1986 Maryland gubernatorial election

1986 Maryland gubernatorial election

←  1982 November 4, 1986 1990  →

Nominee William Donald Schaefer Thomas J. Mooney Party Democratic Republican Running mate Melvin Steinberg Melvin A. Bilal Popular vote 907,291 194,185 Percentage 82.37% 17.63%

County results Schaefer:     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%     >90%

Governor before election Harry Hughes Democratic Elected Governor William Donald Schaefer Democratic

The 1986 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Democratic nominee William Donald Schaefer defeated Republican nominee Thomas J. Mooney with 82.37% of the vote. To date this is the largest percentage total ever for a contested statewide election in Maryland.

As of November, 2025, this is the last time a candidate from either party carried every county in a gubernatorial election, and the last time the Democratic candidate won a majority of counties in a gubernatorial election. He is also the last Democrat to win the following counties: Garrett, Washington, Carroll, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, and Somerset. Anne Arundel County, Frederick County, Kent County, and Talbot County would not vote Democratic again until 2022.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 9, 1986. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• William Donald Schaefer, Mayor of Baltimore
• Stephen H. Sachs, Attorney General of Maryland
• Lawrence K. Freeman
• Mary Fellenbaum Holter

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William Donald Schaefer	395,170	61.75
	Democratic	Stephen H. Sachs	224,755	35.12
	Democratic	Lawrence K. Freeman	14,120	2.21
	Democratic	Mary Fellenbaum Holter	5,919	0.93
Total votes			639,964	100.00

General election

Candidates

• William Donald Schaefer, Democratic
• Thomas J. Mooney, Fmr State Delegate, Republican

Results

1986 Maryland gubernatorial election ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William Donald Schaefer	907,291	82.37%	+20.40%
	Republican	Thomas J. Mooney	194,185	17.63%	−20.37%
Majority			713,106	+64.74%	+40.77%
Turnout			1,101,476
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "1986 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". Elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
2. "1986 Gubernatorial General Election Results". Elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2019.