1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
April 08, 2024
The 1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Arlen Specter won re-election to a second term.
1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
Despite the popularity of his Republican counterpart John Heinz, Arlen Specter was viewed somewhat tepidly by the Pennsylvania electorate entering the race, although both men shared similar moderate profiles. Additionally, economic woes had dragged down the popularity of Republican candidates in the industrial states. Democrats sensed the vulnerability of the incumbent, and two men with similar experience in the U.S. House, but contrasting political views, vied for the nomination. Don Bailey, the state's incumbent Auditor General, projected a strong blue-collar image and had moderate positions that were often relatively close to Specter's. Bob Edgar, a Methodist minister and sitting Congressman, had more liberal viewpoints, as he was connected with the Vietnam War-era peace movement and the anti-corruption movement following the Watergate scandals. However, issues played a very minor role in the primary, which instead showcased the state's geographical divide, with Delaware County-based Edgar narrowly defeating Westmoreland County-based Bailey.[2]
True to his past as a political organizer, Edgar developed a strong grassroots campaign and reached out to alienated left-leaning voters. He attacked Specter as a politician who compromised his moderate political positions when pressured by the conservative administration of Ronald Reagan. Edgar, who had a history of winning tight races in a traditionally Rockefeller Republican congressional district, was a financial underdog, as Specter was able to raise nearly three times as much for his campaign warchest. Originally attempting a positive campaign, Specter changed his strategy in response to Edgar's personal attacks and characterized Edgar as soft on defense issues and as a liberal ideologue. Edgar was never able to find a message that resonated with voters in the western portion of the state, and Specter undercut Edgar's support in his suburban Philadelphia heartland by presenting himself as representative of the views of the average suburban voter.[2]
^ abcdefgDickenson, James R. (May 21, 1986). "Pennsylvania Rep. Edgar Wins Senate Primary". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
^ abKennedy, John J. (2006). Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests from 1950-2004. United Press of America. pp. 65–67. ISBN9780761832799.
^"Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986" (PDF). Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
April 08, 2024
1986, united, states, senate, election, pennsylvania, held, november, 1986, incumbent, republican, senator, arlen, specter, election, second, term, 1980, november, 1986, 1992, nominee, arlen, specter, edgarparty, republican, democraticpopular, vote, 219percent. The 1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 4 1986 Incumbent Republican U S Senator Arlen Specter won re election to a second term 1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania 1980 November 4 1986 1992 Nominee Arlen Specter Bob EdgarParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 1 906 537 1 448 219Percentage 56 44 42 87 County results Specter 50 60 60 70 70 80 Edgar 40 50 50 60 U S senator before electionArlen SpecterRepublican Elected U S Senator Arlen SpecterRepublican Contents 1 Republican primary 1 1 Candidates 1 2 Results 2 Democratic primary 2 1 Candidates 2 2 Results 3 General election 3 1 Candidates 3 2 Campaign 3 3 Results 4 See also 5 ReferencesRepublican primary editCandidates edit Arlen Specter incumbent U S Senator since 1981 Richard A Stokes high school social studies teacher 1 Results edit Specter defeated Stokes by a 3 to 1 margin 1 Democratic primary editCandidates edit Donald A Bailey Pennsylvania State Auditor 1 Robert W Edgar U S Representative from Broomall 1 George H R Elder Lyndon LaRouche supporter 1 Cyril E Sagan Slippery Rock State University professor 1 Results edit Edgar narrowly defeated Bailey with Elder and Sagan each receiving less than six percent 1 General election editCandidates edit Bob Edgar U S Representative from Broomall Democratic Lance S Haver Consumer Arlen Specter incumbent U S Senator since 1981 Republican Campaign edit This section possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed August 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Despite the popularity of his Republican counterpart John Heinz Arlen Specter was viewed somewhat tepidly by the Pennsylvania electorate entering the race although both men shared similar moderate profiles Additionally economic woes had dragged down the popularity of Republican candidates in the industrial states Democrats sensed the vulnerability of the incumbent and two men with similar experience in the U S House but contrasting political views vied for the nomination Don Bailey the state s incumbent Auditor General projected a strong blue collar image and had moderate positions that were often relatively close to Specter s Bob Edgar a Methodist minister and sitting Congressman had more liberal viewpoints as he was connected with the Vietnam War era peace movement and the anti corruption movement following the Watergate scandals However issues played a very minor role in the primary which instead showcased the state s geographical divide with Delaware County based Edgar narrowly defeating Westmoreland County based Bailey 2 True to his past as a political organizer Edgar developed a strong grassroots campaign and reached out to alienated left leaning voters He attacked Specter as a politician who compromised his moderate political positions when pressured by the conservative administration of Ronald Reagan Edgar who had a history of winning tight races in a traditionally Rockefeller Republican congressional district was a financial underdog as Specter was able to raise nearly three times as much for his campaign warchest Originally attempting a positive campaign Specter changed his strategy in response to Edgar s personal attacks and characterized Edgar as soft on defense issues and as a liberal ideologue Edgar was never able to find a message that resonated with voters in the western portion of the state and Specter undercut Edgar s support in his suburban Philadelphia heartland by presenting himself as representative of the views of the average suburban voter 2 Results edit General election results 3 Party Candidate Votes Republican Arlen Specter incumbent 1 906 537 56 44 Democratic Robert W Edgar 1 448 219 42 87 Citizens Lance S Haver 23 470 0 69 Republican holdSee also edit1986 United States Senate electionsReferences edit a b c d e f g Dickenson James R May 21 1986 Pennsylvania Rep Edgar Wins Senate Primary The Washington Post Retrieved June 29 2022 a b Kennedy John J 2006 Pennsylvania Elections Statewide Contests from 1950 2004 United Press of America pp 65 67 ISBN 9780761832799 Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4 1986 PDF Office of the Clerk of the U S House Retrieved July 8 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania amp oldid 1213702452, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
