The 1986 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican Senator Charles Mathias Jr. decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Democratic U.S. Representative Barbara Mikulski defeated Reagan Administration official Linda Chavez for the open seat. Mikulski's swearing-in marked the first time since 1969 where Democrats held both Senate seats from Maryland.

Democratic primary

Candidates Barbara Mikulski, U.S. Congresswoman and nominee for Senator in 1974 Michael D. Barnes, U.S. Congressman Harry Hughes, Governor of Maryland Debra Hanania Freeman Edward M. Olszewski A. Robert Kaufman, social organizer Boyd E. Sweatt, perennial candidate Leonard E. Trout, Jr.

Results

Republican primary

Candidates Linda Chavez, Assistant to the President for Public Liaison Mike Schaefer, former San Diego city councilman George Haley, former Kansas State Senator Melvin Perkins, perennial candidate Nicholas T. Nonnenmacher Richard Sullivan Howard D. Greyber, perennial candidate Monroe Cornish, perennial candidate Herbert Stone Rosenberg Horace Stuart Rich Abraham H. Kalish

Results

General election

Candidates Linda Chavez (R), Assistant to the President for Public Liaison Barbara Mikulski (D), U.S. Congresswoman

Campaign Mathias announced his retirement from politics. At the time of this announcement, it was expected that then-Governor Harry Hughes would run for the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Mathias. However, Hughes became caught up in the aftermath of the Maryland savings and loan crisis. He lost popularity with voters, opening the door for Mikulski's bid for the Senate.

Chavez won the primary handily, defeating several Republican challengers. Later, she made comments that some Mikulski supporters interpreted as an attempt to draw attention to the issue of Mikulski's sexual orientation. In an article quoting Chavez's claim that Mikulski was a "San Francisco-style, George McGovern, liberal Democrat", The Washington Post reported that Chavez was directly implying that the never-married Mikulski was a lesbian. Chavez was accused of making Mikulski's sexual orientation a central issue of the political campaign. In defending her use of the phrase, Chavez stated the line "San Francisco Democrats" was a reference to Jeane Kirkpatrick's 1984 Republican National Convention "Blame America First" speech, in which Kirkpatrick coined the phrase "San Francisco Liberal.". The phrase "San Francisco liberal" was common at the time.

Mikulski never directly responded to the issue and eventually won the race with 61 percent of the vote. She was the first female Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in her own right (not appointed or filling a seat of a deceased husband).

Results

Results by county

+CountyBarbara A. Mikulski DemocraticLinda Chavez RepublicanMarginTotal Votes

Cast#%#%#% Allegany 8845 45.05% 10790 54.95% -1945 -9.91% 19635 Anne Arundel 54936 54.14% 46536 45.86% 8400 8.28% 101472 Baltimore (City) 137775 82.65% 28926 17.35% 108849 65.30% 166701 Baltimore (County) 126914 62.30% 76785 37.70% 50129 24.61% 203699 Calvert 5420 50.23% 5371 49.77% 49 0.45% 10791 Caroline 2241 45.04% 2735 54.96% -494 -9.93% 4976 Carroll 11659 43.20% 15329 56.80% -3670 -13.60% 26988 Cecil 6879 48.47% 7312 51.53% -433 -3.05% 14191 Charles 8958 50.82% 8670 49.18% 288 1.63% 17628 Dorchester 3562 47.18% 3988 52.82% -426 -5.64% 7550 Frederick 13153 44.29% 16547 55.71% -3394 -11.43% 29700 Garrett 1908 33.26% 3829 66.74% -1921 -33.48% 5737 Harford 21534 52.91% 19168 47.09% 2366 5.81% 40702 Howard 25723 57.57% 18960 42.43% 6763 15.14% 44683 Kent 2791 54.13% 2365 45.87% 426 8.26% 5156 Montgomery 117058 59.26% 80469 40.74% 36589 18.52% 197527 Prince George's 85536 66.76% 42585 33.24% 42951 33.52% 128121 Queen Anne's 3915 49.14% 4052 50.86% -137 -1.72% 7967 St. Mary's 6484 53.32% 5676 46.68% 808 6.64% 12160 Somerset 2566 43.65% 3312 56.35% -746 -12.69% 5878 Talbot 3712 43.12% 4896 56.88% -1184 -13.75% 8608 Washington 12181 44.81% 15005 55.19% -2824 -10.39% 27186 Wicomico 7463 44.54% 9291 55.46% -1828 -10.91% 16754 Worcester 4016 45.44% 4822 54.56% -806 -9.12% 8838 Total 675229 60.69% 437419 39.31% 237810 21.37% 1112648

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Anne Arundel Baltimore (County) Baltimore (City) Calvert Charles Harford Howard Kent Montgomery Prince George's St. Mary's

See also 1986 United States Senate elections 1986 United States elections

References