1986 United States Senate election in Vermont

none March 2026 September 2023 1986 United States Senate election in Vermont Vermont presidential no 1980 United States Senate election in Vermont 1980 1992 United States Senate election in Vermont 1992 November 4, 1986 150x150px Patrick Leahy 1985 (cropped).jpg Patrick Leahy Democratic Party (United States) 124,123 63.16% Richard A Snelling (cropped).jpg Richard Snelling Republican Party (United States) 67,798 34.50% x220px County results x220px Municipality results Leahy: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80%Snelling: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy Democratic Party (United States) Patrick Leahy Democratic Party (United States) The 1986 United States Senate election in Vermont was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy won reelection to a third term, defeating Republican former governor Richard Snelling by a landslide margin of almost 30 points, in a race that was initially expected to be quite competitive, as Snelling was recruited to run by popular President Ronald Reagan. Democratic primary Candidates Patrick Leahy, incumbent U.S. Senator Results Democratic primary resultshttp://vermont-elections.org/elections1/1986PrimaryCanvass.pdf Official Report of the Canvassing Committee United States and Statewide Offices - Primary Election, September 9, 1986 vermont-elections.org 2011-06-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20101227202526/http://vermont-elections.org/elections1/1986PrimaryCanvass.pdf 2010-12-27 dead Patrick Leahy (incumbent) Democratic Party (United States) 21,255 97.63% Write-ins Democratic Party (United States) 516 2.37% 21,771 100.00% Liberty Union primary Candidates Jerry Levy, sociologist and perennial candidate Results Liberty Union primary results Jerry Levy Liberty Union Party 147 93.04% Write-ins Liberty Union Party 11 6.96% 158 100.00% Republican primary The popular former Governor of Vermont, Richard A. Snelling, had faced pressure from national Republicans to enter the race, but had spent the majority of 1985 convinced that he would not be a candidate.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92951747/snelling/ Snelling announces candidacy for Senate The Brattleboro Reformer Associated Press Gaff Christopher October 18, 1985 January 19, 2022 In October 1985, however, encouraged by figures such as New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici and President of the United States Ronald Reagan, Snelling changed his mind and entered the race, claiming that a lack of action over the United States national deficit had encouraged him to run.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92951757/snelling-pressure/ Democrats say Snelling bowing to pressure The Brattleboro Reformer Gaff Christopher October 18, 1985 Associated Press January 19, 2022 Candidates Richard A. Snelling, former Governor of Vermont Anthony N. Doria, founder of the Vermont Law School and perennial candidate Results Republican primary results Richard A. Snelling Republican Party (United States) 21,477 75.11% Anthony N. Doria Republican Party (United States) 6,493 22.71% Write-ins Republican Party (United States) 625 2.19% 28,595 100.00% General election Campaign Both Leahy and Snelling were well-respected and highly popular in Vermont, and the general feeling was that they would both make good Senators. However, Snelling was felt to be at a disadvantage for several reasons, including the fact that his main campaign plank was deficit reduction, which The Caledonian-Record noted Leahy was already a well-known advocate for, and the fact that Leahy had acquired a reputation as one of the Senate's most knowledgeable figures on the issue of nuclear proliferation, an issue which the Brattleboro Reformer noted Snelling had no experience with.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92951900/diverse-opinions/ Senate Battle Sparks Diverse Opinions Rutland Herald Associated Press October 28, 1985 January 19, 2022 Snelling frequently attacked Leahy by calling him a "liberal" during the campaign, part of a broader strategy of negative campaigning against the incumbent.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93175056/victory/ A great victory for Pat Leahy November 6, 1986 The Brattleboro Reformer January 22, 2022 Candidates Anthony Doria (C), perennial candidate Patrick Leahy (D), incumbent U.S. Senator Jerry Levy (LU), sociologist and perennial candidate Richard A. Snelling (R), former Governor of Vermont Endorsements Patrick Leahy (D) State officials Tom Harkin, U.S. Senator from Iowahttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/92952436/harkin-endorses-leahy/ Sen. Harkin campaigns for Sen. Leahy Rutland Daily Herald Bressor James F. October 21, 1986 January 22, 2022 Labor unions Vermont Nurses Associationhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/92952384/nurses-association/ State Nurses' Association endorses Leahy re-election The Brattleboro Reformer Associated Press July 11, 1986 January 19, 2022 Organizations Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Vermont Audubon Council Vermont Natural Resources Council Vermont Sierra Clubhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/92952284/the-burlington-free-press/ Conservations Endorse Leahy in Senate Race The Burlington Free Press Karvelas David March 11, 1986 January 19, 2022 Richard Snelling (R) Executive officials Ronald Reagan, President of the United States James Baker, U.S. Secretary of the Treasuryhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/92952183/off-schedule/ Vermont off Reagan's schedule Bennington Banner October 22, 1986 Associated Press January 19, 2022 State officials John McClaughry, state senator Results General election resultsStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986 https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1986election.pdf Clerk of the House of Representatives 40 Democratic Party (United States) Patrick Leahy (incumbent) 124,123 63.16% +13.34% Republican Party (United States) Richard A. Snelling 67,798 34.50% -14.00% Conservative Anthony N. Doria 2,963 1.51% N/A Liberty Union Party Jerry Levy 1,583 0.81% N/A 65 0.02% N/A 196,532 Democratic Party (United States) See also 1986 United States Senate elections References Vermont 1986 Category:1986 Vermont elections Category:Patrick Leahy