1986Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
1986 election for U.S. Senate in Nevada
U.S. Senate · Nevada
Harry Reid (D) won with 50.0% of the vote, defeating Jim Santini (R) by 5.5 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Harry ReidDemocrat · winner
50.0%130,955
Jim SantiniRepublican
44.5%116,606
Write-ins and other votesOther party
3.6%9,472
H. Kent CromwellLibertarian
1.9%4,899
261,932 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.
Harry ReidJim Santini
$2.1M
Raised by the campaign
$2.7M
$2.1M
Spent by the campaign
$2.7M
$33.5K
Cash on hand
$7.8K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986