The 1986 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 4, 1986 as part of the nationwide elections to the Senate. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jim Broyhill, who had been appointed in June 1986 to serve out the rest of John Porter East's term, faced off against the popular Democratic former Governor Terry Sanford.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1986 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1980 November 4, 1986 1992 →

Nominee Terry Sanford Jim Broyhill Party Democratic Republican Regular election 823,662 51.76% 767,668 48.24% Special election 780,967 50.88% 753,881 49.12%

Regular election county results Special election county results Sanford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Broyhill:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Jim Broyhill Republican Elected U.S. Senator Terry Sanford Democratic

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There were two separate elections held on the same day: a special election for what little remained of the 99th United States Congress (November 1986-January 1987) and a regular election for a new six-year term (beginning in January 1987).^[1] The primary elections were designed to nominate the same candidates to both the special and the regular elections. Sanford won both elections.

Terry Sanford, then the outgoing president of Duke University, first said in September 1985 that he was planning to run for the U.S. Senate the next year but quickly withdrew, as it appeared that the party wanted a "fresh" face, most likely in the person of UNC System President William Friday.^[2] Then, Friday declined to run, as did other well-known politicians like former Governor Jim Hunt.^[3]

Former North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lauch Faircloth then made it known that he would run, but he was considered too conservative by many party leaders, who encouraged Sanford to enter the race in order to defeat Faircloth.^[2] Sanford agreed to run, which led Faircloth and another candidate, Judge Marvin K. Blount Jr., to withdraw before filing their candidacies. Six years later, Faircloth did run for the Senate against Sanford, but this time as a Republican, in which he was victorious.

Senator East declined to run for a second term, citing his health. Longtime U.S. Representative Jim Broyhill entered the race with much of the establishment support, but David Funderburk had the backing of the organization of Senator Jesse Helms.^[3] Funderburk charged Broyhill with being insufficiently conservative, but in the end, Broyhill won the nomination handily in the May primary. The next month, East committed suicide, and Governor James G. Martin appointed Broyhill to his seat.

• 1986 United States Senate elections