Elections / 1986 · Senate · WI
The Republican candidate won Wisconsin's Senate seat R+3.5.
Wisconsin, 1986. Candidate results and statewide totals below.
Wisconsin — 1986 Senate result
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1976–2024 Senate returns (party-classified by literal ballot party).
Democratic (D)
702,963
47.4%
Republican (R)
754,573
50.9%
All others
25,638
1.7%
Margin
R+3.5
Candidates
Statewide candidate totals — MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1986 Senate returns.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert W. Kasten JR. | RRepublican | 754,573 | 50.9% |
| Edward R. Garvey | DDemocrat | 702,963 | 47.4% |
| Peter Y. Taylor SR. | OIndependent | 19,266 | 1.3% |
| Margo Storsteen | OSocialist Workers | 2,926 | 0.2% |
| Eugene A. Hem | OThird Party | 2,234 | 0.2% |
| Scatter | OOther | 1,212 | 0.1% |
Wisconsin's Senate margins
Every contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +45.6% |
| 1980 | −1.9% |
| 1982 | +29.5% |
| 1986 | −3.5% |
| 1988 | +4.5% |
| 1992 | +6.6% |
| 1994 | +17.6% |
| 1998 | +2.1% |
| 2000 | +24.5% |
| 2004 | +11.2% |
| 2006 | +37.8% |
| 2010 | −4.8% |
| 2012 | +5.5% |
| 2016 | −3.4% |
| 2018 | +10.8% |
| 2022 | −1.0% |
| 2024 | +0.8% |