1986Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
1986 election for U.S. Senate in South Dakota
U.S. Senate · South Dakota
Thomas Daschle (D) won with 51.6% of the vote, defeating James Abdnor (R) by 3.2 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Thomas DaschleDemocrat · winner
51.6%152,657
James AbdnorRepublican
48.4%143,173
295,830 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.
Thomas DaschleJames Abdnor
$3.5M
Raised by the campaign
$3.4M
$3.5M
Spent by the campaign
$3.4M
$40.2K
Cash on hand
$65.9K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 30, 1986; FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 30, 1986