1986Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
1986 election for U.S. Senate in Alabama
U.S. Senate · Alabama
Richard C. Shelby (D) won with 50.3% of the vote, defeating Jeremiah Denton (R) by 0.6 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Richard C. ShelbyDemocrat · winner
50.3%609,360
Jeremiah DentonRepublican
49.7%602,537
1,211,897 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.
Richard C. ShelbyJeremiah Denton
$2.4M
Raised by the campaign
$4.7M
$2.3M
Spent by the campaign
$4.6M
$141.3K
Cash on hand
$71.6K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986