1986 United States Senate election in California

1986 United States Senate election in California

← 1980 November 4, 1986 (1986-11-04) 1992 →

Nominee Alan Cranston Ed Zschau Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 3,646,672 3,541,804 Percentage 49.3% 47.9%

County results Cranston:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Zschau:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Alan Cranston Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Alan Cranston Democratic

Elections in California
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The 1986 United States Senate election in California took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Alan Cranston narrowly won re-election to a fourth term over Republican U.S. Congressman Ed Zschau.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• John Hancock Abbott, perennial candidate
• Robert John Banuelos, resident of Costa Mesa
• Alan Cranston, incumbent Senator
• Charles Greene
• Brian Lantz, candidate for Mayor of San Francisco in 1983

Results[]

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• William B. Allen, professor at Harvey Mudd College and member of the National Council on the Humanities
• Michael D. Antonovich, Los Angeles County Supervisor and former State Assemblyman
• Eldridge Cleaver, author and former Black Panther
• Edward M. Davis, State Senator and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department
• Bobbi Fiedler, U.S. Representative from Encino
• Bruce Herschensohn, political commentator for KABC-TV in Los Angeles
• Joe Knowland, actor, publisher of The Oakland Tribune and son of former Senator William F. Knowland
• Art Laffer, economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan
• George Montgomery
• Robert W. Naylor, State Assemblyman from Menlo Park
• William H. Pemberton, candidate for Senate in 1982
• John W. Spring
• Ed Zschau, U.S. Representative from Los Altos

Results[]

Peace and Freedom primary[]

Candidates[]

• Lenni Brenner, Trotskyist anti-war activist and writer
• Paul Kangas, private investigator and perennial candidate

Results[]

General election[]

Results[]

See also[]

• 1986 United States Senate elections

References[]