1986 United States Senate election in South Dakota

Summary

The 1986 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator James Abdnor ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Democrat and future Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.[1] This election was the only United States Senate election in South Dakota that Daschle would win by a narrow margin.

1986 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1980 November 4, 1986 1992 →
 
Nominee Tom Daschle James Abdnor
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 152,657 143,173
Percentage 51.60% 48.40%

County results
Daschle:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Abdnor:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

James Abdnor
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Tom Daschle
Democratic

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

 
Republican Primary results by county:
  Abdnor
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Janklow
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%

Although Abdnor won the primary by a fairly comfortable margin, it hurt him badly. Daschle was uncontested for the Democratic nomination and therefore was able to focus on the general election early, while Abdnor had to fight a challenge from a popular incumbent governor. Many political analysts[who?] say this was one of the factors in Abdnor's general election loss.[citation needed]

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James Abdnor (incumbent) 63,414 54.51%
Republican Bill Janklow 52,924 45.49%
Total votes 116,338 100.00%

General election edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tom Daschle 152,657 51.60% +12.21%
Republican James Abdnor (incumbent) 143,173 48.40% -9.80%
Total votes 295,830 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - VA US Senate Race - Nov 07, 2000".
  2. ^ "Official Election Results and Registration Figures for South Dakota - Primary Election June 3, 1986" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2011.
  3. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 36.