1986 United States Senate election in Florida

1986 United States Senate election in Florida

←  1980 November 4, 1986 1992  →

Nominee Bob Graham Paula Hawkins Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,877,543 1,552,376 Percentage 54.74% 45.26%

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

The 1986 United States Senate election in Florida 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 U.S. Senator Paula Hawkins decided to run for re-election to second term, but was defeated by Democrat Bob Graham, the popular incumbent Governor of Florida. To date, this was the last time an incumbent from Florida's Class 3 Senate seat lost re-election. ^{[1] [ failed verification ]}

Graham received 83% of the black vote. ^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bob Graham, 38th Governor of Florida
• Bob Kunst, perennial candidate

Results

Democratic primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Graham	850,560	85.04%
	Democratic	Bob Kunst	149,657	14.96%
Total votes			1,000,217	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Paula Hawkins, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Jon Larsen Shudlick

Results

Republican primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paula Hawkins (incumbent)	491,767	88.73%
	Republican	Jon Larsen Shudlick	62,443	11.27%
Total votes			554,210	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Bob Graham (D), 38th Governor of Florida
• Paula Hawkins (R), incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

General election results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bob Graham	1,877,543	54.74%	+6.40%
	Republican	Paula Hawkins (incumbent)	1,552,376	45.26%	−6.40%
	Write-in		77	0.00%	N/A
Total votes			3,429,996	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic gain from Republican

See also

• 1986 United States Senate elections

References

1. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 8.
2. Black & Black 1992, p. 356.
3. "Florida Department of State - Election Results".

Works cited

• Black, Earl; Black, Merle (1992). The Vital South: How Presidents Are Elected. Harvard University Press. ISBN   0674941306.