United States Senate election in Alabama, 1986

United States Senate election in Alabama, 1986

November 3, 1986

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

Senator before election Jeremiah Denton Republican Elected Senator Richard Shelby Democratic

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

Democratic primary

Shelby, a moderate-to-conservative Democrat avoided a runoff and won nomination in the Democratic Party primary.^[1]

Candidates

• Jim Allen, Jr., son of former U.S. Senator Jim Allen
• Steve Arnold
• Ted McLaughlin
• Richard Shelby, U.S. Representative (AL-7)
• Margaret Stewart, writer

Results

• Shelby - 420,155 (51.33%)
• Allen - 284,206 (34.72%)
• McLaughin - 70,784 (8.65%)
• Stewart - 26,723 (3.27%)
• Arnold - 16,722 (2.04%)

Republican primary

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 primary with little opposition.^[2]

Candidates

• Jeremiah Denton, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Richard Vickers

Results

• Jeremiah Denton - 29,805 (88.55%)
• Richard Vickers - 3,854 (11.45%)

General election

Shelby won a very narrow victory over Denton (less than one percent).^[3]

Candidates

• Jeremiah Denton (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Richard Shelby (D), U.S. Representative

Results

• Shelby - 609,360 (50.28%)
• Denton - 602,537 (49.72%)

References

1. Our Campaigns - AL Senate - D Primary Race - Jun 06, 1986
2. Our Campaigns - AL Senate - R Primary Race - Jun 06, 1986
3. Our Campaigns - AL US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1986