic Party.Evans was elected to the Idaho Senate in 1952 and re-elected in 1954 and 1956, serving as majority leader in his final term. In 1960, Evans became mayor of Malad City and served in that... (Democratic) 48.6% |
| Illinois United States Senate election in Illinois, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon won re-election to a second term.-Results:- References :... |
Alan J. Dixon Alan J. Dixon Alan John Dixon is a Democratic politician who was elected to various Illinois state offices from 1951 to 1981 and served as United States Senator from Illinois from 1981 until 1993.-Biography:... |
Democratic | Incumbent re-elected, 65.4% | Judy Koehler Judy Koehler Judy Koehler is a former Illinois State Representative, and Republican nominee for a seat in the U. S. Senate in 1986. Koehler, defeated George Ranney in the Republican primary election but was unable to oust incumbent Alan Dixon in the general election.... (Republican) 34.1% |
| Indiana United States Senate election in Indiana, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Indiana was held on November 5, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Dan Quayle won re-election to a second term. -Democratic:*Jill L. Long, Member of the Valparaiso City Council -Results:... |
Dan Quayle Dan Quayle James Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana.... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 61.1% | Jill L. Long Jill L. Long Jill Lynette Long Thompson is an American politician and educator. Born in Warsaw, Indiana, she was raised on a family farm outside of Larwill, Indiana, in Whitley County... (Democratic) 38.9% |
| Iowa United States Senate election in Iowa, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Iowa was held November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican Chuck Grassley won re-election to a second term.-Results:... |
Chuck Grassley Chuck Grassley Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley is the senior United States Senator from Iowa . A member of Republican Party, he previously served in the served in the United States House of Representatives and the Iowa state legislature... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 66.0% | John P. Roehrick (Democratic) 34.0% |
| Kansas | Bob Dole Bob Dole Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 70.1% | Guy MacDonald (Democratic) 29.9% |
| Kentucky | Wendell H. Ford Wendell H. Ford Wendell Hampton Ford is a retired politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He served for twenty-four years in the U.S. Senate and was the 53rd Governor of Kentucky. He was the first person to be successively elected lieutenant governor, governor, and U.S. senator in Kentucky history... |
Democratic | Incumbent re-elected, 74.3% | Jackson M. Andrews (Republican) 25.7% |
| Louisiana | Russell B. Long Russell B. Long Russell Billiu Long was an American Democratic politician and United States Senator from Louisiana from 1948 until 1987.-Early life:... |
Democratic | Incumbent retired Democratic hold |
John Breaux John Breaux John Berlinger Breaux is a former United States senator from Louisiana who served from 1987 until 2005. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1972 to 1987. He was considered one of the more conservative national legislators from the Democratic Party... (Democratic) 52.8% Henson Moore Henson Moore William Henson Moore III , is a retired attorney and businessman who is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, having represented the Baton Rouge-based Sixth Congressional District, from 1975-1987. He is only the second Republican to have represented Louisiana in the House since... (Republican) 47.2% |
| Maryland United States Senate election in Maryland, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Charles Mathias, Jr. decided to retire, instead of seeking a fourth term. Democratic nominee Barbara Mikulski won the open seat vs. Linda Chavez, who won more votes by any Republican... |
Charles Mathias, Jr. Charles Mathias, Jr. Charles McCurdy "Mac" Mathias, Jr. was a Republican member of the United States Senate, representing Maryland from 1969 to 1987... |
Republican | Incumbent retired Democratic gain |
Barbara Mikulski Barbara Mikulski Barbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S... (Democratic) 60.8% Linda Chavez Linda Chavez Linda Chavez is an American author, commentator, and radio talk show host. She is also a Fox News analyst, Chairman of the Center for Equal Opportunity, has a syndicated column that appears in newspapers nationwide each week, and sits on the Board of Directors of two Fortune 1000 companies:... (Republican) 39.2% |
| Missouri United States Senate election in Missouri, 1986 The 1992 United States Senate election in Missouri was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tom Eagleton decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Governor Kit Bond won the open seat.-Democratic:... |
Thomas Eagleton Thomas Eagleton Thomas Francis Eagleton was a United States Senator from Missouri, serving from 1968–1987. He is best remembered for briefly being the Democratic vice presidential nominee under George McGovern in 1972... |
Democratic | Incumbent retired Republican gain |
Kit Bond Kit Bond Christopher Samuel "Kit" Bond is a former United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, he defeated Democrat Harriett Woods by a margin of 53%-47%. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004... (Republican) 52.6% Harriett Woods Harriett Woods Harriett Woods was an American politician and activist, a two-time Democratic nominee for the United States Senate from Missouri, and a former Lieutenant Governor of Missouri... (Democratic) 47.4% |
| Nevada United States Senate election in Nevada, 1986 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.-Democratic:... |
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... |
Republican | Incumbent retired Democratic gain |
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... (Democratic) 50.0% James David Santini James David Santini James 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... (Republican) 44.5% Kent Cromwell (Libertarian) 1.9% |
| New Hampshire United States Senate election in New Hampshire, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in New Hampshire was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Warren Rudman won re-election to a second term.-Results:... |
Warren Rudman Warren Rudman Warren Bruce Rudman is an American attorney and Republican politician who served as United States Senator from New Hampshire between 1980 and 1993... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 62.9% | Endicott Peabody Endicott Peabody Endicott "Chub" Peabody was the 62nd Governor of Massachusetts from January 3, 1963 to January 7, 1965.-Early life:... (Democratic) 32.4% Gruce Valley (Independent) 4.7% |
| New York United States Senate election in New York, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in New York took place on November 3, 1986 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S... |
Al D'Amato Al D'Amato Alfonse Marcello "Al" D'Amato is an American lawyer and former New York politician. A Republican, he served as United States Senator from New York from 1981 to 1999.-Early life and family:... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 57.7% | Mark J. Green Mark J. Green Mark J. Green is an author, public interest lawyer and a Democratic politician who lives in New York City. He worked with Ralph Nader from 1970-1980, eventually as director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch, and is also the former president of Air America Radio .He was New York City Consumer... (Democratic) 40.9% John S. Dyson John S. Dyson John S. Dyson is a political and business leader in New York. He currently serves as the chairman of Millbank Capital Management and has been active in businsses for a numbers of years. He is an alumnus of Cornell University and holds a master's degree from Princeton University... (Liberal) 1.4% Fred Newman Fred Newman Frederick Delano "Fred" Newman was an American philosopher, psychotherapist, playwright and political activist, and creator of a therapeutic modality called Social Therapy.-Early life:... (New Alliance) 0.3% Michael Shur Michael Shur Michael Shur is the Patricia W. and C. Sheldon Roberts '48 professor of solid state electronics and an electrical engineering professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.-Background:... (Socialist Workers) 0.2% |
| North Carolina United States Senate election in North Carolina, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 8, 1986 as part of the nation-wide elections to the Senate. Incumbent Republican U.S... (Special) |
Jim Broyhill Jim Broyhill James Thomas "Jim" Broyhill is a Republican former U.S. Representative and Senator from the state of North Carolina. He represented much of the Foothills region of the state in the House from 1963 to 1986, and served in the Senate for four months in 1986.He was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, the... |
Republican | Interim appointee lost election to finish term, 49.1% Democratic gain |
Terry Sanford Terry Sanford James Terry Sanford was a United States politician and educator from North Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, Sanford was the 65th Governor of North Carolina , a two-time U.S. Presidential candidate in the 1970s and a U.S. Senator... (Democratic) 51.8 |
| North Carolina United States Senate election in North Carolina, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 8, 1986 as part of the nation-wide elections to the Senate. Incumbent Republican U.S... (General) |
Interim appointee lost election to the next term, 48.2% Democratic gain |
Terry Sanford Terry Sanford James Terry Sanford was a United States politician and educator from North Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, Sanford was the 65th Governor of North Carolina , a two-time U.S. Presidential candidate in the 1970s and a U.S. Senator... (Democratic) 50.9% |
||
| North Dakota | Mark Andrews | Republican | Incumbent lost re-election, 49.0% Democratic gain |
Kent Conrad Kent Conrad Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party... (Democratic) 49.8% |
| Ohio United States Senate election in Ohio, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Ohio took place on November 3, 1986. It was concurrent with elections to the United States House of Representatives. Incumbent Democratic U.S Senator John Glenn won re-election to a third term.-Results:... |
John Glenn John Glenn John Herschel Glenn, Jr. is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original... |
Democratic | Incumbent re-elected, 62.4% | Thomas N. Kindress (Republican) 37.6% |
| Oklahoma United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Oklahoma was held November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Don Nickles won re-election to his second term.-Results:... |
Don Nickles Don Nickles Donald Lee Nickles is an American businessman and politician who was a Republican United States Senator from Oklahoma from 1981 until 2005. He was a fiscal and social conservative.-Early life:... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 54.5% | James Robert Jones James Robert Jones James Robert "Jim" Jones is a lawyer, a Democratic politician, a retired U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma, and a former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.... (Democratic) 45.5% |
| Oregon United States Senate election in Oregon, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 8, 1986. Incumbent Bob Packwood ran for re-election. U.S. Congressman Jim Weaver received the Democratic nomination. A populist Democratic congressman from Eugene, Oregon, he was a darling of the environmentalists. Weaver... |
Bob Packwood Bob Packwood Robert William "Bob" Packwood is a U.S. politician from Oregon and a member of the Republican Party. He resigned from the United States Senate, under threat of expulsion, in 1995 after allegations of sexual harassment, abuse and assault of women emerged.-Early life and career:Packwood was born in... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 63.5% | Rick Bauman Rick Bauman Richard H. "Rick" Bauman is a former Democratic politician from the US state of Oregon who served in the Oregon House of Representatives and on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners in the 1980s. He was also the Democratic nominee for United State Senator from Oregon in 1986... (Democratic) 36.5% |
| Pennsylvania United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Arlen Specter won re-election to a second term.-Campaign:... |
Arlen Specter Arlen Specter Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 56.9% | Robert W. Edgar Robert W. Edgar Rev. Dr. Robert William Edgar is president and CEO of Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog organization, effective May 2007. He served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1987, representing the 7th district of Pennsylvania... (Democratic) 43.1% |
| South Carolina United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1986 The 1986 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 4, 1986 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Henry McMaster.-Results:... |
Ernest Hollings Ernest Hollings Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings served as a Democratic United States Senator from South Carolina from 1966 to 2005, as well as the 106th Governor of South Carolina and Lt. Governor . He served 38 years and 55 days in the Senate, which makes him the 8th-longest-serving Senator in history... |
Democratic | Incumbent re-elected, 63.9% | Henry D. McMaster (Republican) 36.1% |
| South Dakota United States Senate election in South Dakota, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator James Abdnor ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Democrat Tom Daschle..-Candidates:... |
James Abdnor James Abdnor James Abdnor is a Republican politician from the state of South Dakota.-Personal:He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1945 where he became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He served in the United States Army during World War II and from 1957 to 1969 was a member of the South Dakota... |
Republican | Incumbent lost re-election, 48.3% Democratic gain |
Tom Daschle Tom Daschle Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party.... (Democratic) 51.7% |
| Utah | Jake Garn Jake Garn Edwin Jacob "Jake" Garn is an American politician, a member of the Republican Party, and served as a U.S. Senator representing Utah from 1974 to 1993... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 72.3% | Craig Oliver (Democratic) 26.6% Hugh A. Butler Hugh A. Butler Hugh Alfred Butler was a Nebraska Republican politician.He was born on a farm near Missouri Valley, Iowa on February 28, 1878. He graduated from Doane College at Crete, Nebraska in 1900. he became a construction engineer with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad from 1900 to 1908... (Libertarian) 0.7% Mary Zins (Independent) 0.4% |
| Vermont United States Senate election in Vermont, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Vermont was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy won re-election to a third term.-Results:-Results:-Candidates:*Richard A. Snelling, Governor of Vermont*Anthony N... |
Patrick Leahy Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph Leahy is the senior United States Senator from Vermont and member of the Democratic Party. He is the first and only elected Democratic United States Senator in Vermont's history. He is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy is the second most senior U.S. Senator,... |
Democratic | Incumbent re-elected, 63.7% | Richard A. Snelling Richard A. Snelling Richard Arkwright Snelling was the 76th and 78th Governor of Vermont from 1977 to 1985 and from January 10, 1991 until his death from heart failure.He was the son of Walter O... (Republican) 34.7% |
| Washington United States Senate election in Washington, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Slade Gorton lost re-election to U.S. Congressman Brock Adams.-Results:-References:... |
Slade Gorton Slade Gorton Thomas Slade Gorton III is an American politician. A Republican, he was a U.S. senator from Washington state from 1981 to 1987, and from 1989 to 2001. He held both of the state's Senate seats in his career and was narrowly defeated for reelection twice as an incumbent: in 1986 by Brock Adams, and... |
Republican | Incumbent lost re-election, 48.7% Democratic gain |
Brock Adams Brock Adams Brockman "Brock" Adams was an American politician and member of Congress. Adams was a Democrat from Washington and served as a U.S. Representative, Senator, and United States Secretary of Transportation before retiring in January 1993.Adams was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended the public... (Democratic) 50.6% Jill Fein (Socialist Workers) 0.7% |
| Wisconsin United States Senate election in Wisconsin, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Kasten won re-election to a second term.-Results:-References:... |
Bob Kasten Bob Kasten Robert Walter "Bob" Kasten, Jr. , is a Republican politician from the state of Wisconsin who served as a U.S. Representative from 1975 to 1979 and as a U.S. Senator from 1981 to 1993.- Background :Kasten was born in Milwaukee... |
Republican | Incumbent re-elected, 51.8% | Ed Garvey Ed Garvey - Background :Edward Garvey graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and spent two years in the U.S. Army; he then returned to the University of Wisconsin Law School and earned a law degree.- Law and union work :... (Democratic) 48.2% |
Senate composition before and after elections
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| Key: | D=Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
R=Republican 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... |
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See also
- United States House elections, 1986United States House elections, 1986The U.S. House election, 1986 was an election for the United States House of Representatives held on November 4, 1986, in the middle of President Ronald Reagan's second term in office. As in most midterm elections, the President's party—in this case, the Republican Party -- lost seats, with the...
- United States gubernatorial elections, 1986United States gubernatorial elections, 1986The United States gubernatorial elections of 1986 were held on November 4, 1986 in thirty-six states. Despite large gains in the U.S. Senate during their election, the Democrats had a net loss of eight seats during this election.-Election results:...