1986Final results
1986 election for Massachusetts's 8th District
U.S. House · Massachusetts
Joseph Kennedy (D) won with 67.5% of the vote, defeating Clark C. Abt (R) by 41.5 points.
Joseph KennedyDemocrat · winner
67.5%104,651
Clark C. AbtRepublican
26.0%40,259
Write-ins and other votesOther party
6.5%10,074
154,984 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.
Joseph KennedyClark C. Abt
$1.8M
Raised by the campaign
$594.5K
$1.8M
Spent by the campaign
$591.7K
$20.3K
Cash on hand
$2.9K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986