The 1986 United States Senate election in California took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Alan Cranston narrowly won re-election to a fourth and final term over Republican U.S. Congressman Ed Zschau. This was the last time where both major party nominees for the Class 3 Senate seat in California were men until 2022.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- John Hancock Abbott, perennial candidate
- Robert John Banuelos, resident of Costa Mesa
- Alan Cranston, incumbent Senator
- Charles Greene
- Brian Lantz, candidate for Mayor of San Francisco in 1983
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- William B. Allen, professor at Harvey Mudd College and member of the National Council on the Humanities
- Michael D. Antonovich, Los Angeles County Supervisor and former State Assemblyman
- Eldridge Cleaver, author and former Black Panther
- Edward M. Davis, State Senator and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department
- Bobbi Fiedler, U.S. Representative from Encino
- Bruce Herschensohn, political commentator for KABC-TV in Los Angeles
- Joe Knowland, actor, publisher of The Oakland Tribune and son of former Senator William Knowland
- Art Laffer, economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan
- George Montgomery
- Robert W. Naylor, State Assemblyman from Menlo Park
- William H. Pemberton, candidate for Senate in 1982
- John W. Spring
- Ed Zschau, U.S. Representative from Los Altos
Results
Peace and Freedom primary
Candidates
- Lenni Brenner, Trotskyist anti-war activist and writer
- Paul Kangas, private investigator and perennial candidate
Results
General election
Results
See also
References