1986 United States Senate election in Alabama

The 1986 United States Senate election in Alabama 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 Senator Jeremiah Denton lost re-election to Democrat Richard Shelby by 6,823 votes.

Candidates

 * Jeremiah Denton, incumbent Senator since 1981
 * Richard Vickers

Results
Incumbent Senator Jeremiah Denton, a retired Rear Admiral and decorated Vietnam War veteran who six years earlier became the first Republican elected to the Senate from Alabama since Reconstruction, won the primary with little opposition.

Democratic primary
Shelby, a moderate-to-conservative Democrat narrowly avoided a runoff and won nomination in the Democratic Party primary.

Candidates

 * Jim Allen, Jr., son of former U.S. Senator Jim Allen
 * Steve Arnold
 * Ted McLaughlin
 * Richard Shelby, U.S. Representative from Tuscaloosa since 1979
 * Margaret Stewart, writer

Results
[[File:1986 United States Senate Democratic primary election in Alabama results map by county.svg|thumb|Democratic primary results by county {{legend|#7996E2|Shelby}}

{{legend|#A5B0FF|40–50%}}

{{legend|#7996E2|50–60%}}

{{legend|#6674DE|60–70%}}

{{legend|#584CDE|70–80%}} {{legend|#5fd35f|Allen}}

{{legend|#87de87|40–50%}}

{{legend|#5fd35f|50–60%}}

{{legend|#37c837|60–70%}} {{legend|#FFB380|McLaughlin}}

{{legend|#FFCCAA|40–50%}} ]]

General election
Shelby won a very narrow victory of less than one percent over Denton.

Candidates

 * Jeremiah Denton (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
 * Richard Shelby (D), U.S. Representative