Friday political trivia: The Class of '86

Whether or not Barbara Mikulski would retire after her latest term in the Senate was a topic of discussion this week. It's not the first time she would be leaving politics. She had originally planned to do so in 1986, not satisfied by waiting around in the House any longer. Fate stepped in, and she became the nominee for Senate, winning the first of four terms that year.

As there weren't many women in the Senate back then, Mikulski was naturally the only female freshman that year. But who were the other members of the Class of ‘86?

Some came in by way of an open seat, as Mikulski did, including those who would advance to national prominence. Arizona Congressman John McCain took the seat of the legendary Barry Goldwater while Democrat Harry Reid succeeded retiring Republican Paul Laxalt in Nevada.

In other open seats, Republican Kit Bond picked up Thomas Eagleton's seat in Missouri, while John Breaux succeeded fellow Democrat Russell Long, and Tim Wirth held onto Gary Hart’s.

1986 was also the year that tested several Republicans from the 1980 ‘Reagan Revolution.’ Many did not fare so well.

In those races, Tom Daschle reclaimed George McGovern’s seat from James Abdnor. Kent Conrad won a narrow victory over Republican Mark Andrews. Brock Adams defeated Slade Gorton in Washington. Florida Gov. Bob Graham beat Paula Hawkins while Wyche Fowler defeated Mack Mattingly in Georgia. In North Carolina, Sen. Terry Sanford defeated temporary incumbent Sen. Jim Broyhill, after the 1980 victor John East committed suicide. Then-Democrat Richard Shelby defeated incumbent Jeremiah Denton in Alabama, though Shelby later switched the GOP side of the aisle in 1994.

Of 34 races that year, 13 new Senators were elected: 6 to open seats, and 7 defeating incumbents. 3 seats were retained by the same party, while the Democrats flipped 9 and the Republicans picked up 1.

7 members of the class of ’86 are no longer in the Senate, with 4 having retired and 3 being defeated for re-election.