Pennsylvania — 1986 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1986 Senate electionPennsylvania · U.S. SenateSpecterR+13.6
How it voted
Share of the 1986 vote
| Arlen Specter (i) ✓Republican | 56.4% | 1,906,537 |
|---|---|---|
| Bob EdgarDemocrat | 42.9% | 1,448,219 |
| Lance S. HaverConsumer | 0.7% | 23,470 |
1986Senate margin
D+60R+60
67 counties, each filled by 1986 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (67 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ADAMS, PA | Republican | R+24.4 |
| ALLEGHENY, PA | Republican | R+2.0 |
| ARMSTRONG, PA | Republican | R+12.6 |
| BEAVER, PA | Democratic | D+15.8 |
| BEDFORD, PA | Republican | R+30.8 |
| BERKS, PA | Republican | R+22.5 |
| BLAIR, PA | Republican | R+37.4 |
| BRADFORD, PA | Republican | R+43.9 |
| BUCKS, PA | Republican | R+29.3 |
| BUTLER, PA | Republican | R+23.3 |
| CAMBRIA, PA | Democratic | D+6.4 |
| CAMERON, PA | Republican | R+34.7 |
| CARBON, PA | Republican | R+6.3 |
| CENTRE, PA | Republican | R+23.8 |
| CHESTER, PA | Republican | R+38.3 |
| CLARION, PA | Republican | R+26.2 |
| CLEARFIELD, PA | Republican | R+11.2 |
| CLINTON, PA | Republican | R+11.5 |
| COLUMBIA, PA | Republican | R+21.7 |
| CRAWFORD, PA | Republican | R+28.8 |
| CUMBERLAND, PA | Republican | R+35.2 |
| DAUPHIN, PA | Republican | R+30.8 |
| DELAWARE, PA | Republican | R+12.5 |
| ELK, PA | Republican | R+6.8 |
| ERIE, PA | Republican | R+15.6 |
| FAYETTE, PA | Democratic | D+9.1 |
| FOREST, PA | Republican | R+27.9 |
| FRANKLIN, PA | Republican | R+33.0 |
| FULTON, PA | Republican | R+22.3 |
| GREENE, PA | Republican | R+1.2 |
| HUNTINGDON, PA | Republican | R+32.5 |
| INDIANA, PA | Republican | R+17.7 |
| JEFFERSON, PA | Republican | R+24.6 |
| JUNIATA, PA | Republican | R+23.6 |
| LACKAWANNA, PA | Republican | R+8.3 |
| LANCASTER, PA | Republican | R+50.1 |
| LAWRENCE, PA | Democratic | D+6.1 |
| LEBANON, PA | Republican | R+36.4 |
| LEHIGH, PA | Republican | R+20.1 |
| LUZERNE, PA | Republican | R+0.8 |
| LYCOMING, PA | Republican | R+30.3 |
| MCKEAN, PA | Republican | R+37.4 |
| MERCER, PA | Republican | R+9.7 |
| MIFFLIN, PA | Republican | R+25.2 |
| MONROE, PA | Republican | R+24.5 |
| MONTGOMERY, PA | Republican | R+37.6 |
| MONTOUR, PA | Republican | R+24.9 |
| NORTHAMPTON, PA | Republican | R+7.9 |
| NORTHUMBERLAND, PA | Republican | R+15.0 |
| PERRY, PA | Republican | R+41.5 |
| PHILADELPHIA, PA | Democratic | D+12.5 |
| PIKE, PA | Republican | R+38.6 |
| POTTER, PA | Republican | R+38.9 |
| SCHUYLKILL, PA | Republican | R+22.3 |
| SNYDER, PA | Republican | R+54.1 |
| SOMERSET, PA | Republican | R+18.6 |
| SULLIVAN, PA | Republican | R+22.3 |
| SUSQUEHANNA, PA | Republican | R+41.2 |
| TIOGA, PA | Republican | R+42.3 |
| UNION, PA | Republican | R+45.2 |
| VENANGO, PA | Republican | R+25.4 |
| WARREN, PA | Republican | R+27.4 |
| WASHINGTON, PA | Republican | R+0.7 |
| WAYNE, PA | Republican | R+45.2 |
| WESTMORELAND, PA | Democratic | D+0.8 |
| WYOMING, PA | Republican | R+49.7 |
| YORK, PA | Republican | R+31.7 |
presidential baselinePresident 1984R+7.4Senate 1986R+13.6vs. baselineR+6.2
Pennsylvania's 1986 Senate race ran 6.2 points more Republican than its 1984 presidential margin.
Pennsylvania's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | −5.6% |
| 1980 | −2.4% |
| 1982 | −20.1% |
| 1986 | −13.6% |
| 1988 | −34.0% |
| 1992 | −2.8% |
| 1994 | −2.5% |
| 1998 | −26.6% |
| 2000 | −6.9% |
| 2004 | −10.6% |
| 2006 | +17.4% |
| 2010 | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +9.1% |
| 2016 | −1.4% |
| 2018 | +12.9% |
| 2022 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | −0.2% |
Same ballot, 1986PA
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.