1986Final results
1986 election for Connecticut's 5th District
U.S. House · Connecticut
John Rowland (R) won with 60.9% of the vote, defeating Jim Cohen (D) by 21.8 points.
John RowlandRepublican · winner
60.9%98,664
Jim CohenDemocrat
39.1%63,371
162,035 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1986
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Jim CohenJohn Rowland
$344.9K
Raised by the campaign
$426.2K
$344.3K
Spent by the campaign
$425.7K
$572
Cash on hand
$3.8K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986