1986 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

The 1986 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Kasten won re-election to a second term. This would be the last time a Republican would win a Senate race in Wisconsin until Ron Johnson in 2010.

1986 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

November 3, 1986

Nominee Bob Kasten Ed Garvey Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 754,573 702,963 Percentage 50.92% 47.44%

County results Kasten:      50–60%      60–70% Garvey:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Bob Kasten Republican Elected U.S. Senator Bob Kasten Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Roman R. Blenski, perennial candidate and former State Senator from Milwaukee
• Matthew J. Flynn, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party
• Ed Garvey, former Deputy Wisconsin Attorney General and executive director of the NFLPA
• Gary George, State Senator from Milwaukee

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ed Garvey	126,408	47.59%
	Democratic	Matthew J. Flynn	101,777	38.31%
	Democratic	Gary George	29,485	11.10%
	Democratic	Roman R. Blenski	7,890	2.97%
	Democratic	Write-ins	79	0.03%
Total votes			265,560	100.00%

General election

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Kasten (incumbent)	754,573	50.92%
	Democratic	Ed Garvey	702,963	47.44%
	Independent	Peter Y. Taylor	19,266	1.30%
	Socialist Workers	Margo Storsteen	2,926	0.20%
	Third Party	Eugene Hem	2,234	0.15%
Total votes			1,481,962	100.00%
	Republican hold

See also

• 1986 United States Senate elections