The 1986 United States Senate election in Vermont was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy won reelection to a third term, defeating Republican former governor Richard Snelling by a landslide margin of almost 30 points, in a race that was initially expected to be quite competitive, as Snelling was recruited to run by popular President Ronald Reagan.
The popular former Governor of Vermont, Richard A. Snelling, had faced pressure from national Republicans to enter the race, but had spent the majority of 1985 convinced that he would not be a candidate.[2] In October 1985, however, encouraged by figures such as New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici and President of the United StatesRonald Reagan, Snelling changed his mind and entered the race, claiming that a lack of action over the United States national deficit had encouraged him to run.[3]
Both Leahy and Snelling were well-respected and highly popular in Vermont, and the general feeling was that they would both make good Senators. However, Snelling was felt to be at a disadvantage for several reasons, including the fact that his main campaign plank was deficit reduction, which The Caledonian-Record noted Leahy was already a well-known advocate for, and the fact that Leahy had acquired a reputation as one of the Senate's most knowledgeable figures on the issue of nuclear proliferation, an issue which the Brattleboro Reformer noted Snelling had no experience with.[4]
Snelling frequently attacked Leahy by calling him a "liberal" during the campaign, part of a broader strategy of negative campaigning against the incumbent.[5]
^ abc(PDF). vermont-elections.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
^Gaff, Christopher (October 18, 1985). "Snelling announces candidacy for Senate". The Brattleboro Reformer. Associated Press. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
^ abcGaff, Christopher (October 18, 1985). "Democrats say Snelling bowing to pressure". The Brattleboro Reformer. Associated Press. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
^"Senate Battle Sparks Diverse Opinions". Rutland Herald. Associated Press. October 28, 1985. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
^ ab"A great victory for Pat Leahy". The Brattleboro Reformer. November 6, 1986. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^Bressor, James F. (October 21, 1986). "Sen. Harkin campaigns for Sen. Leahy". Rutland Daily Herald. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^"State Nurses' Association endorses Leahy re-election". The Brattleboro Reformer. Associated Press. July 11, 1986. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
^ abcKarvelas, David (March 11, 1986). "Conservations Endorse Leahy in Senate Race". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
^"Vermont off Reagan's schedule". Bennington Banner. Associated Press. October 22, 1986. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
^"Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 40.
January 01, 1970
1986, united, states, senate, election, vermont, held, november, 1986, incumbent, democratic, senator, patrick, leahy, reelection, third, term, defeating, republican, former, governor, richard, snelling, landslide, margin, almost, points, race, that, initially. The 1986 United States Senate election in Vermont was held on November 4 1986 Incumbent Democratic U S Senator Patrick Leahy won reelection to a third term defeating Republican former governor Richard Snelling by a landslide margin of almost 30 points in a race that was initially expected to be quite competitive as Snelling was recruited to run by popular President Ronald Reagan 1986 United States Senate election in Vermont 1980 November 4 1986 1992 Nominee Patrick Leahy Richard Snelling Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 124 123 67 798 Percentage 63 16 34 50 County resultsMunicipality resultsLeahy 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 Snelling 40 50 50 60 60 70 U S senator before election Patrick Leahy Democratic Elected U S Senator Patrick Leahy Democratic Contents 1 Democratic primary 1 1 Candidates 1 2 Results 2 Liberty Union primary 2 1 Candidates 2 2 Results 3 Republican primary 3 1 Candidates 3 2 Results 4 General election 4 1 Campaign 4 2 Candidates 4 3 Endorsements 4 4 Results 5 See also 6 ReferencesDemocratic primary editCandidates edit Patrick Leahy incumbent U S Senator Results edit Democratic primary results 1 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Patrick Leahy incumbent 21 255 97 63 Democratic Write ins 516 2 37 Total votes 21 771 100 00 Liberty Union primary editCandidates edit Jerry Levy sociologist and perennial candidate Results edit Liberty Union primary results 1 Party Candidate Votes Liberty Union Jerry Levy 147 93 04 Liberty Union Write ins 11 6 96 Total votes 158 100 00 Republican primary editThe popular former Governor of Vermont Richard A Snelling had faced pressure from national Republicans to enter the race but had spent the majority of 1985 convinced that he would not be a candidate 2 In October 1985 however encouraged by figures such as New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici and President of the United States Ronald Reagan Snelling changed his mind and entered the race claiming that a lack of action over the United States national deficit had encouraged him to run 3 Candidates edit Richard A Snelling former Governor of Vermont Anthony N Doria founder of the Vermont Law School and perennial candidate Results edit Republican primary results 1 Party Candidate Votes Republican Richard A Snelling 21 477 75 11 Republican Anthony N Doria 6 493 22 71 Republican Write ins 625 2 19 Total votes 28 595 100 00 General election editCampaign edit Both Leahy and Snelling were well respected and highly popular in Vermont and the general feeling was that they would both make good Senators However Snelling was felt to be at a disadvantage for several reasons including the fact that his main campaign plank was deficit reduction which The Caledonian Record noted Leahy was already a well known advocate for and the fact that Leahy had acquired a reputation as one of the Senate s most knowledgeable figures on the issue of nuclear proliferation an issue which the Brattleboro Reformer noted Snelling had no experience with 4 Snelling frequently attacked Leahy by calling him a liberal during the campaign part of a broader strategy of negative campaigning against the incumbent 5 Candidates edit Anthony Doria C perennial candidate Patrick Leahy D incumbent U S Senator Jerry Levy LU sociologist and perennial candidate Richard A Snelling R former Governor of Vermont Endorsements edit Patrick Leahy D State officials Tom Harkin U S Senator from Iowa 6 Labor unions Vermont Nurses Association 7 Organizations Democratic Senate Campaign Committee 3 Vermont Audubon Council 8 Vermont Natural Resources Council 8 Vermont Sierra Club 8 Richard Snelling R Executive officials Ronald Reagan President of the United States 3 James Baker U S Secretary of the Treasury 9 State officials John McClaughry state senator 5 Results edit General election results 10 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Patrick Leahy incumbent 124 123 63 16 13 34 Republican Richard A Snelling 67 798 34 50 14 00 Conservative Anthony N Doria 2 963 1 51 N A Liberty Union Jerry Levy 1 583 0 81 N A Write in 65 0 02 N A Total votes 196 532 Democratic holdSee also edit1986 United States Senate electionsReferences edit a b c Official Report of the Canvassing Committee United States and Statewide Offices Primary Election September 9 1986 PDF vermont elections org Archived from the original PDF on December 27 2010 Retrieved June 2 2011 Gaff Christopher October 18 1985 Snelling announces candidacy for Senate The Brattleboro Reformer Associated Press Retrieved January 19 2022 a b c Gaff Christopher October 18 1985 Democrats say Snelling bowing to pressure The Brattleboro Reformer Associated Press Retrieved January 19 2022 Senate Battle Sparks Diverse Opinions Rutland Herald Associated Press October 28 1985 Retrieved January 19 2022 a b A great victory for Pat Leahy The Brattleboro Reformer November 6 1986 Retrieved January 22 2022 Bressor James F October 21 1986 Sen Harkin campaigns for Sen Leahy Rutland Daily Herald Retrieved January 22 2022 State Nurses Association endorses Leahy re election The Brattleboro Reformer Associated Press July 11 1986 Retrieved January 19 2022 a b c Karvelas David March 11 1986 Conservations Endorse Leahy in Senate Race The Burlington Free Press Retrieved January 19 2022 Vermont off Reagan s schedule Bennington Banner Associated Press October 22 1986 Retrieved January 19 2022 Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4 1986 PDF Clerk of the House of Representatives p 40 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1986 United States Senate election in Vermont amp oldid 1205423090, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
