1986Final results
1986 election for Nebraska's 3rd District
U.S. House · Nebraska
Virginia Smith (R) won with 69.8% of the vote, defeating Scott E. Sidwell (D) by 39.7 points.
Virginia SmithRepublican · winner
69.8%136,985
Scott E. SidwellDemocrat
30.2%59,182
196,184 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.
Scott E. SidwellVirginia Smith
$75.2K
Raised by the campaign
$220K
$74.2K
Spent by the campaign
$253.3K
$950
Cash on hand
$11.1K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986