1986 United States Senate election in Alaska

The 1986 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican United States Senator Frank Murkowski ran for a second term in the United States Senate and was primarily opposed by Alaska Pacific University President Glenn Olds. Following a highly competitive election in 1980, Murkowski faced a legitimate opponent in Glenn Olds, and the contest was fairly close. However, in the end, Murkowski was able to defeat Olds by a slightly wider margin than he won by six years prior.

1986 United States Senate election in Alaska

← 1980 November 4, 1986 1992 →

Nominee Frank Murkowski Glenn Olds Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 97,764 79,727 Percentage 54.02% 44.10%

Results by state house district Murkowski:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Olds:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Frank Murkowski Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski Republican

Open primary

Candidates

Republican

• Frank Murkowski, incumbent United States Senator since 1981, former banker and commissioner of the Alaska Department of Economic Development

Democratic

• Glenn Olds, president of Alaska Pacific University
• Bill Barnes, former director of the People Mover transit system in Anchorage. His wife, Allegra, was the Libertarian nominee for lieutenant governor in this same election year
• Dave Carlson, former congressional candidate
• Michael J. Bruner
• Karl Francis

Libertarian

• Chuck House, field representative for Eastman Kodak Company and Libertarian Party activist

Results

Open primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Murkowski (inc.)	91,705	63.11%
	Democratic	Glenn Olds	36,995	25.46%
	Democratic	Bill Barnes	4,871	3.35%
	Libertarian	Chuck House	4,265	2.94%
	Democratic	Dave J. Carlson	4,211	2.90%
	Democratic	Michael J. Bruner	1,809	1.24%
	Democratic	Karl Francis	1,454	1.00%
Total votes			145,310	100.00%

General election

Results

1986 United States Senate election in Alaska^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Frank Murkowski (inc.)	97,674	54.02%	+0.34%
	Democratic	Glenn Olds	79,727	44.10%	−1.84%
	Libertarian	Chuck House	3,161	1.75%
	Write-ins		239	0.13%
Majority			17,947	9.93%	+2.17%
Turnout			180,801
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• 1986 United States Senate elections