1986 Arizona gubernatorial election

Last updated

1986 Arizona gubernatorial election
Flag of Arizona.svg
  1982 November 4, 1986 1990–91  
  Evan Mecham (Arizona governor).jpg Carolyn Warner by Gage Skidmore.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Evan Mecham Carolyn Warner Bill Schulz
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Popular vote343,913298,986224,085
Percentage39.67%34.49%25.85%

1986 Arizona gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Mecham:     30–40%     40–50%
Warner:     40–50%     60–70%

Governor before election

Bruce Babbitt
Democratic

Elected Governor

Evan Mecham
Republican

The 1986 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Republican Evan Mecham, who defeated Burton Barr for the Republican nomination, defeated the Democratic nominee and State Superintendent Carolyn Warner and independent candidate Bill Schulz.

Contents

Mecham's victory in the primary and general elections are considered among the greatest political surprises in Arizona history. Ultimately, Mecham did not complete his full four-year term in office; he was impeached and removed from office in 1988.

This was the first gubernatorial election in which La Paz County participated after separating from Yuma County in between this election and the one just before it.

Background

Bruce Babbitt, who succeed to the office of Governor upon the 1978 death of Wesley Bolin, chose not to run for a third term in office. Babbitt was first elected over Evan Mecham in 1978 and re-elected in a landslide in 1982; some speculated that he would seek to succeed Barry Goldwater in the United States Senate, but Babbitt ultimately focused on a run for President of the United States in 1988.

Although no Republican had been elected Governor of Arizona since 1970, President Ronald Reagan had carried the state with record margins in 1980 and 1984.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrew

  • Bill Schulz, businessman and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1980 [1]

Results

Primary results by county.
Map legend
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Warner--50-60%
Warner--40-50%
Mason--50-60%
Mason--40-50% 1986 Arizona gubernatorial election Democratic primary results map by county.svg
Primary results by county.
Map legend
  •   Warner—50–60%
  •   Warner—40–50%
  •   Mason—50–60%
  •   Mason—40–50%
Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Carolyn Warner 106,687 50.6
Democratic Tony Mason92,41343.9
Democratic Dave Moss11,5885.5
Total votes210,688 100.0
Source: OurCampaigns.com, AZ Governor - D Primary

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Barr, who was personally recruited by President Reagan to run for Governor and had the universal support of the state Republican establishment, was the heavy favorite. His campaign largely ignored Mecham, who launched negative attacks on Barr and the state party generally. [1] When Republicans responded to Mecham's criticism, such as when the Senate Republican leader called him an "ethical pygmy," his popularity with voters rose. [1]

Results

Primary results by county.
Map legend
Mecham--60-70%
Mecham--50-60%
Barr--50-60% 1986 Arizona gubernatorial election Republican primary results map by county.svg
Primary results by county.
Map legend
  •   Mecham—60–70%
  •   Mecham—50–60%
  •   Barr—50–60%
1986 Republican gubernatorial primary [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Evan Mecham 121,614 53.7
Republican Burton Barr 104,68246.3
Total votes226,296 100.0

Mecham's primary victory over Barr was received as the "the biggest upset in Arizona" since Barry Goldwater's 1952 victory over United States Senator Ernest McFarland. [1]

General election

Candidates

Following Mecham and Warner's victory in the September 9 primary, Schulz announced that

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1986 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Evan Mecham 343,913 39.67% Increase2.svg 7.20
Democratic Carolyn Warner298,98634.49%Decrease2.svg27.98
Independent Bill Schulz 224,08525.85%N/A
Majority44,9275.18%-24.82%
Turnout 866,984
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Mecham</span> American politician (1924–2008)

Evan Mecham was an American businessman and the 17th governor of Arizona, serving from January 5, 1987, until his impeachment conviction on April 4, 1988. A decorated veteran of World War II, Mecham was a successful automotive dealership owner and occasional newspaper publisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 United States Senate elections</span>

The 1968 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate. Held on November 5, the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. They coincided with the presidential election of the same year. The Republicans picked up five net seats in the Senate. This saw Republicans win a Senate seat in Florida for the first time since Reconstruction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 United States Senate elections</span>

The 1964 United States Senate elections were held on November 3. The 33 seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. They coincided with the election of President Lyndon B. Johnson by an overwhelming majority, to a full term. His Democratic Party picked up a net two seats from the Republicans. As of 2023, this was the last time either party has had a two-thirds majority in the Senate, which allowed the Senate Democrats to override a veto, propose constitutional amendments, or convict and expel certain officials without any votes from Senate Republicans. However, internal divisions would have prevented the Democrats from having done so. The Senate election cycle coincided with Democratic gains in the House in the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 Republican Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of Republican US presidential candidate

From January 29 to June 4, 1996, voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for president in the 1996 United States presidential election. Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, the former Senate majority leader, was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1996 Republican National Convention held from August 12 to 15, 1996, in San Diego, California; Dole resigned from the Senate in June 1996 once he became the presumptive nominee to concentrate on his presidential campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1982 United States Senate election in California</span>

The 1982 United States Senate election in California took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator S. I. Hayakawa decided to retire after one term. Republican Pete Wilson, the Mayor of San Diego, won Hayakawa's open seat over Democratic Governor Jerry Brown and several minor candidates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 United States Senate election in Arizona</span>

The 1952 United States Senate election in Arizona was held on November 4, 1952. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Ernest McFarland ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by the Republican nominee and future candidate for President of the United States, Barry Goldwater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Review of the election

The 2014 Arizona gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of Arizona, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1962 United States Senate election in Arizona</span> Review of the election

The 1962 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 6, 1962. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Carl Hayden ran for reelection to a seventh term, defeating Republican State Senator Evan Mecham in the general election. Mecham became Governor of Arizona more than two decades later, and was subsequently impeached and removed from office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 United States Senate election in Arizona</span>

The 1980 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Republican Senator Barry Goldwater decided to run for reelection to a third consecutive term, after returning to the Senate in 1968 following his failed presidential run in 1964 against Lyndon B. Johnson. Despite Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan's landslide win in Arizona, Goldwater defeated Democratic Party nominee Bill Schulz in the general election by a narrow margin, which later caused Goldwater to decide against running for reelection to a fourth consecutive term. Goldwater won only three counties, including Maricopa County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Arizona

The 1994 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Fife Symington, the incumbent Republican Governor of Arizona, defeated the Democratic nominee Eddie Basha to win a second term in office. However, Symington resigned in 1997 due to a federal indictment on corruption charges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990–91 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Arizona

The 1990–91 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Incumbent Democratic Governor, Rose Mofford, declined to run for a full term. Republican Fife Symington defeated the Democratic nominee and Mayor of Phoenix Terry Goddard. Because no candidate received a majority of votes, a runoff election was held later on February 26, 1991, which Symington also won. This is the only election where Arizona used a runoff election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1982 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Arizona

The 1982 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Democratic incumbent Bruce Babbitt defeated Republican nominee Leo Corbet and Libertarian candidate and former U.S. Representative Sam Steiger. Evan Mecham unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination. This was the last time until 2002 that a Democrat was elected governor of Arizona, and as of 2023 the most recent time a male Democrat was elected governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Review of the election

The 1978 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Democrat Bruce Babbitt defeated Republican nominee Evan Mecham. Babbitt was the former Attorney General of Arizona, but after the death of Governor Wesley Bolin, Babbit became governor. Bolin himself ascended to office from the position of Secretary of State, meaning his replacement, Rose Mofford was not eligible to the office as she was not elected. This drama of exchanging office would continue after Babbitt's term came to an end, as Mofford would become governor and succeeded Evan Mecham, Babbitt's challenger, in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Review of the election

The 1950 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1950. Incumbent governor Dan Edward Garvey, who originally ascended to the office of governor following the death of Sidney Preston Osborn and was later elected to a full term, lost the Democratic primary to state Auditor Ana Frohmiller. Frohmiller would become the first woman to be nominated by any party for governor in Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1954 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Review of the election

The 1954 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1954. Incumbent Governor John Howard Pyle, the first Republican elected to the office in two decades, ran for reelection for a third term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Review of the election

The 1964 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1964. Incumbent Governor Paul Fannin decided not to run for reelection to a fourth term as governor, instead deciding to successfully run for the United States Senate when incumbent U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater decided to run for President of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Review of the election

The 1974 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Governor Jack Williams decided not to run for a fourth term as governor. Former United States Ambassador to Bolivia Raúl Héctor Castro, who was the Democratic nominee in 1970, won the Democratic nomination again in 1974, and narrowly won the general election, defeating Republican nominee Russell Williams by 0.85%. Castro was sworn into his first and only term as governor on January 6, 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolyn Warner</span> American politician (1930–2018)

Carolyn Rexroat Warner was an American politician who served as the 15th Superintendent of Public Instruction for the state of Arizona, elected as a Democrat, from 1975 to 1987. Warner was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Arizona in 1986, but was defeated by former state senator Evan Mecham, who would go on to be impeached and removed from office by the Arizona legislature.

William R. Schulz is an American businessman who was an Independent candidate for Governor of Arizona in the 1986 gubernatorial election, and was the Democratic nominee against Barry Goldwater in the 1980 U.S. Senate election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 Arizona House of Representatives election</span> Legislative election in Arizona

The 1988 Arizona House of Representatives elections were held on November 8, 1988. Voters elected all 60 members of the Arizona House of Representatives in multi-member districts to serve a two-year term. The elections coincided with the elections for other offices, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and State Senate. Primary elections were held on September 13, 1988.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Reid, T.R. (October 4, 1986). "Twin Threat Pleases Republican: Two Democrats on Arizona Ballot May Make Mecham Governor". The Washington Post . Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  2. OurCampaigns.com, AZ Governor - R Primary
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)