1986 United States Senate election in New York

1986 United States Senate election in New York
← 1980 November 4, 1986 1992 →
 
Nominee Al D'Amato Mark Green
Party Republican Democratic
Alliance Conservative
Right to Life
Popular vote 2,378,197 1,723,216
Percentage 53.03% 38.42%
County results

D'Amato:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Green:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Al D'Amato
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Al D'Amato
Republican

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The 1986 United States Senate election in New York took place on November 4, 1986, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Al D'Amato won re-election to a second term by a wide margin versus Democratic opponent Mark Green. D'Amato's performance was credited to his strength in suburban areas.[1] During his Senate campaign, Green refused to accept money from special interest groups' political action committees (PACs) – which had accounted for 25% of all campaign spending in Congressional campaigns in 1984[2] – denouncing PACs as "legalized bribery."[3]

Former Representative and 1984 vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro had been widely expected to run for Senate. However, Ferraro chose to forgo a candidacy in December 1985 due to legal problems facing her and her husband.[4]

Candidates

Republican

Democratic

Role of Geraldine Ferraro

In the run-up to the Senate contest, former Representative Geraldine Ferraro was widely expected to run against D'Amato. Despite her presence on the losing presidential ticket in 1984, her high public stature led commentators to believe she'd be a formidable Senate candidate.[4] In 1985, one year before the election, Ferraro did groundwork in Upstate New York towards that end.[5]

However, in December 1985, she said she would not run. She explained that she would not run due to an ongoing U.S. Justice Department probe on her and her husband's finances stemming from 1984 campaign revelations.[4]

Green vs. Dyson contest

In her absence, two major Democrats entered the race:

The moderate Dyson was supported by many high-profile Democrats, and received the behind-the-scenes support of Governor Mario Cuomo. Green received the support of eight Democratic members of Congress.[6] Despite spending $6 million on his campaign to the $600,000 raised by Green,[7] Dyson was defeated by the more liberal Green in the primary. Upon hearing news of his victory, Green boasted:[8]

"We were outspent by 800 percent and won by 600 percent. No one has ever been outspent in a primary by $6 million to $800,000 and still won.''

Mark Green
U.S. Representatives
John S. Dyson
State legislators

Results

1986 U.S. Senate election in New York[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Al D'Amato (incumbent) 2,030,260 45.27% Increase7.50
Conservative Al D'Amato 212,101 4.73% Increase0.16
Right to Life Al D'Amato 135,386 3.02% Increase0.51
Total Al D'Amato (incumbent) 2,378,197 53.03% Increase8.15
Democratic Mark Green 1,723,216 38.42% Decrease5.12
Liberal John S. Dyson 60,099 1.34% Decrease9.71
New Alliance Fred Newman 10,559 0.24% N/A
Socialist Workers Michael Shur 7,376 0.16% Increase0.11
Various Others 305,412 6.81% N/A
Total votes 4,484,859 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ Lynn, Frank (November 5, 1986). "DEMOCRATS GAIN CONTROL OF SENATE, DRAWING VOTES OF REAGAN'S BACKERS; CUOMO AND D'AMATO ARE EASY VICTORS; THE ELECTIONS: IN THE REGION, VICTORIOUS INCUMBENTS; RECORD IN NEW YORK". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Topics; Investments Returned; UnPAC, May 1, 1986, The New York Times.
  3. ^ Edward Tivnan, The Lobby; Jewish Political Power and American Foreign Policy, 1987, p. 193; ISBN 0-671-50153-4.
  4. ^ a b c "Sitting It Out". Time. December 23, 1985. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010.
  5. ^ Cardody, Deidre (June 8, 1985). "Off to Buffalo". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "8 Congressmen Back Green in Senate Race". The New York Times. July 23, 1986. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Blumenthal, Sidney (September 11, 1986). "Big Money Wasn't Green In New York Senate Upset". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  8. ^ Lynn, Frank (September 10, 1986). "MARK GREEN BEATS DYSON IN PRIMARY". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  9. ^ "Big Money Wasn't Green In New York Senate Upset". The Washington Post. September 11, 1986. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2022.