1986 Maryland Senate election

1986 Maryland Senate election

← 1982 November 4, 1986 1990 →

All 47 seats of the Maryland Senate
24 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Melvin Steinberg (retired) John A. Cade
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 1983 1984
Leader's seat 11th district 9th district
Last election 41 6
Seats won 40 7
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1

President before election

Melvin Steinberg
Democratic

President

Thomas V. Miller Jr.
Democratic

The 1986 Maryland Senate election were held on November 4, 1986, to elect senators in all 47 districts of the Maryland Senate. Members were elected in single-member constituencies to four-year terms. These elections were held concurrently with various federal and state elections, including for Governor of Maryland.

Following landslide victories for Paul Sarbanes and Harry Hughes in the 1982 elections, Republicans largely spent the following four years rebuilding the party.[1] The party began its 1986 campaigns in a strong position with White House aide Linda Chavez leading the ticket,[2] however, the party's status weakened as the election approached, with it shifting its focus away from legislative gains and toward limiting its legislative losses.[3]

  1. ^ Feinstein, John (December 12, 1982). "Square One For Md. GOP". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Sugawara, Sandra (January 24, 1986). "Chavez Lifts Md. GOP's Hopes". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "MARYLAND: Promise Turns to Problems For Fragmented State GOP". The Washington Post. November 2, 1986. Retrieved September 20, 2023.