1986Final results
1986 election for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania
U.S. Senate · Pennsylvania
Arlen Specter (R) won with 56.4% of the vote, defeating Bob Edgar (D) by 13.6 points.
Arlen SpecterRepublican · winner
56.4%1,906,537
Bob EdgarDemocrat
42.9%1,448,219
Lance S. HaverOther party
0.7%23,470
3,378,226 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.
Bob EdgarArlen Specter
$4M
Raised by the campaign
$5.5M
$4M
Spent by the campaign
$6M
$5.7K
Cash on hand
$64.5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986