1986 United States Senate elections in North Carolina

Democratic primary

Terry Sanford, then the outgoing president of Duke University, first said in September 1985 that he was planning to run for the U.S. Senate the next year but quickly withdrew, as it appeared that the party wanted a "fresh" face, most likely in the person of UNC System President William Friday. Then, Friday declined to run, as did other well-known politicians like former Governor Jim Hunt.

Former North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lauch Faircloth then made it known that he would run, but he was considered too conservative by many party leaders, who encouraged Sanford to enter the race in order to defeat Faircloth. Sanford agreed to run, which led Faircloth and another candidate, Judge Marvin K. Blount Jr., to withdraw before filing their candidacies. Six years later, Faircloth did run for the Senate against Sanford, but this time as a Republican, in which he was victorious.

Candidates

• Walt Atkins
• William Belk, Belk department store executive and former president of Young Democrats of America
• Katherine Harper, business executive
• John Ingram, former North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance
• Theodore Kinney, real estate agent and African-American political activist
• T. L. "Fountain" Odom, Mecklenburg County commissioner and attorney
• Terry Sanford, former Governor
• Betty Wallace, educator and deputy superintendent of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Results

Republican primary

Senator East declined to run for a second term, citing his health. Longtime U.S. Representative Jim Broyhill entered the race with much of the establishment support, but David Funderburk had the backing of the organization of Senator Jesse Helms. Funderburk charged Broyhill with being insufficiently conservative, but in the end, Broyhill won the nomination handily in the May primary. The next month, East committed suicide, and Governor James G. Martin appointed Broyhill to his seat.

Candidates

• Jim Broyhill, incumbent U.S. Senator and U.S. Congressman
• David Funderburk, former U.S. Ambassador to Romania (later a U.S. Congressman)
• Glenn Miller, perennial candidate

Results

General election

Candidates

• Jim Broyhill (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Terry Sanford (D), former Governor

Results

Special election

Candidates

• Jim Broyhill (R), incumbent U.S. Senator and U.S. Congressman
• Terry Sanford (D), former Governor

Results

References

References

1. [http://saos.fec.gov/aodocs/1986-31.pdf Advisory Opinion of the Federal Election Commission]
2. [http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/columnists/d-g-martin-trump-romney-and-terry-sanford/article_c0bd8741-c7cb-526a-9edd-9770db01d9e9.html D.G. Martin]
3. (January 19, 1986). "DEMOCRATS' HOPES UP IN CAROLINA SENATE RACE (Published 1986)".
4. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19860326&id=CkpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EhQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6659,7074264&hl=en Star-News: Senate candidate claims revelations from deity]
5. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19860221&id=6xkhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qVIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3004,5659916&hl=en The Dispatch]
6. (later a state senator)[http://www.mecklaw.com/Attorney-Profiles/T-L-Odom-Sr.shtml The Odom Firm]
7. [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/67801393/ Newspapers.com: The Daily Tar Heel]
8. (April 2008). "North Carolina DataNet #46". [[University of North Carolina]].
9. "Our Campaigns - NC US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 04, 1986".