The 1986 United States House of Representatives elections was held on November 4, 1986, to elect U.S. Representatives to serve in the 100th United States Congress. They occurred in the middle of President Ronald Reagan's second term in office, while he was still relatively popular with the American public. As in most mid-term elections, the president's party — in this case, the Republican Party — lost seats, with the Democratic Party gaining a net of five seats and cementing its majority. These results were not as dramatic as those in the Senate, where the Republicans lost control of the chamber to the Democrats.

Overall results 393 incumbent members sought reelection, but 2 were defeated in primaries and 6 defeated in the general election for a total of 385 incumbents winning.

+ ↓ 258 177 Democratic Republican

Party Seats Seatpercentage Votepercentage Popular vote Lastelection(1984) Thiselection Netchange   Democratic 253 258 5 59.3% 54.3% 32,447,021   Republican 181 177 4 40.7% 44.4% 26,533,178   Independent 0 0 0.0% 0.2% 157,332  Libertarian 0 0 0.0% 0.2% 121,076   Conservative 1 0 1 0.0% 0.1% 58,712   Peace and Freedom 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 57,003   Right to Life 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 39,407   Others 0 0 0.0% 0.6% 344,668 Totals 435 435 100.0% 100.0% 59,758,397

Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk

Retiring incumbents A total of 40 representatives (19 Democrats and 21 Republicans) retired, 22 of whom (12 Democrats and 10 Republicans) retired to run for other offices.

Democrats Nineteen incumbent Democrats retired. : Richard Shelby: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Tim Wirth: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Don Fuqua retired. : Wyche Fowler: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Berkley Bedell retired. : John Breaux: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Catherine Small Long retired. : Barbara Mikulski: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Parren Mitchell retired. : Michael D. Barnes: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Tip O'Neill retired. : Harry Reid: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Stan Lundine: retired to run for Lieutenant Governor of New York. : Charles Whitley retired. : John F. Seiberling retired. : James R. Jones: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Jim Weaver: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Bob Edgar: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Tom Daschle: retired to run for U.S. Senate. Republicans Twenty-one incumbent Republicans retired. : John McCain: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Eldon Rudd retired. : Eugene A. Chappie retired. : Ed Zschau: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Bobbi Fiedler: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Ken Kramer: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : George M. O'Brien retired. : John E. Grotberg retired. : Elwood Hillis retired. : T. Cooper Evans retired. : Gene Snyder retired. : Henson Moore: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : John R. McKernan Jr.: retired to run for Governor of Maine. : Marjorie Holt retired. : William Carney retired. : Tom Kindness: retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Thomas F. Hartnett: retired to run for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. : Carroll A. Campbell Jr.: retired to run for Governor of South Carolina. : Tom Loeffler: retired to run for Governor of Texas. : David Smith Monson retired. : G. William Whitehurst retired.

Resignations and deaths Democrats One Democrat died in office and one Democrat resigned. : Joseph P. Addabbo died April 10, 1986. : Cecil Heftel resigned July 11, 1986, to campaign for Governor of Hawaii.

Republicans One Republican resigned. : Jim Broyhill retired to run for U.S. Senate, then resigned July 14, 1986, to become U.S. Senator.

Incumbents defeated

In primary elections

Democrats Two Democrats lost renomination. : Neil Abercrombie lost renomination to Mufi Hannemann, who lost the general election to Pat Saiki. : Alton Waldon lost renomination to Floyd Flake, who won the general election.

Republican One Republican lost renomination : Mark D. Siljander lost renomination to Fred Upton, who won the general election.

In general elections

Democrats One Democrat lost re-election to Republicans : Robert A. Young lost re-election to Jack Buechner.

Republicans 5 Republicans lost re-election to Democrats : Michael L. Strang lost re-election to Ben Nighthorse Campbell. : Webb Franklin lost re-election to Mike Espy. : Fred J. Eckert lost re-election to Louise Slaughter. : Bill Cobey lost re-election to David Price. : Bill Hendon lost re-election to James M. Clarke.

Open seats that changed parties Republican seats won by Democrats Eight Republican seats were won by Democrats: : won by Jim Jontz. : won by David R. Nagle. : won by Joseph E. Brennan. : won by Tom McMillen. : won by George J. Hochbrueckner. : won by Liz J. Patterson. : won by Wayne Owens. : won by Owen B. Pickett.

Democratic seats won by Republicans Seven Democratic seat was won by a Republican: : won by Pat Saiki. : won by Fred Grandy. : won by Clyde C. Holloway. : won by Connie Morella. : won by Amo Houghton. : won by Jim Inhofe. : won by Curt Weldon.

Open seats that parties held

Democratic seats held by Democrats Democrats held fourteen of their open seats : Won by Claude Harris Jr. : Won by David Skaggs : Won by Bill Grant : Won by John Lewis : Won by Jimmy Hayes : Won by Ben Cardin : Won by Kwiesi Mfume : Won by Joseph P. Kennedy II : Won by James Bilbray : Won by Floyd Flake : Won by Martin Lancaster : Won by Tom Sawyer : Won by Peter DeFazio : Won by Tim Johnson

Republican seats held by Republicans Republicans held fifteen of their open seats : Won by Jay Rhodes : Won by Jon Kyl : Won by Wally Herger : Won by Ernie Konnyu : Won by Elton Gallegly : Won by Joel Hefley : Won by Jack Davis : Won by Dennis Hastert : Won by Jim Bunning : Won by Richard Baker : Won by Fred Upton : Won by Cass Ballenger : Won by Donald "Buz" Lukens : Won by Arthur Ravenel Jr. : Won by Lamar S. Smith

Special elections

Sorted by election date District Predecessor Party Results Candidates Joseph P. Addabbo DemocraticIncumbent died April 10, 1986.New member elected June 10, 1986.Democratic hold.Winner was not renominated in primary for re-election in November; see below. Cecil Heftel DemocraticIncumbent resigned July 11, 1986, to campaign for Governor of Hawaii.New member elected September 20, 1986.Democratic hold.Winner was not renominated in primary for re-election in November; see below.

Alabama

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Sonny Callahan Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected. William L. Dickinson Republican 1964 Incumbent re-elected. Bill Nichols Democratic 1966 Incumbent re-elected. Tom Bevill Democratic 1966 Incumbent re-elected. Ronnie Flippo Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected. Ben Erdreich Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Richard Shelby Democratic 1978 Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator.Democratic hold.

Alaska

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Don Young Republican 1973 Incumbent re-elected.

Arizona

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates John McCain Republican 1982 Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator.Republican hold. Mo Udall Democratic 1961 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Stump Republican 1976 Incumbent re-elected. Eldon Rudd Republican 1976 Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Jim Kolbe Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected.

Arkansas

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Bill Alexander Democratic 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Tommy F. Robinson Democratic 1984 Incumbent re-elected. John Paul Hammerschmidt Republican 1966 Incumbent re-elected. Beryl Anthony Jr. Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected.

California

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Douglas H. Bosco Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Eugene A. Chappie Republican 1980 Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Bob Matsui Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Vic Fazio Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Sala Burton Democratic 1983 Incumbent re-elected. Barbara Boxer Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. George Miller Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Ron Dellums Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected. Pete Stark Democratic 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Don Edwards Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected. Tom Lantos Democratic 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Ed Zschau Republican 1982 Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator.Republican hold. Norman Mineta Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Norman D. Shumway Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Tony Coelho Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Leon Panetta Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected. Chip Pashayan Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Richard H. Lehman Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Lagomarsino Republican 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Bill Thomas Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Bobbi Fiedler Republican 1980 Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator.Republican hold. Carlos Moorhead Republican 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Anthony Beilenson Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected. Henry Waxman Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Edward R. Roybal Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected. Howard Berman Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Mel Levine Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Julian Dixon Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Augustus Hawkins Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected. Matthew G. Martínez Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Mervyn Dymally Democratic 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Glenn M. Anderson Democratic 1968 Incumbent re-elected. David Dreier Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Esteban Torres Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Jerry Lewis Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. George Brown Jr. Democratic 19621970 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Al McCandless Republican 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Dornan Republican 19761982 1984 Incumbent re-elected. William Dannemeyer Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Robert Badham Republican 1976 Incumbent re-elected. Bill Lowery Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Dan Lungren Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Ron Packard Republican 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Jim Bates Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Duncan L. Hunter Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected.

Colorado

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Ref Pat Schroeder Democratic 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Tim Wirth Democratic 1974 Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator.Democratic hold. Michael L. Strang Republican 1984 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Hank Brown Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Ken Kramer Republican 1978 Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator.Republican hold. Daniel Schaefer Republican 1983 Incumbent re-elected.

Connecticut

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Barbara B. Kennelly Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Sam Gejdenson Democratic 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Bruce Morrison Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Stewart McKinney Republican 1970 Incumbent re-elected. John G. Rowland Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected. Nancy Johnson Republican 1982 Incumbent re-elected.

Delaware

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Tom Carper Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected.

Florida