Reagan's Coattails - 1986 and Beyond

1986 and Beyond

Notably, the bulk of the 1980 class of Senate Republicans failed to hold their seats for the Republican party beyond one term. In the 1986 election, the Democrats managed to recapture the majority in the Senate, partly thanks to the defeat of several members of the Reagan class of 1980:

• In South Dakota, Abdnor was challenged in the Republican primary by William J. Janklow. He survived a tough primary fight, but lost in the general election to Democrat Thomas A. Daschle, who became a leader in the Democratic caucus and held on to the seat until 2004, when he was unseated in a historic race.

• In Washington, Gorton was unseated by Democrat Brockman “Brock” Adams. Gorton returned to the Senate two years later in the 1988 election, but in 2000 was again unseated, this time by Maria E. Cantwell.

• In Wisconsin, Kasten managed to win a bid for re-election in 1986, but in 1992, Russell D. Feingold foiled his bid for a third term. Feingold himself was defeated in 2010 by conservative businessman Ron Johnson.

• In Florida, Hawkins lost her bid for re-election to Democrat D. Robert "Bob" Graham, who held the seat until his retirement in 2004, when Republican Melquiades "Mel" R. Martinez was elected to replace him.

• In Alabama, Denton lost his re-election bid to Democrat Richard C. Shelby. In November 1994, however, after the Republicans retook the Senate, Shelby switched parties, returning the seat to Republican hands.

They won three more seats in 1986, but these have since shown instability, alternating between the parties (and in one case between senators):

• In Georgia, Mattingly’s seat went to Democrat W. Wyche Fowler Jr. in 1986, Republican Paul D. Coverdell in 1992 and 1998, Democrat Zell B. Miller in 2000 (following Coverdell's death), and Republican Johnny Isakson in 2004.

• In North Carolina, after East committed suicide in 1986, James T. Broyhill was appointed to fill out his term. Broyhill was succeeded by Democrat Terry Sanford in 1986, Republican D. McLaughlin “Lauch” Faircloth in 1992, Democrat Johnny R. “John” Edwards in 1998, and Republican Richard M. Burr in 2004.

• In Indiana, Quayle's seat remained in Republican hands through his re-election in 1986, and after his resignation to become Vice President, through the appointment of Daniel R. Coats to replace him. Coats made a successful bid for re-election in 1992. In 1998, declined to run for a third term and Democrat B. Evans "Evan" Bayh III (the son of the man that Quayle had unseated in 1980) was elected to fill the seat. However, in 2010 Bayh declined to run for a third term and Coats was elected to fill the seat.