1986 United States Senate election in Oregon

The 1986 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 8, 1986. Incumbent Republican Bob Packwood ran for re-election. U.S. Congressman Jim Weaver received the Democratic nomination. A populist Democratic congressman from Eugene, Oregon, he was a darling of the environmentalists. Weaver supported the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984. Packwood was confident, despite the popular opponent, because had more money and a better campaign organization.^[1] After winning the party nomination, Weaver was the subject of a House Ethics Committee probe into his campaign finances, and withdrew his candidacy. Rick Bauman was selected to replace Weaver on the ballot, and lost handily to Packwood.

1986 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1980 November 8, 1986 1992 →

Nominee Bob Packwood Rick Bauman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 656,317 375,735 Percentage 62.95% 36.04%

County results Packwood:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Bauman:      50–60%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Bob Packwood Republican Elected U.S. Senator Bob Packwood Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Rick Bauman, State Representative
• Rod Monroe, State Senator

Withdrew

• Jim Weaver, U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1986^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Weaver	183,334	61.56%
	Democratic	Rod Monroe	44,553	14.96%
	Democratic	Rick Bauman	41,939	14.08%
	Democratic	Steve Anderson	26,130	8.77%
	Democratic	miscellaneous	1,868	0.63%
Total votes			297,824	100.00%

After the primary, a House Ethics Committee probe into Weaver's campaign finances led him to withdraw his candidacy and the Oregon Democratic State Central Committee selected Bauman to replace Weaver on the ballot in August, just 10 weeks before the general election.^[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Joe Lutz, Baptist minister and evangelical/conservative activist^[4]
• Bob Packwood, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Republican Primary results by county:

  Packwood

•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Lutz

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   80–90%

Republican primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1986^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Packwood (incumbent)	171,985	57.62%
	Republican	Joe Lutz	126,315	42.32%
	Republican	miscellaneous	166	0.06%
Total votes			298,466	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Rick Bauman, State Representative
• Bob Packwood, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

United States Senate election in Oregon, 1986^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Packwood (incumbent)	656,317	62.95%
	Democratic	Rick Bauman	375,735	36.04%
	Independent	Write-in	10,503	1.01%
Total votes			1,042,555	100.00%
	Republican hold

See also

• 1986 United States Senate elections