California — 1986 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1986 Senate electionCalifornia · U.S. SenateCranstonD+1.4
How it voted
Share of the 1986 vote
| Alan Cranston (i) ✓Democrat | 49.3% | 3,646,672 |
|---|---|---|
| Ed ZschauRepublican | 47.9% | 3,541,804 |
| Edward B. "Ed" VallenIndependent | 1.5% | 109,856 |
1986Senate margin
D+60R+60
58 counties, each filled by 1986 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (58 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ALAMEDA, CA | Democratic | D+31.1 |
| ALPINE, CA | Republican | R+6.6 |
| AMADOR, CA | Republican | R+12.5 |
| BUTTE, CA | Republican | R+16.8 |
| CALAVERAS, CA | Republican | R+17.1 |
| COLUSA, CA | Republican | R+17.6 |
| CONTRA COSTA, CA | Democratic | D+3.1 |
| DEL NORTE, CA | Republican | R+5.8 |
| EL DORADO, CA | Republican | R+16.7 |
| FRESNO, CA | Republican | R+3.1 |
| GLENN, CA | Republican | R+29.9 |
| HUMBOLDT, CA | Democratic | D+14.8 |
| IMPERIAL, CA | Republican | R+6.8 |
| INYO, CA | Republican | R+32.5 |
| KERN, CA | Republican | R+20.7 |
| KINGS, CA | Republican | R+8.6 |
| LAKE, CA | Republican | R+1.1 |
| LASSEN, CA | Democratic | D+3.3 |
| LOS ANGELES, CA | Democratic | D+11.5 |
| MADERA, CA | Republican | R+16.5 |
| MARIN, CA | Democratic | D+17.3 |
| MARIPOSA, CA | Republican | R+11.9 |
| MENDOCINO, CA | Democratic | D+8.2 |
| MERCED, CA | Republican | R+9.7 |
| MODOC, CA | Republican | R+8.9 |
| MONO, CA | Republican | R+20.4 |
| MONTEREY, CA | Democratic | D+0.9 |
| NAPA, CA | Republican | R+2.3 |
| NEVADA, CA | Republican | R+18.8 |
| ORANGE, CA | Republican | R+27.2 |
| PLACER, CA | Republican | R+14.2 |
| PLUMAS, CA | Republican | R+5.0 |
| RIVERSIDE, CA | Republican | R+12.5 |
| SACRAMENTO, CA | Democratic | D+2.8 |
| SAN BENITO, CA | Republican | R+10.6 |
| SAN BERNARDINO, CA | Republican | R+11.1 |
| SAN DIEGO, CA | Republican | R+12.4 |
| SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Democratic | D+50.1 |
| SAN JOAQUIN, CA | Republican | R+11.1 |
| SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | Republican | R+16.6 |
| SAN MATEO, CA | Democratic | D+9.2 |
| SANTA BARBARA, CA | Republican | R+6.1 |
| SANTA CLARA, CA | Democratic | D+4.9 |
| SANTA CRUZ, CA | Democratic | D+20.9 |
| SHASTA, CA | Republican | R+6.1 |
| SIERRA, CA | Republican | R+4.9 |
| SISKIYOU, CA | Republican | R+0.3 |
| SOLANO, CA | Democratic | D+6.2 |
| SONOMA, CA | Democratic | D+10.7 |
| STANISLAUS, CA | Republican | R+8.5 |
| SUTTER, CA | Republican | R+29.7 |
| TEHAMA, CA | Republican | R+10.5 |
| TRINITY, CA | Republican | R+1.4 |
| TULARE, CA | Republican | R+20.8 |
| TUOLUMNE, CA | Republican | R+10.6 |
| VENTURA, CA | Republican | R+16.2 |
| YOLO, CA | Democratic | D+14.6 |
| YUBA, CA | Republican | R+13.7 |
presidential baselinePresident 1984R+16.2Senate 1986D+1.4vs. baselineD+17.7
California's 1986 Senate race ran 17.7 points more Democratic than its 1984 presidential margin.
California's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | −3.3% |
| 1980 | +19.4% |
| 1982 | −6.8% |
| 1986 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | −8.8% |
| 1992 | +4.9% |
| 1994 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | +10.0% |
| 2000 | +19.3% |
| 2004 | +19.9% |
| 2006 | +24.4% |
| 2010 | +10.0% |
| 2012 | +25.0% |
| 2016 | +100.0% |
| 2018 | +100.0% |
| 2022 | +22.1% |
| 2024 | +17.7% |
Same ballot, 1986CA
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1986 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.