1986 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

none March 2026 September 2023 1986 United States Senate election in New Hampshire New Hampshire presidential no 1980 United States Senate election in New Hampshire 1980 1992 United States Senate election in New Hampshire 1992 November 4, 1986 150x150px Warren Rudman.jpg Warren Rudman Republican Party (United States) 154,090 62.96% Endicott Peabody Gov.jpg Endicott Peabody Democratic Party (United States) 79,222 32.37% x245px County results x245px Municipality results Rudman: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90%Peabody: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996E2 50–60% #0D0596 >90% U.S. Senator Warren Rudman Republican Party (United States) Warren Rudman Republican Party (United States) The 1986 United States Senate election in New Hampshire took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican Senator Warren Rudman ran for re-election to a second term. He was initially challenged in the Republican primary by conservative Bruce Valley, a retired U.S. Navy commander, but Valley was disqualified from running in the primary.Ellement John NH GOP primary ballot to stay intact after rulings for Easton, against Valley Boston Globe July 29, 1986 Boston, Massachusetts 14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/174667884/ June 16, 2025 Instead, Valley ran as an independent in the general election. Rudman's main opponent was Endicott Peabody, the former governor of Massachusetts and the Democratic nominee, who sought the nomination to prevent an adherent of the LaRouche movement from winning the party's nomination. While national Democrats hoped that Valley's participation in the race would split the Republican vote, potentially aiding Peabody, Rudman ultimately won re-election in a landslide, winning 63 percent of the vote to Peabody's 32 percent and Valley's 5 percent. Democratic primary Candidates Endicott Peabody, former governor of Massachusetts Robert L. Dupay, former Nashua aldermanEllement John Valley qualifies as candidate in Senate race Boston Globe August 20, 1986 Boston, Massachusetts 24 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/174667396/ June 16, 2025 Robert A. Patton, Rye golf club maker and adherent of the LaRouche movement Andrew Tempelman, Milford innkeeper Campaign In the lead-up to the 1986 election, few prominent Democratic candidates were interested in running against Rudman, who was perceived as popular and likely to win re-election. Many of the most prominent Democrats in state, including former U.S. Senator John A. Durkin, whom Rudman had defeated in 1980 United States Senate election in New Hampshire; former U.S. Representative Norman D'Amours, who lost to Gordon Humphrey for the state's other seat 2 years earlier; former State House Minority Leader Chris Spirou; State Representative Wayne King; and State Democratic Party Chair George Bruno, all declined to run. However, when Robert Patton, a golf club maker and adherent of the LaRouche movement, announced his candidacy, the state party moved to recruit a credible candidate to prevent "embarrassment."Ellement John N.H. Democrats Seek Candidate for Senate Seat Boston Globe April 6, 1986 Boston, Massachusetts 39, 46 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/174666724/ June 16, 2025 Former Massachusetts Governor Endicott Peabody, who moved to the state in the early 1980s and practiced law in Nashua, was recruited to run, and ultimately declared his candidacy on May 14, 1986.Former Massachusetts governor running for senate seat in N.H. Holyoke Transcript-Telegram May 13, 1986 Holyoke, Massachusetts 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/transcript-telegram/174666955/ June 16, 2025 Robert Dupay, a former Nashua alderman who had previously run for governor, Executive Council, and Congress, also joined the primary, saying, "The main thing is to go after the LaRouche guy, that's my No. 1 responsibility." Results Democratic primary resultsNew Hampshire Secretary of State State of New Hampshire Manual for the General Court 1987 Concord, New Hampshire 1987 https://scholars.unh.edu/court/50/ June 16, 2025 Endicott Peabody Democratic Party (United States) 20,568 61.61% Robert L. Dupay Democratic Party (United States) 6,108 18.30% Robert A. Patton Democratic Party (United States) 3,721 11.15% Andrew Tempelman Democratic Party (United States) 2,601 7.79% Write-ins Democratic Party (United States) 385 1.15% 33,383 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Warren Rudman, incumbent U.S. senator Results Republican primary results Warren Rudman (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 52,003 97.89% Write-ins Republican Party (United States) 1,121 2.11% 53,124 100.00% General election Results 1986 United States Senate election in New Hampshire Republican Party (United States) Warren Rudman (inc.) 154,090 62.96% +10.81% Democratic Party (United States) Endicott Peabody 79,225 32.37% -15.48% Independent (politician) Bruce L. Valley 11,423 4.67% — 74,865 30.59% +26.29% 244,738 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) See also 1986 United States Senate elections References New Hampshire 1986 United States Senate