United States Senate election in Florida, 1986

United States Senate election in Florida, 1986

1980 ← November 4, 1986 → 1992

Nominee Bob Graham Paula Hawkins Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,877,543 1,552,376 Percentage 54.7% 45.3%

U.S. Senator before election Paula Hawkins Republican Elected U.S. Senator Bob Graham Democratic

Elections in Florida
Federal government Presidential elections 1860 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Presidential primaries Democratic 2008 2012 Republican 2008 2012 U.S. Senate elections 1968 1970 1976 1980 1982 1986 1988 1992 1994 1998 2000 2004 2006 2010 2012 U.S. House elections 2006 5th 8th 9th 16th 2008 2010 2012 2014
State government Gubernatorial elections 1966 1970 1974 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 Attorney General elections 2002 2006 2010 2014 Chief Financial Officer elections 2006 2010 Agriculture Commissioner of Florida 1994 2006 2010 Ballot measures Other elections 2006 2010
Jacksonville Mayoral elections 2003 2007 2011
Tampa Mayoral elections 2011
Orlando Mayoral elections 2012

The 1986 United States Senate election in Florida took place on November 4, 1986 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Paula Hawkins decided to run for re-election to second term, but lost to popular Governor of Florida Bob Graham.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bob Graham, 38th Governor of Florida
• Bob Kunst, perennial candidate

Results

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Bob Graham	850,560	85.04%
	Democratic	Bob Kunst	149,657	14.96%
Totals			1,000,217	100%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Paula Hawkins, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Jon Larsen Shudlick

Results

Republican primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Paula Hawkins	491,767	88.73%
	Republican	Bob Kunst	62,443	11.27%
Totals			554,210	100%

General election

Candidates

• Bob Graham (D), 38th Governor of Florida
• Paula Hawkins (R), incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

General election results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bob Graham	1,877,543	54.74%	+6.40%
	Republican	Paula Hawkins (inc.)	1,552,376	45.26%	-6.40%
	Write-ins		77	0.00%
Majority			325,167	9.48%	+6.16%
Turnout			3,429,996
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing