1986 United States Senate election in Alabama

The 1986 United States Senate election in Alabama 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 Senator Jeremiah Denton lost re-election to Democrat Richard Shelby by 6,823 votes.

1986 United States Senate election in Alabama

November 4, 1986

Nominee Richard Shelby Jeremiah Denton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 609,360 602,537 Percentage 50.28% 49.72%

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

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jeremiah Denton, incumbent Senator since 1981
• Richard Vickers

Results

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.

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeremiah Denton (incumbent)	29,805	88.55%
	Republican	Richard Vickers	3,854	11.45%
Total votes			33,659	100.00%

Democratic primary

Shelby, a moderate-to-conservative Democrat narrowly avoided a runoff and won nomination in the Democratic Party primary.

Candidates

• Jim Allen, Jr., son of former U.S. Senator Jim Allen
• Steve Arnold
• Ted McLaughlin
• Richard Shelby, U.S. Representative from Tuscaloosa since 1979
• Margaret Stewart, writer

Results

Democratic primary results by county

  Shelby

•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

  Allen

•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  McLaughlin

•   40–50%

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard Shelby	420,155	51.33%
	Democratic	Jim Allen, Jr.	284,206	34.72%
	Democratic	Ted McLaughlin	70,784	8.65%
	Democratic	Margaret Stewart	26,723	3.27%
	Democratic	Steve Arnold	16,722	2.04%
Total votes			818,590	100.00%

General election

Shelby won a very narrow victory of less than one percent over Denton.

Candidates

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

Results

1986 United States Senate election in Alabama

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard Shelby	609,360	50.28%
	Republican	Jeremiah Denton (incumbent)	602,537	49.72%
Total votes			1,211,897	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

See also

• 1986 United States Senate elections