1986 California gubernatorial election

Last updated

1986 California gubernatorial election
Flag of California.svg
  1982 November 4, 1986 1990  
  George Deukmejian, 1986 (cropped).jpg Tom Bradley and Marvin Braude flipping "on switch" for 911 emergency telephone system, 1984 (cropped).jpg
Nominee George Deukmejian Tom Bradley
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote4,505,6012,781,714
Percentage60.54%37.38%

1986 California gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results

Deukmejian:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

Contents

Bradley:     40–50%     60–70%

Governor before election

George Deukmejian
Republican

Elected Governor

George Deukmejian
Republican

The 1986 California gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican George Deukmejian won easily in this rematch over the Democratic challenger, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. This was the largest gubernatorial victory since that of Earl Warren in 1946, who won 91.64% of the vote.

As of 2024, this was the most recent California gubernatorial election in which both major party candidates are now deceased.

General Election Results

1986 gubernatorial election, California
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George Deukmejian (incumbent) 4,505,601 60.54
Democratic Tom Bradley 2,781,71437.38
Libertarian Joseph Fuhrig52,6280.71
Peace and Freedom Maria Elizabeth Muñoz51,9950.70
American Independent Gary V. Miller50,5470.68
Total votes7,442,485 100.00
Turnout  60.00
Republican hold

Results by county

Deukmejian is the last Republican gubernatorial nominee to win Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz Counties.

County Deukmejian Votes Bradley VotesOthersVotes
Glenn 80.45%5,72817.50%1,2462.05%146
Colusa 79.49%3,72918.80%8821.71%80
Sutter 78.67%12,61618.37%2,9462.96%474
Calaveras 74.77%8,22123.02%2,5312.21%243
Modoc 74.69%2,64122.91%8102.40%85
Amador 74.43%7,35723.46%2,3192.11%209
El Dorado 73.57%26,06824.29%8,6052.14%760
Placer 73.31%37,28824.66%12,5422.03%1,034
Nevada 73.12%20,59924.59%6,9282.29%644
Yuba 72.37%8,59425.11%2,9822.52%299
Orange 71.89%468,09226.54%172,7821.57%10,222
Inyo 71.79%4,86225.88%1,7532.33%158
Tulare 71.72%44,33526.35%16,2871.94%1,197
San Joaquin 71.32%76,29726.94%28,8171.75%1,868
Tuolumne 71.29%11,12127.16%4,2371.54%241
Tehama 71.10%10,46326.72%3,9322.18%321
Stanislaus 71.05%53,50527.20%20,4811.75%1,315
Shasta 71.01%29,44726.89%11,1492.11%873
Butte 70.81%40,54627.10%15,5182.09%1,194
Mono 70.66%1,84727.62%7221.72%45
Madera 70.55%12,93927.00%4,9512.45%449
Mariposa 70.06%3,84427.57%1,5132.37%130
Kings 69.07%12,25629.33%5,2051.59%283
Lassen 68.96%5,15427.66%2,0673.39%253
Merced 68.86%21,42629.26%9,1051.88%584
Kern 68.23%86,54729.93%37,9731.84%2,333
Plumas 68.19%4,82729.61%2,0962.20%156
Napa 68.14%26,44529.52%11,4562.34%908
Sacramento 68.05%207,08630.12%91,6601.83%5,580
Siskiyou 67.95%10,51529.62%4,5842.42%375
Lake 67.42%10,99430.07%4,9042.50%408
Ventura 67.20%118,64031.09%54,8931.71%3,024
San Luis Obispo 67.12%41,89330.89%19,2811.99%1,245
Sierra 66.98%1,05330.15%4742.86%45
Trinity 66.48%3,72029.68%1,6613.84%215
San Benito 66.42%5,28431.68%2,5201.90%151
Fresno 66.28%96,95932.17%47,0711.55%2,268
Del Norte 65.80%4,21331.64%2,0262.56%164
San Diego 65.17%381,09431.53%184,3953.30%19,285
Riverside 65.10%155,31833.06%78,8911.84%4,389
Alpine 64.22%28029.36%1286.42%28
San Bernardino 63.76%166,48334.31%89,5841.93%5,032
Solano 63.51%47,39634.01%25,3822.47%1,846
Contra Costa 63.31%159,10534.67%87,1172.02%5,086
Monterey 63.30%46,19534.81%25,4081.89%1,379
Santa Barbara 62.84%67,85235.23%38,0461.93%2,083
San Mateo 61.84%121,91036.18%71,3291.98%3,906
Imperial 61.19%11,47936.86%6,9151.95%365
Yolo 60.79%26,15436.97%15,9062.24%963
Santa Clara 59.87%227,28537.64%142,9072.49%9,464
Sonoma 59.43%75,00337.92%47,8592.65%3,348
Marin 56.47%51,69341.17%37,6862.36%2,161
Mendocino 55.96%13,71041.04%10,0543.00%735
Humboldt 54.58%22,53442.65%17,6082.78%1,147
Los Angeles 52.96%1,090,13845.21%930,5761.82%37,534
Santa Cruz 50.54%37,52546.91%34,8312.54%1,888
Alameda 47.79%174,55549.68%181,4452.53%9,227
San Francisco 37.42%83,74160.20%134,7382.38%5,325

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