1984 Pennsylvania Auditor General election

1984 Pennsylvania Auditor General election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →

Nominee Don Bailey Susan M. Shanaman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,289,308 2,136,677 Percentage 50.97% 47.58%

Auditor General before election Al Benedict Democratic Elected Auditor General Don Bailey Democratic

The 1984 Pennsylvania Auditor General election took place on November 6, 1984, to elect the Pennsylvania Auditor General. Incumbent Democratic Auditor Al Benedict was ineligible to seek a third term in office and instead ran for State Treasurer.

Democratic nominee and former U.S. Representative Don Bailey managed to beat Republican nominee and former Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission chairwoman Susan M. Shanaman, 51.0% to 47.6%. Bailey was the only Democratic nominee to win statewide that year.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Susan M. Shanaman, former chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Eliminated in primary

• Tom Swift, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 6th district.
• Eleanor Jeane Thomas, retired book keeper and perennial candidate from Somerset County.

Withdrew after Republican State Committee convention

• Robert A. Rovner, former State Senator.

Results

April 10, 1984 Republican primary ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Susan M. Shanaman	329,384	52.25%
	Republican	Tom Swift	173,881	27.58%
	Republican	Eleanor J. Thomas	127,179	20.17%
Total votes			630,444	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Don Bailey, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district. ^[5]

Eliminated in primary

• Frank Lucchino, Allegheny County controller.

Results

April 10, 1984 Democratic primary ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Don Bailey	593,722	55.24%
	Democratic	Frank Lucchino	481,004	44.76%
Total votes			1,074,726	100.00%

General election

Results

1984 Pennsylvania Auditor General election ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Don Bailey	2,289,308	50.97%
	Republican	Susan M. Shanaman	2,136,677	47.58%
	Consumer	Lance S. Haver	39,041	0.87%
	Libertarian	David K. Walter	25,883	0.58%
Total votes			4,490,909	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Former PUC Chairwoman Wins Support for Auditor". The Vindicator . January 16, 1984.
2. Rich Kirkpatrick (January 16, 1984). "GOP backs Shanaman for auditor general". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .
3. John Taylor (January 15, 1984). "GOP backs Ex-PUC chief". The Pittsburgh Press .
4. The Pennsylvania Manual, 1984-1985 - Page 603. Pennsylvania Department of General Services. 1985. ISBN   978-0-8182-0029-8.
5. John Taylor; Sherley Uhl (March 25, 1984). "Auditor general: A tale of 2 parties". The Pittsburgh Press .
6. The Pennsylvania Manual, 1984-1985 - Page 603. Pennsylvania Department of General Services. 1985. ISBN   978-0-8182-0029-8.
7. The Pennsylvania Manual, 1984-1985 - Page 617. Pennsylvania Department of General Services. 1985. ISBN   978-0-8182-0029-8.