1986 United States Senate elections
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. 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). Results summary Shading indicates party with largest share of that line. Source: Office of the Clerk Gains, losses, and holds Retirements Three Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election. Defeats Seven Republicans sought re-election but lost in the general election, including one that simultaneously lost in a special election. Post-election changes One Democrat died on March 6, 1987, and a Republican was appointed on March 11, 1987. Change in composition Before the elections After the elections Beginning of the first session Race summary Special election In this special election, the winner was seated during 1986. Elections leading to the next Congress In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1987; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats. Closest races In sixteen races the margin of victory was under 10%. Alabama 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. 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. Shelby won a very narrow victory over Denton (less than one percent), once again making Alabama's Senate delegation