1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

Republican primary

Candidates

• Arlen Specter, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1981
• Richard A. Stokes, high school social studies teacher

Results

Specter defeated Stokes by a 3-to-1 margin.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Donald A. Bailey, Pennsylvania State Auditor
• Robert W. Edgar, U.S. Representative from Broomall
• George H.R. Elder, Lyndon LaRouche supporter
• Cyril E. Sagan, Slippery Rock State University professor

Results

Edgar narrowly defeated Bailey with Elder and Sagan each receiving less than six percent.

General election

Candidates

• Bob Edgar, U.S. Representative from Broomall (Democratic)
• Lance S. Haver (Consumer)
• Arlen Specter, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1981 (Republican)

Campaign

Despite the popularity of his Republican counterpart John Heinz, Arlen Specter was viewed somewhat tepidly by the Pennsylvania electorate entering the race, although both men shared similar moderate profiles. Additionally, economic woes had dragged down the popularity of Republican candidates in the industrial states. Democrats sensed the vulnerability of the incumbent, and two men with similar experience in the U.S. House, but contrasting political views, vied for the nomination. Don Bailey, the state's incumbent Auditor General, projected a strong blue-collar image and had moderate positions that were often relatively close to Specter's. Bob Edgar, a Methodist minister and sitting Congressman, had more liberal viewpoints, as he was connected with the Vietnam War-era peace movement and the anti-corruption movement following the Watergate scandals. However, issues played a very minor role in the primary, which instead showcased the state's geographical divide, with Delaware County-based Edgar narrowly defeating Westmoreland County-based Bailey.

True to his past as a political organizer, Edgar developed a strong grassroots campaign and reached out to alienated left-leaning voters. He attacked Specter as a politician who compromised his moderate political positions when pressured by the conservative administration of Ronald Reagan. Edgar, who had a history of winning tight races in a traditionally Rockefeller Republican congressional district, was a financial underdog, as Specter was able to raise nearly three times as much for his campaign warchest. Originally attempting a positive campaign, Specter changed his strategy in response to Edgar's personal attacks and characterized Edgar as soft on defense issues and as a liberal ideologue. Edgar was never able to find a message that resonated with voters in the western portion of the state, and Specter undercut Edgar's support in his suburban Philadelphia heartland by presenting himself as representative of the views of the average suburban voter.

Results

References

References

1. Dickenson, James R.. (21 May 1986). "Pennsylvania Rep. Edgar Wins Senate Primary". [[The Washington Post]].
2. Kennedy, John J.. (2006). "Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests from 1950-2004". United Press of America.
3. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986". Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House.