1986 United States Senate election in California explained
| Election Name: | 1986 United States Senate election in California |
| Country: | California |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1980 United States Senate election in California |
| Previous Year: | 1980 |
| Next Election: | 1992 United States Senate election in California |
| Next Year: | 1992 |
| Image1: | Walter Mondale with Senator Alan Cranston - NARA - 176249 (crop 2).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Alan Cranston |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 3,646,672 |
| Percentage1: | 49.29% |
| Nominee2: | Ed Zschau |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 3,541,804 |
| Percentage2: | 47.87% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| U.S. Senator |
| Before Election: | Alan Cranston |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Alan Cranston |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
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 and final term over Republican U.S. Congressman Ed Zschau. This was the last time where both major party nominees for the Class 3 Senate seat in California were men until 2022.
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 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
