1986Final results
1986 election for Maryland's 2nd District
U.S. House · Maryland
Helen Bentley (R) won with 58.7% of the vote, defeating Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D) by 17.3 points.
Helen BentleyRepublican · winner
58.7%96,745
Kathleen Kennedy TownsendDemocrat
41.3%68,200
164,946 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.
Kathleen Kennedy TownsendHelen Bentley
$1.1M
Raised by the campaign
$1.1M
$1.1M
Spent by the campaign
$1.1M
$4.6K
Cash on hand
$13.6K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986