Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1986/US Senate/Pennsylvania
      1986·US Senate·Pennsylvania

      Pennsylvania US Senate

      Winner
      REP
      Arlen Specter
      56.4%1,906,537 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Robert W Edgar
      42.9%1,448,219 votes
      Margin
      R+13.6
      3,378,226 total votes
      3 candidates3,378,226 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Arlen SpecterREP✓
      		REP1,906,53756.4%
      Robert W EdgarDEM
      		DEM1,448,21942.9%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH23,4700.7%

      Seat History

      US Senate in Pennsylvania(Class II)

      2024
      Dave McCormickREP
      R+0.2
      2022
      John FettermanDEM
      D+4.9
      2018
      Robert CaseyDEM
      D+13.1
      2016
      Patrick J ToomeyREP
      R+1.4
      2012
      Robert CaseyDEM
      D+9.1
      2010
      Patrick J ToomeyREP
      R+2.0
      2006
      Robert CaseyDEM
      D+17.4
      2004
      Arlen SpecterREP
      R+10.6
      2000
      Rick SantorumREP
      R+6.9
      1998
      Arlen SpecterREP
      R+26.6
      1994
      Rick SantorumREP
      R+2.5
      1992
      Arlen SpecterREP
      R+2.8
      1991(S)
      Harris WoffordDEM
      D+10.0
      1988
      John HeinzREP
      R+34.0
      View all US Senate history for Pennsylvania →

      Candidates

      Arlen SpecterREP
      Record5W-0L
      Avg MarginR+11.2
      Career1980-2004
      US Senate
      Full profile →
      Robert W EdgarDEM
      Record5W-1L
      Avg MarginR+13.6
      Career1976-1986
      US Senate / US House
      Full profile →

      Also in Pennsylvania, 1986

      US House23 contests →Governor1 contest →
      ← All 1986 US Senate races1986 overviewPennsylvania profileAll elections