[1] Incumbent Mayor Bernie Sanders won election to his fourth and final term as mayor with 55.23% of the popular vote against Democratic nominee Paul Lafayette, a member of the city council.

Sanders ran his final independent campaign for mayor stating that he would not seek reelection to another term after 1987.

[4] Caryl Stewart, who unsuccessfully sought a seat in the Burlington city council from the 3rd ward, and Paul Lafayette, who served as a member of the city council from the 5th ward, stated on August 24, 1986, that they were considering running for the Democratic mayoral nomination.

[8] Frederick Bailey, a member of the Burlington city council, was considered as a possible nominee for the Republicans, but later announced that he would not run.

[9] Sanders notably won the 5th ward, which at the time was represented by Lafayette.