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]
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 County results Graham: 50–60% 60–70% Hawkins: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Graham received 83% of the black vote.[2]
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Bob Graham, 38th Governor of Florida
- Bob Kunst, perennial candidate
Results
edit| 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
editCandidates
edit- Paula Hawkins, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Jon Larsen Shudlick
Results
edit| 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
editCandidates
edit- Bob Graham (D), 38th Governor of Florida
- Paula Hawkins (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
Results
edit| 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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 8.
- ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 356.
- ^ a b "Florida Department of State - Election Results".