1986 Connecticut Senate election

1986 Connecticut State Senate election

November 4, 1986

All 36 seats in the Connecticut State Senate
19 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Cornelius O'Leary Reginald Smith
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat 7th 8th
Last election 12 24
Seats won 25 11
Seat change 13 13
Popular vote 530,506 415,730
Percentage 56.07% 43.93%
Swing 11.83% 11.34%

Results:
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold

President pro tempore before election

Philip Robertson
Republican

Elected President pro tempore

John B. Larson
Democratic

The 1986 Connecticut State Senate elections took place as a part of the biennial 1986 United States elections. All 36 seats were up for re-election. Senators serve two-year terms and are up for re-election every election cycle.

The Democrats, led by minority leader Cornelius O'Leary, flipped control of the State Senate. They managed to gain a two-thirds majority over the Republicans, achieving a supermajority. This was in large part attributed to the popularity of incumbent Democratic governor William O'Neill and his landslide re-election, having a coattail effect boosting down-ballot Connecticut Democrats due to the state's improved economy, with it also leading to them reclaiming the state house.