1984 United States gubernatorial elections

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1984 United States gubernatorial elections
Flag of the United States.svg
  1983 November 6, 1984 1985  

15 governorships
13 states; 2 territories
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before3515
Seats after3416
Seat changeDecrease2.svg1Increase2.svg1
Seats up67
Seats won58

1984 United States gubernatorial elections results map.svg
  Republican hold
  Republican gain
  Democratic hold
  Democratic gain

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 6, 1984, in 13 states and two territories. The Republicans had a net gain of one seat in this election, which coincided with the Senate, House elections and presidential election.

Contents

This was the last year in which Arkansas held a gubernatorial election in the same year as the presidential election. The length of gubernatorial terms for Arkansas' governor would be extended from two years to four years with elections taking place in midterm election years following the passage of the Sixty-third Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. [1]

Election results

StateIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Arkansas Bill Clinton Democratic 1978
1980 (defeated)
1982
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Bill Clinton (Democratic) 62.5%
  • Woody Freeman (Republican) 37.4%
Delaware Pete du Pont Republican 1976 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green check.svgY Mike Castle (Republican) 55.0%
  • William J. Quillen (Democratic) 45.0%
Indiana Robert D. Orr Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Robert D. Orr (Republican) 52.16%
  • Wayne Townsend (Democratic) 47.18%
  • Rockland Snyder (American) 0.34%
  • James A. Ridenour (Libertarian) 0.32%
Missouri Kit Bond Republican 1980 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
Montana Ted Schwinden Democratic 1980 Incumbent re-elected.
New Hampshire John H. Sununu Republican 1982 Incumbent re-elected.
North Carolina Jim Hunt Democratic 1976 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
North Dakota Allen I. Olson Republican 1980 Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Democratic-NPL gain.
Rhode Island J. Joseph Garrahy Democratic 1976 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Utah Scott M. Matheson Democratic 1976 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Vermont Richard A. Snelling Republican 1982 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Washington John Spellman Republican 1980 Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
West Virginia Jay Rockefeller Democratic 1976 Incumbent term-limited to run for U.S. Senator.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.

Close states

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

  1. Vermont, 1.5%
  2. Indiana, 4.98%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. Washington, 6.6%
  2. West Virginia, 6.6%
  3. North Carolina, 8.9%

Arkansas

1984 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Flag of Arkansas (1924-2011).svg
  1982 November 6, 1984 1986  
  Gov. Bill Clinton 1983 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Bill Clinton Woody Freeman
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote554,561331,987
Percentage62.55%37.45%

1984 Arkansas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Clinton:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Freeman:     50–60%

Governor before election

Bill Clinton
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bill Clinton
Democratic

The 1984 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Governor Bill Clinton won reelection with a 25% margin of victory over Jonesboro businessman Woody Freeman. This was the last gubernatorial election in Arkansas before the implementation of Amendment 63, lengthening the term of the governor of Arkansas from two to four years. [2] Winning his third of five terms as Governor of Arkansas, Clinton continued to serve this office until shortly after he was elected to the presidency in 1992.

Delaware

1984 Delaware gubernatorial election
Flag of Delaware.svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 1988  
  Mike Castle 1982.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Mike Castle William T. Quillen
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote135,250108,315
Percentage55.53%44.47%

1984 Delaware gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1984 Delaware gubernatorial results map by house district.svg
Castle:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Quillen:     50–60%     60–70%     80–90%

Governor before election

Pierre S. duPont IV
Republican

Elected Governor

Mike Castle
Republican

The 1984 Delaware gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican governor Pierre S. duPont IV was barred from seeking a third term in office. Lieutenant Governor Mike Castle was elected to succeed him, defeating State Supreme Court Justice William T. Quillen.

Indiana

1984 Indiana gubernatorial election
Flag of Indiana.svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 (1984-11-6) 1988  
  Robert D. Orr 1976 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Robert D. Orr Wayne Townsend
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate John Mutz Ann DeLaney
Popular vote1,146,4971,036,922
Percentage52.2%47.2%

1984 Indiana gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Orr:      50–60%     60–70%
Townsend:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

Robert D. Orr
Republican

Elected Governor

Robert D. Orr
Republican

The 1984 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984, in all 92 counties of Indiana. Robert D. Orr, the state's incumbent Republican governor, who defeated former State Treasurer John Snyder for the nomination, was comfortably reelected to a second term, defeating State Senator Wayne Townsend and two minor party challengers in the general election. [3]

Missouri

1984 Missouri gubernatorial election
Flag of Missouri.svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 1988  
  John Ashcroft official photo as Governor (cropped).jpg Kenneth J. Rothman (cropped).jpg
Nominee John Ashcroft Ken Rothman
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,194,506913,700
Percentage56.7%43.3%

1984 Missouri gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results

Ashcroft:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Rothman:     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

Kit Bond
Republican

Elected Governor

John Ashcroft
Republican

The 1984 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984 and resulted in a victory for the Republican nominee, Missouri Attorney General John Ashcroft, over the Democratic candidate, Lt. Governor Ken Rothman, and Independent Bob Allen. Incumbent Republican Governor Kit Bond, who was elected to the Governorship in 1972, but lost re-election in 1976 before regaining the office in 1980, chose not to seek a third non-consecutive term.

Montana

1984 Montana gubernatorial election
Flag of Montana.svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 1988  
Turnout75.00%Increase2.svg0.10 [4]
  Ted-Schwinden-as-Governor.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Ted Schwinden Pat M. Goodover
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate George Turman Don Allen
Popular vote266,578100,070
Percentage70.34%26.41%

1984 Montana gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Schwinden:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

Governor before election

Ted Schwinden
Democratic

Elected Governor

Ted Schwinden
Democratic

The 1984 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Governor of Montana Ted Schwinden, who was first elected in 1980, ran for re-election. Schwinden won the Democratic primary against a perennial candidate, and moved on to the general election, where he faced Pat M. Goodover, a State Senator and the Republican nominee. Although then-President Ronald Reagan won the state in a landslide that year in the presidential election, Schwinden defeated Goodover with over 70% of the vote to win his second and final term as governor.

New Hampshire

1984 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
Flag of New Hampshire.svg
  1982 November 6, 1984 1986  
  John H. Sununu (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee John H. Sununu Chris Spirou
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote256,574127,156
Percentage66.86%33.14%

1984 New Hampshire gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1984 New Hampshire gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg
Sununu:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Spirou:     50–60%     80–90%     >90%

Governor before election

John H. Sununu
Republican

Elected Governor

John H. Sununu
Republican

The 1984 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Governor John Sununu was re-elected to a second term in office.

North Carolina

1984 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 1988  
  James G. Martin (cropped).jpg EdmistenRL.jpg
Nominee James G. Martin Rufus L. Edmisten
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,208,1671,011,209
Percentage54.26%45.41%

1984 North Carolina gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results

Martin:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Edmisten:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Governor before election

Jim Hunt
Democratic

Elected Governor

James G. Martin
Republican

The 1984 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Democratic incumbent Jim Hunt was unable to run for another consecutive term under the North Carolina Constitution. Hunt ran instead for the U.S. Senate against Jesse Helms and lost, although he later announced his campaign for a third gubernatorial term in the 1992 election. Popular 9th District Congressman James G. Martin ran as the Republican nominee against Democratic Attorney General Rufus L. Edmisten, who defeated Hunt's Lt. Governor, James Green, among other candidates, in a hotly contested primary.

Martin won by a comfortable margin on Election Day thanks to the surprise endorsement of Green, and to President Ronald Reagan's coattails (see also 1984 United States presidential election ). Martin became just the second Republican elected to the state's highest office in the 20th century.

North Dakota

1984 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Flag of North Dakota.svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 (1984-11-6) 1988  
Turnout314,382
  George Sinner.png Allen Olson.jpg
Nominee George A. Sinner Allen I. Olson
Party Democratic–NPL Republican
Running mate Ruth Meiers Ernest Sands
Popular vote173,922140,460
Percentage55.3%44.7%

1984 North Dakota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results [5]
Sinner:      50–60%     60–70%
Olsen:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

Allen I. Olson
Republican

Elected Governor

George A. Sinner
Democratic–NPL

The 1984 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984 to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota. Voters selected Democratic candidate George A. Sinner and his running mate Ruth Meiers in a landslide over Republican incumbent Governor Allen I. Olson and Lieutenant Governor Ernest Sands.

Rhode Island

1984 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
Flag of Rhode Island.svg
  1982 November 6, 1984 1986  
  RI Governor Edward D. DiPrete 1985-1991 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Edward D. DiPrete Anthony J. Solomon
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote245,059163,311
Percentage60.01%39.99%

1984 Rhode Island gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1984 Rhode Island gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg
DiPrete:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Solomon:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

J. Joseph Garrahy
Democratic

Elected Governor

Edward D. DiPrete
Republican

The 1984 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Republican nominee and Cranston mayor Edward D. DiPrete defeated Democratic nominee Anthony J. Solomon with 60% of the vote.

Utah

1984 Utah gubernatorial election
Flag of Utah (1922-2011).svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 1988  
  Norman Bangerter (Utah governor).png Wayne Owens 100th Congress 1987 (cropped).jpg
Nominee Norman H. Bangerter Wayne Owens
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote351,792275,669
Percentage55.87%43.78%

1984 Utah gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Bangerter:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Owens:     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

Scott M. Matheson
Democratic

Elected Governor

Norman H. Bangerter
Republican

The 1984 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Republican nominee Norman H. Bangerter defeated Democratic nominee Wayne Owens with 55.87% of the vote, becoming Utah's first Republican governor in 20 years.

Vermont

1984 Vermont gubernatorial election
Flag of Vermont.svg
  1982 November 6, 1984 (1984-11-6) 1986  
  Madeleine Kunin (D-VT).jpg Easton2.png
Nominee Madeleine Kunin John Easton Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote116,938113,264
Percentage50.0%48.5%

1984 Vermont gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1984 Vermont gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg
Kunin:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%
Easton:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%

Governor before election

Richard Snelling
Republican

Elected Governor

Madeleine Kunin
Democratic

The 1984 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican Richard A. Snelling did not run for another term as Governor of Vermont. Democratic candidate Madeleine Kunin defeated Republican candidate John J. Easton Jr. to succeed him. Kunin's win coincided with the presidential election, which saw Republican Ronald Reagan win Vermont with nearly 58% of the vote.

Washington

1984 Washington gubernatorial election
Flag of Washington.svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 1988  
  Booth Gardner.jpg JohnDSpellman.jpg
Nominee Booth Gardner John Spellman
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,006,993881,994
Percentage53.31%46.69%

1984 Washington gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Gardner:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Spellman:      50–60%

Governor before election

John Spellman
Republican

Elected Governor

Booth Gardner
Democratic

The 1984 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican John Spellman ran for re-election to a second term but was defeated by Democrat Booth Gardner despite Republican President Ronald Reagan carrying the state by 13 points in the concurrent 1984 Election.

West Virginia

1984 West Virginia gubernatorial election
Flag of West Virginia.svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 1988  
  Arch Moore.jpg Clyde See crop.jpg
Nominee Arch A. Moore Jr. Clyde M. See Jr.
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote394,937346,565
Percentage53.26%46.74%

1984 West Virginia gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Moore:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
See:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Jay Rockefeller
Democratic

Elected Governor

Arch A. Moore, Jr.
Republican

The 1984 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Until 2020, this was the last time West Virginia voted for the Republican candidate for Governor and for President, as both elections are held concurrently in the state.

See also

References

  1. AR Const. amendment 63
  2. "Constitution Of The State Of Arkansas Of 1874 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF ARKANSAS OF 1874" (PDF). sos.arkansas.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 9, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  3. Herbers, John (November 7, 1984). "The 1984 Elections: More Than the Presidency at Stake; G.o.p. Gains Marginal in Governors' Contests" via NYTimes.com.
  4. "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  5. "Official Abstract of Votes Cast at the General Election Held November 6, 1984" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State . Archived from the original (PDF) on December 12, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2016.