1986 United States Senate election in Arizona

The 1986 United States Senate election in Arizona was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater decided to retire instead of seeking a sixth term. The open seat was won by John McCain, a Republican congressman from Arizona's 1st congressional district and former Navy officer, as well as future 2008 presidential nominee against Democrat Barack Obama, as so was Goldwater in 1964 against incumbent Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson. McCain would remain in the Senate until his death on August 25, 2018.

1986 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1980 November 4, 1986 1992 →

Nominee John McCain Richard Kimball Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 521,850 340,965 Percentage 60.48% 39.51%

County results McCain:      50–60%      60-70% Kimball:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Barry Goldwater Republican Elected U.S. Senator John McCain Republican

General election

Candidates

• Richard Kimball, former member of the Arizona Corporation Commission and State Senator (Democratic)
• John McCain, U.S. Representative from Tempe (Republican)

Campaign

Initially, Democrats sought to recruit two-term governor Bruce Babbit, but Babbit declined, ultimately to focus on a presidential bid.^[1][2][3]

Kimball's campaign was subject to negative press from the Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette. One Gazette columnist described him as displaying "terminal weirdness."^[4] McCain ultimately won the election by a margin of 21%.^[5]

Results

General election results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John McCain	521,850	60.48%	+11.02%
	Democratic	Richard Kimball	340,965	39.51%	−8.87%
	Write-in		106	0.01%
Majority			180,885	20.96%	+19.88%
Turnout			862,921
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• 1986 United States Senate elections

References

1. "Arizona Governor Won't Run in '86 - The Washington Post". The Washington Post. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
2. "Arizona Governor Tells Plans". The New York Times. March 19, 1985. p. 21. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
3. "BABBITT OPENS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN - The Washington Post". The Washington Post. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
4. Nowicki, D. & Muller, B. (March 1, 2007). The Senate calls. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
5. Election Results 1986