United States Senate elections, 1986

Infobox Election
election_name = United States Senate elections, 1986
country = United States
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election = United States Senate elections, 1984
previous_year = 1984
next_election = United States Senate elections, 1988
next_year = 1988
seats_for_election = 34 seats in the United States Senate
election_date = November 8, 1986

leader1 = Robert Byrd
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = West Virginia
last_election1 = 47 seats
seats1 = 55
seat_change1 = +8
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Bob Dole
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = Kansas
last_election2 = 53 seats
seats2 = 45
seat_change2 = -8
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

leader1 = Robert Byrd
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = West Virginia
last_election1 = 47 seats
seats1 = 55
seat_change1 = +8
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Bob Dole
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = Kansas
last_election2 = 53 seats
seats2 = 45
seat_change2 = -8
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

---

map_size = 300px
map_caption = legend|#800|Republican holdslegend|#00f|Democratic pickups

title = Majority Leader
before_election = Bob Dole
before_party = Republican Party (United States)
after_election = Robert Byrd
after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

The U.S. Senate election, 1986 was an election for the United States Senate in the middle of Ronald Reagan's second presidential term. In a midterm election, the opposition Democrats held the traditional advantage. Also, Republicans had to defend an unusually large number of freshman incumbents elected on Reagan's coattails in 1980.

In the election, the Democrats gained a net eight seats, and recaptured control of the Senate from the Republicans with a 55-45 majority. Robert Dole (R-KS) and Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) exchanged positions as majority and minority leader.

The only Republican gain was one open seat in Missouri. On the other hand, the Democrats gained open seats in Maryland and Nevada and defeated seven incumbent Republican senators, six of them first-term senators elected in 1980. The incumbents were: Jeremiah Denton (R-AL), Paula Hawkins (R-FL), Mack Mattingly (R-GA), James Broyhill (R-NC), Mark Andrews (R-ND), James Abdnor (R-SD), and Slade Gorton (R-WA). Broyhill was the only defeated Republican not elected in 1980. However, he was appointed to the seat left vacant by the death of John P. East, a Republican elected in 1980.

Notable new Senators in 1986 include John McCain (R-AZ), elected to the seat left by Barry Goldwater's retirement, future Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), who retook George McGovern's old seat from Abdnor, and future Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

In 1987, Edward Zorinsky (D-NE) died and was replaced by David K. Karnes (R-NE). This is not included in the party balance totals.

enate contests in 1986

A bolded state name indicates an article about that state's election.