1986Final results
1986 election for South Dakota's at-large District
U.S. House · South Dakota
Tim Johnson (D) won with 59.2% of the vote, defeating Dale Bell (R) by 18.4 points.
Tim JohnsonDemocrat · winner
59.2%171,462
Dale BellRepublican
40.8%118,261
289,723 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.
Tim JohnsonDale Bell
$438.1K
Raised by the campaign
$482.5K
$430.8K
Spent by the campaign
$483.4K
$7.3K
Cash on hand
$46
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986; FEC, through Dec 30, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986