1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Flag of Massachusetts.svg
  1978 November 2, 1982 1986  
Turnout82.51% Increase2.svg 3.54 [1]
  1988 Dukakis (cropped 3x4).jpg John Sears (11191700264) (1).jpg
Nominee Michael Dukakis John W. Sears
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate John Kerry Leon Lombardi
Popular vote1,219,109749,679
Percentage59.48%36.57%

1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1982 Massachusetts Gubernatorial Election by Municipality.svg
Dukakis:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Sears:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Edward J. King
Democratic

Elected Governor

Michael Dukakis
Democratic

The 1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Michael Dukakis was elected to a second non-consecutive term. He beat Republican John W. Sears in the general election, after defeating incumbent Governor Edward J. King in the Democratic primary.

Contents

This election notably saw the Dukakis-Kerry ticket for governor and lt. governor, a gubernatorial ticket made up of the future 1988 and 2004 Democratic nominees for President of the United States, who both lost to Bush family members, George H.W. and George W., respectively. Republican candidate Andrew Card also went on to serve in key roles in both Bush administrations, as White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Transportation Secretary, and White House Chief of Staff.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

Withdrew

Campaign

Former Governor Michael Dukakis challenged incumbent Governor Edward J. King in a rematch of the 1978 Democratic primary. This time, Dukakis was victorious, 53–47%.

Results

1982 Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary results by municipality.svg
1982 Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Michael Dukakis 631,911 53.49% Increase2.svg11.29
Democratic Edward J. King (incumbent)549,33546.50%Decrease2.svg4.57
Total votes1,181,246 100.00%

Lt. Governor

Candidates

Campaign

Incumbent Lt. Governor Thomas P. O'Neill III did not run for re-election. Former Navy Lieutenant and anti-war activist John Kerry won a five-way contest for the Democratic nomination.

Results

Primary results by municipality Massachusetts Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 1982.svg
Primary results by municipality
1982 Massachusetts Democratic Lt. gubernatorial primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Kerry 325,890 29.00%
Democratic Evelyn Murphy 286,37825.48%
Democratic Samuel Rotondi 228,08620.29%
Democratic Lou Nickinello 150,82913.42%
Democratic Lois Pines 132,73411.81%
Total votes1,123,917 100.00%

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results by municipality Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 1982.svg
Republican primary results by municipality
1982 Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John W. Sears 90,617 50.71%
Republican John Lakian 46,67526.12%
Republican Andrew Card 40,89922.95%
Total votes178,191 100.00%

Lt. Governor

Candidates

Results

Lombardi was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

General election

Results

Michael Dukakis won the election with 57.9% of the vote, winning every county in the state - 13 with a majority, and one (Barnstable) with a plurality.

1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Michael Dukakis (John Kerry) 1,219,109 59.48% Increase2.svg6.97
Republican John W. Sears (Leon Lombardi)749,67936.57%Decrease2.svg10.62
Independent Frank Rich (John Davies)63,0683.08%N/A
Libertarian Rebecca Shipman (Norman MacConnell, Jr.)17,9180.87%N/A
Majority469,43022.91%

Results by county

1982 United States gubernatorial election in Massachusetts (by county) [2]
CountyDukakis - D %Dukakis - D #Sears - R %Sears - R #Others %Others #Total #
Barnstable 48.7%33,94246.4%32,3794.9%3,44469,765
Berkshire 61.8%32,45331.6%16,5856.6%3,45152,489
Bristol 60.1%96,60232.8%52,6587.1%11,490160,750
Dukes 61.8%2,69833.3%1,4534.9%2144,365
Essex 57.3%143,90036.5%91,6336.2%15,519251,052
Franklin 55.2%13,76539.8%9,9375.0%1,24224,944
Hampden 54.0%77,18335.2%50,39110.8%15,399142,973
Hampshire 60.3%29,35533.6%16,3326.1%2,98848,675
Middlesex 60.2%319,45334.4%182,4835.4%28,798530,734
Nantucket 53.7%1,25241.6%9704.8%1112,333
Norfolk 56.2%143,94037.7%96,5196.1%15,679256,138
Plymouth 51.3%73,57042.0%60,2506.7%9,605143,425
Suffolk 63.4%117,52528.5%52,8848.0%14,859185,268
Worcester 57.8%133,17137.0%85,2055.3%12,192230,568

See also

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References

  1. "Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 02, 1982". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  2. "PD43+ » Search Elections". PD43+. Retrieved February 11, 2024.