1986Final results
1986 election for Utah's 3rd District
U.S. House · Utah
Howard Nielson (R) won with 66.6% of the vote, defeating Dale F. Gardiner (D) by 33.8 points.
Howard NielsonRepublican · winner
66.6%86,599
Dale F. GardinerDemocrat
32.7%42,582
David P. HurstSocialist Workers
0.7%893
130,074 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.
Dale F. GardinerHoward Nielson
$38K
Raised by the campaign
$118.2K
$38K
Spent by the campaign
$104.8K
$0
Cash on hand
$30.7K
Campaign money: FEC, through Apr 30, 1987; FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986