McCain:      50–60%      60-70% Barry Goldwater Republican John McCain Republican The 1986 United States Senate election in Arizona was held on November 4, 1986.

Senator Barry Goldwater decided to retire instead of seeking a sixth term.

The open seat was won by John McCain, a Republican congressman from Arizona's 1st congressional district and former Navy officer, as well as future 2008 presidential nominee against Democrat Barack Obama, as so was Goldwater in 1964 against incumbent Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson.

Initially, Democrats sought to recruit two-term governor Bruce Babbit, but Babbit declined, ultimately to focus on a presidential bid.

[1][2][3] Kimball's campaign was subject to negative press from the Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette.