1986Final results
1986 election for Tennessee's 1st District
U.S. House · Tennessee
James Quillen (R) won with 68.9% of the vote, defeating John B. Russell (D) by 37.8 points.
James QuillenRepublican · winner
68.9%80,289
John B. RussellDemocrat
31.1%36,278
116,570 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.
John B. RussellJames Quillen
$8K
Raised by the campaign
$472.3K
$8K
Spent by the campaign
$459.1K
$0
Cash on hand
$321.5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 29, 1986; FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986