1986 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|
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Rudman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
Peabody: 40–50% 50–60% >90% |
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The 1986 United States Senate election in New Hampshire took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican Senator Warren Rudman ran for re-election to a second term. He was initially challenged in the Republican primary by conservative Bruce Valley, a retired U.S. Navy commander, but Valley was disqualified from running in the primary. Instead, Valley ran as an independent in the general election. Rudman's main opponent was Endicott Peabody, the former Governor of Massachusetts and the Democratic nominee, who sought the nomination to prevent an adherent of the LaRouche movement from winning the party's nomination. While national Democrats hoped that Valley's participation in the race would split the Republican vote, potentially aiding Peabody, Rudman ultimately won re-election in a landslide, winning 63 percent of the vote to Peabody's 32 percent and Valley's 5 percent.
