1986Final results
1986 election for Virginia's 3rd District
U.S. House · Virginia
Tom Bliley (R) won with 67.0% of the vote, defeating Kenneth E. Powell (D) by 37.4 points.
Tom BlileyRepublican · winner
67.0%74,525
Kenneth E. PowellDemocrat
29.6%32,961
J. Stephen HodgesIndependent
3.3%3,675
111,179 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.
Kenneth E. PowellTom Bliley
$229.5K
Raised by the campaign
$779.7K
$225.3K
Spent by the campaign
$816.2K
$4.2K
Cash on hand
$8K
Other candidates' campaigns: J. Stephen Hodges $14K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986