1986Flipped from DemocraticFinal results
1986 election for Oklahoma's 1st District
U.S. House · Oklahoma
James M. Inhofe (R) won with 54.8% of the vote, defeating Gary D. Allison (D) by 12.0 points, a seat Democrats won last time.
James M. InhofeRepublican · winner
54.8%78,919
Gary D. AllisonDemocrat
42.8%61,663
Carl E. McCullough Jr.Independent
2.4%3,455
144,037 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.
Gary D. AllisonJames M. Inhofe
$120.1K
Raised by the campaign
$415.8K
$119.6K
Spent by the campaign
$410.3K
$509
Cash on hand
$5.5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986
The candidates
James M. Inhofe (R)Gary D. Allison (D)
Also on the ballot: Carl E. McCullough Jr. (Independent), 2.4%