The 1986 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate. Held on November 4, in the middle of Ronald Reagan's second presidential term, the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. The Republicans had to defend an unusually large number of freshman Senate incumbents who had been elected on President Ronald Reagan's coattails in 1980. Democrats won a net of eight seats, defeating seven freshman incumbents, picking up two Republican-held open seats, and regaining control of the Senate for the first time since January 1981. This remains the most recent midterm election cycle in which the sitting president's party suffered net losses while still flipping a Senate seat.

Quick Facts 34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1986 United States Senate elections

← 1984 November 4, 1986 1988 →
34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Robert Byrd Bob Dole Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 3, 1977 January 3, 1985 Leader's seat West Virginia Kansas Seats before 47 53 Seats after 55 45 Seat change 8 8 Popular vote 24,347,369[1] 23,126,219[lower-alpha 1][1] Percentage 50.1% 47.6% Seats up 12 22 Races won 20 14
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (North Carolina): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Bob Dole Republican Elected Majority Leader Robert Byrd Democratic

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Democrats gained a net eight seats, and recaptured control of the Senate from the Republicans with a 55–45 majority. They defeated seven incumbents, all but one of whom had been elected in 1980, and gained open seats held by retiring Republicans in Maryland and Nevada. Republicans gained one open seat in Missouri. Bob Dole (R-Kansas) and Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) exchanged positions as the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader. However, the Democratic majority would be reduced to 54-46 following the March 1987 death of Democrat Edward Zorinsky, who was then replaced with a Republican.

This was the last election cycle — until 2016 — in which the Democrats in this class of senators 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).

Shading indicates party with largest share of that line.

More information Parties, Total ...

Parties							Total
		Democratic	Republican	Independent	Libertarian	Other
Last elections (1984) Before these elections		47	53	0	0	0	100
Not up		35	31	—	—	—	66
Up Class 3 (1980→1986)		12	22	—	—	—	34
Incumbent retired		3	3	—	—	—	6
	Held by same party	2	1	—	—	—	3
	Replaced by other party	2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	—	—	3
	Result	4	2	0	0	0	6
Incumbent ran		9	19	—	—	—	28
	Won re-election	9	12	—	—	—	21
	Lost re-election	7 Republicans replaced by 7 Democrats		—	—	—	7
	Lost renomination, but held by same party	0	0	—	—	—	0
	Result	16	12	0	0	0	28
Total elected		20	14	0	0	0	34
Net gain/loss		8	8				8
Nationwide vote		24,347,369	23,126,219[lower-alpha 1]	155,032	104,338	878,047	48,611,005
	Share	50.09%	47.57%	0.32%	0.21%	1.81%	100%
Result		55	45	0	0	0	100

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Source: Office of the Clerk^[1]

In sixteen races the margin of victory was under 10%.

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Alabama election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Richard Shelby Jeremiah Denton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 609,360 602,537 Percentage 50.3% 49.7%

County results Shelby:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Denton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Jeremiah Denton Republican Elected U.S. Senator Richard Shelby Democratic

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Incumbent Republican Jeremiah Denton ran for a second term but lost to Democrat Richard Shelby.

Shelby, a moderate-to-conservative Democrat avoided a primary runoff and won nomination in the Democratic Party primary over Jim Allen Jr., son of former senator James Allen.^[2]

Incumbent Senator Jeremiah Denton, a retired Rear Admiral and decorated Vietnam War veteran who six years earlier became the first Republican elected to the Senate from Alabama since Reconstruction, won the Republican primary with little opposition from Richard Vickers.^[3]

Shelby won a very narrow victory over Denton (less than one percent), once again making Alabama's Senate delegation entirely Democratic.^[4][5]

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Alaska election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Frank Murkowski Glenn Olds Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 97,764 79,727 Percentage 54.02% 44.10%

Results by state house district Murkowski:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Olds:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Frank Murkowski Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski Republican

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Incumbent Republican Frank Murkowski ran for a second term and was primarily opposed by Democrat and Alaska Pacific University President Glenn Olds and Libertarian Chuck House, field representative for Eastman Kodak Company. Following a highly competitive election in 1980, Murkowski faced a legitimate opponent in Olds, and the contest was fairly close throughout the campaign. However, in the end, Murkowski was able to defeat Olds 63%-25% in the open primary. He won 54%-44% against Olds in the runoff.^[5]

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Arizona election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee John McCain Richard Kimball Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 521,850 340,965 Percentage 60.4% 39.5%

County results McCain:      50–60%      60-70% Kimball:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Barry Goldwater Republican Elected U.S. Senator John McCain Republican

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Incumbent Republican Barry Goldwater decided to retire instead of seeking a sixth term. The open seat was won by Republican John McCain, a Congressman and former Navy Officer who beat Democratic State Legislator Richard Kimball. Both candidates were unopposed in their respective primaries.

Kimball's campaign was subject to negative press from the Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette. One Gazette columnist described him as displaying "terminal weirdness."^[7] McCain ultimately won the election by a margin of 20%,^[5] and he would go on to win six more terms to the U.S. Senate.^[1]

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Arkansas election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Dale Bumpers Asa Hutchinson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 433,122 262,313 Percentage 62.3% 37.7%

County results Bumpers:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Hutchinson:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Dale Bumpers Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers Democratic

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Incumbent Democrat Dale Bumpers won re-election to a third term over Republican U.S. Attorney Asa Hutchinson. Both ran unopposed in their respective primaries.^[5]

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California election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Alan Cranston Ed Zschau Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 3,646,672 3,541,804 Percentage 49.3% 47.9%

County results Cranston:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Zschau:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Alan Cranston Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Alan Cranston Democratic

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Incumbent Democratic Alan Cranston won re-nomination over nominal Democratic opposition. Congressman Ed Zschau narrowly defeated Bruce Herschensohn in the Republican primary to secure the nomination. Cranston narrowly won re-election to a fourth term over Zschau, 49%-48%.^[5]

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Colorado election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Tim Wirth Ken Kramer Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 529,449 512,994 Percentage 49.9% 48.4%

County results Wirth:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Kramer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Gary Hart Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Tim Wirth Democratic

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Incumbent Democrat Gary Hart retired instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Tim Wirth and Republican Ken Kramer ran unopposed for the seat. In an ultimately very close election, Wirth defeated Kramer by just under 2%. Wirth would retire and opt not to seek a second term.^[5]

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Connecticut election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Chris Dodd Roger Eddy Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 632,695 340,438 Percentage 64.8% 34.9%

County results Municipality results Dodd:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Eddy:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Chris Dodd Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Chris Dodd Democratic

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Incumbent Democrat Chris Dodd received the Democratic nomination with no opposition. Republican Roger Eddy of the Republican National Committee won the Republican nomination. Dodd handily defeated Eddy, 65%-35%.^[10][5]

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Florida election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Bob Graham Paula Hawkins Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,877,543 1,552,376 Percentage 54.7% 45.2%

County results Graham:      50–60%      60–70% Hawkins:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Paula Hawkins Republican Elected U.S. Senator Bob Graham Democratic

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Incumbent Republican Paula Hawkins won renomination with nominal opposition, but so did her Democratic opponent, popular Governor of Florida Bob Graham. Graham defeated Hawkins by nearly 9% on election day.^[1][5]

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Georgia election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Wyche Fowler Mack Mattingly Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 623,707 601,241 Percentage 50.92% 49.08%

County results Fowler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Mattingly:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Mack Mattingly Republican Elected U.S. Senator Wyche Fowler Democratic

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Incumbent Republican Mack Mattingly decided to run for re-election and lost a close race to Democratic U.S. Congressman Wyche Fowler, who had defeated former White House Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan in the Democratic primary.^[1][5] Fowler would lose re-election in 1992.

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Hawaii election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Daniel Inouye Frank Hutchinson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 241,887 86,910 Percentage 73.6% 26.4%

County results Inouye:      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Daniel Inouye Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye Democratic

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Incumbent Democratic Daniel Inouye won re-election to a fifth term, 74%-26%, over Republican Frank Hutchinson, who had defeated Marvin Franklin in the Republican primary.^[5]

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Idaho election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Steve Symms John V. Evans Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 196,958 185,066 Percentage 51.6% 48.4%

County results Symms:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Evans:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Steve Symms Republican Elected U.S. Senator Steve Symms Republican

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Incumbent Republican Steve Symms won re-election to a second term over Democratic Governor John V. Evans. Evans was a popular governor, and the race was ultimately close, but Symms prevailed by just over 2%.^[5]

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Illinois election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Alan Dixon Judy Koehler Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,033,783 1,053,734 Percentage 65.1% 33.7%

County results Dixon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Koehler:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Alan J. Dixon Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon Democratic

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The incumbent Democratic Alan J. Dixon won re-election to a second term over Republican State Representative Judy Koehler, who won the Republican nomination over George Ranney.^[5] This was also the last time until 2022 that a winning Senate Candidate was elected to this seat twice.

Dixon easily won the senate race. Koehler fared poorly throughout most parts of the state, only winning 10 of the states 102 counties.

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Indiana election

← 1980 1990 (special) →

Nominee Dan Quayle Jill Long Thompson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 936,143 595,192 Percentage 60.6% 38.5%

County results Quayle:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Long:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Dan Quayle Republican Elected U.S. Senator Dan Quayle Republican

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Incumbent Republican Dan Quayle won re-election to a second term over Democratic Valparaiso City Councilwoman Jill L. Long.^[15][5]

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Iowa election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Chuck Grassley John P. Roehrick Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 588,880 299,406 Percentage 66.04% 33.57%

County results Grassley:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80–90% Roehrick:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election Chuck Grassley Republican Elected U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley Republican

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Incumbent Republican Chuck Grassley ran for re-election to a second term, which he won easily over Democratic nominee John P. Roehrick, an attorney.^[5]

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Kansas election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Bob Dole Guy MacDonald Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 576,902 246,664 Percentage 70.05% 29.95%

County Results Dole:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Bob Dole Republican Elected U.S. Senator Bob Dole Republican

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Incumbent Republican Bob Dole ran for re-election to a fourth term, which he won easily over Democratic nominee Guy MacDonald, a school teacher, who had narrowly prevailed in a crowded field of Democratic candidates.^[5]

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Kentucky election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Wendell Ford Jackson Andrews Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 503,775 173,330 Percentage 74.40% 25.60%

Country results Ford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Wendell Ford Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Wendell Ford Democratic

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Democrat Wendell Ford won re-election, He defeated Republican Jackson Andrews, who emerged from a competitive primary.^[5]

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Louisiana election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee John Breaux Henson Moore Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 723,586 646,311 Percentage 52.82% 47.18%

Parish Results Breaux:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Moore:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Russell B. Long Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Breaux Democratic

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Incumbent Democratic Russell B. Long decided to retire instead of seeking an eighth term. The open seat was won by Democrat U.S. Representative John Breaux, who beat Republican U.S. Representative Henson Moore by just over 5% after the two finished second and first in the open primary, respectively.^[5]

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Maryland election

← 1980 1992 →

Nominee Barbara Mikulski Linda Chavez Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 675,225 437,411 Percentage 60.7% 39.3%

County results Mikulski:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90% Chavez:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Charles Mathias Republican Elected U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski Democratic

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Incumbent Republican Charles Mathias decided to retire, instead of seeking a fourth term. At the time of this announcement, it was expected that then-Governor Harry Hughes would run for the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Mathias. However, Hughes became caught up in the aftermath of the Maryland savings and loan crisis. He lost popularity with voters, opening the door for Mikulski's bid for the Senate. Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski received the Democratic nomination over fellow Congressman Michael D. Barnes and governor Harry Hughes, the last of whom finished third. Mikulski had previously run for the seat in 1974.

Chavez won the primary handily, defeating several Republican challengers. Later, she made comments that some Mikulski supporters interpreted as an attempt to draw attention to the issue of Mikulski's sexual orientation. In an article quoting Chavez's claim that Mikulski was a "San Francisco-style, George McGovern, liberal Democrat", The Washington Post reported that Chavez was directly implying that the never-married Mikulski was a lesbian.^{[citation needed]} Chavez was accused of making Mikulski's sexual orientation a central issue of the political campaign. In defending her use of the phrase, Chavez stated the line "San Francisco Democrats" was a reference to Jeane Kirkpatrick's 1984 Republican National Convention "Blame America First" speech, in which Kirkpatrick coined the phrase "San Francisco Liberal."^{[citation needed]}. The phrase "San Francisco liberal" was common at the time.

Mikulski eventually won the race with 61 percent of the vote.^[5] She was the first female Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in her own right (not appointed or filling a seat of a deceased husband). No Republican since Mathias has represented Maryland in the U.S. Senate.