Notably , the bulk of the 1980 class of Senate Republicans failed to hold their seats for the Republican party beyond one term . In the 1986 election , the Democrats managed to recapture the majority in the Senate , partly thanks to the defeat of several members of the Reagan class of 1980 : They won three more seats in 1986 , but these have since shown instability , alternating between the parties ( and in one case between senators ) : Speaker of the House Paul Ryan referred to the Republican majority in 2016 's Senate and House elections as being " saved " by then-President-elect Donald Trump 's " coattails . " This not only affected Senate races in 1980 , which resulted in many Republicans replacing incumbent Democrats , were considered as a part of Reagan 's coattails . Most prominently defeat of first term Governor of Arkansas and future President of the United States Bill Clinton by Frank D. White . Nevertheless , Clinton regained Governorship in a 1982 rematch and held until his election to the Presidency in 1992 . In a speech delivered at the 2016 Democratic National Convention , Clinton referenced the effect of Reagan as the reason for his defeat in 1980
2016 Democratic National Convention
2016 Democratic National Convention
Reagan's coattails