1986 Arizona gubernatorial election

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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 3x4.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 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Carolyn Warner 106,687 50.64%
Democratic Tony Mason92,41343.86%
Democratic Dave Moss11,5885.50%
Total votes210,688 100.00%

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 53.74%
Republican Burton Barr 104,68246.26%
Total votes226,296 100.00%

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

General election

Candidates

Predictions

SourceRatingAs of
The Cook Political Report [3] Toss UpOctober 28, 1986

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1986 [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Evan Mecham 343,913 39.67% +7.20%
Democratic Carolyn Warner 298,98634.49%−27.98%
Independent Bill Schulz 224,08525.85%+25.85%
Majority44,9275.18%
Total votes866,984 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing +35.18%

Results by county

CountyEvan Mecham
Republican		Carolyn Warner
Democratic		Bill Schulz
Independent		MarginTotal votes
cast [4]
# %# %# %# %
Apache 2,96526.52%6,93662.04%1,27911.44%-3,971-35.52%11,180
Cochise 8,48438.52%8,36837.99%5,17423.49%1160.53%22,026
Coconino 6,64728.04%11,49248.48%5,56523.48%-4,845-20.44%23,704
Gila 4,77934.45%5,77541.63%3,31923.92%-996-7.18%13,873
Graham 3,25747.13%2,38134.46%1,27218.41%87612.68%6,910
Greenlee 99133.24%1,21840.86%77225.90%-227-7.61%2,981
La Paz 1,35238.99%1,20134.63%91526.38%1514.35%3,468
Maricopa 213,04943.06%142,54028.81%139,23128.14%70,50914.25%494,820
Mohave 9,33343.20%7,96936.89%4,30019.91%1,3646.31%21,602
Navajo 6,25037.77%7,52745.49%2,76916.74%-1,277-7.72%16,546
Pima 56,59832.97%72,36642.16%42,70024.87%-15,768-9.19%171,664
Pinal 8,24433.35%11,12745.02%5,34721.63%-2,883-11.66%24,718
Santa Cruz 1,49028.10%2,34944.30%1,46427.61%-859-16.20%5,303
Yavapai 15,00046.91%10,28832.17%6,68820.92%4,71214.74%31,976
Yuma 5,47433.76%7,44945.94%3,29020.29%-1,975-12.18%16,213
Totals343,91339.67%298,98634.49%224,08525.85%44,9275.18%866,984

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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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. 1 2 "State of Arizona - Official Canvass Primary Election - September 9, 1986". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ "1986 CPR Governor Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "State of Arizona - Official Canvass - General Election - November 4, 1986". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
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