1986 United States Senate election in New York

Candidates

Republican

• Al D'Amato, incumbent U.S. Senator

Democratic

Role of Geraldine Ferraro

In the run-up to the Senate contest, former Representative Geraldine Ferraro was widely expected to run against D'Amato. Despite her presence on the losing presidential ticket in 1984, her high public stature led commentators to believe she'd be a formidable Senate candidate. In 1985, one year before the election, Ferraro did groundwork in Upstate New York towards that end.

However, in December 1985, she said she would not run. She explained that she would not run due to an ongoing U.S. Justice Department probe on her and her husband's finances stemming from 1984 campaign revelations.

Green vs. Dyson contest

In her absence, two major Democrats entered the race:

• Mark Green, Chief Speechwriter for U.S. Senator Gary Hart and former congressional candidate
• John S. Dyson, Chairman of the New York Power Authority (later the nominee of the Liberal Party) The moderate Dyson was supported by many high-profile Democrats, and received the behind-the-scenes support of Governor Mario Cuomo. Green received the support of eight Democratic members of Congress. Despite spending $6 million on his campaign to the $600,000 raised by Green, Dyson was defeated by the more liberal Green in the primary. Upon hearing news of his victory, Green boasted:"We were outspent by 800 percent and won by 600 percent. No one has ever been outspent in a primary by $6 million to $800,000 and still won.''{{Endorsements box|title=Mark Green|list=; U.S. Representatives
• Gary L. Ackerman
• Thomas J. Manton
• Robert Mrazek
• Major R. Owens
• James H. Scheuer
• Stephen J. Solarz
• Edolphus Towns
• Ted Weiss}}{{Endorsements box|title=John S. Dyson|list=; State legislators
• Chester J. Straub}}

Results

References

References

1. Lynn, Frank. (1986-11-05). "DEMOCRATS GAIN CONTROL OF SENATE, DRAWING VOTES OF REAGAN'S BACKERS; CUOMO AND D'AMATO ARE EASY VICTORS; THE ELECTIONS: IN THE REGION, VICTORIOUS INCUMBENTS; RECORD IN NEW YORK". [[The New York Times]].
2. ''[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/01/opinion/topics-investments-returned-unpac.html Topics; Investments Returned; UnPAC]'', May 1, 1986, ''[[The New York Times]]''.
3. Edward Tivnan, ''The Lobby; Jewish Political Power and American Foreign Policy'', 1987, p. 193; {{ISBN. 0-671-50153-4.
4. (December 23, 1985). "Sitting It Out".
5. Cardody, Deidre. (June 8, 1985). "Off to Buffalo". [[The New York Times]].
6. . (1986-07-23). ["8 Congressmen Back Green in Senate Race"](https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/23/nyregion/8-congressmen-back-green-in-senate-race.html). *The New York Times*.
7. Blumenthal, Sidney. (1986-09-11). "Big Money Wasn't Green In New York Senate Upset". Washington Post.
8. Lynn, Frank. (1986-09-10). "MARK GREEN BEATS DYSON IN PRIMARY". The New York Times.
9. (1986-09-11). "Big Money Wasn't Green In New York Senate Upset". [[The Washington Post]].
10. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986".