1986Final results
1986 election for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma
U.S. Senate · Oklahoma
Don Nickles (R) won with 55.2% of the vote, defeating James R. Jones (D) by 10.4 points.
Don NicklesRepublican · winner
55.2%493,436
James R. JonesDemocrat
44.8%400,230
893,666 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.
James R. JonesDon Nickles
$2.5M
Raised by the campaign
$3M
$2.6M
Spent by the campaign
$3.3M
$11.2K
Cash on hand
$375.7K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986