United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 4, 1986, in 36 states and two territories. The Democrats had a net loss of eight seats during this election, which coincided with the Senate and the House elections. This was despite the Democratic trend on a federal level, making this the last midterm election until 2022 where the party of the incumbent president achieved a net gain of governorships.
The 1986 Alabama gubernatorial election saw the election of RepublicanH. Guy Hunt over Democrat Bill Baxley. In state politics, this election is largely seen as a realigning election since Hunt was the first Republican to be elected governor in 114 years – the last Republican to be elected was David P. Lewis in 1872 during the Reconstruction era. In March 1986, incumbent George Wallace announced that he would not seek a fifth term as governor, ending an era in Alabama politics.
The 1986 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986, for the post of Governor of Alaska. Incumbent Governor Bill Sheffield, a Democrat who was seeking re-election, was defeated by Steve Cowper in the Democratic primary election on August 26, 1986.[4][5]
The 1986 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986, for the post of Governor of Arizona. RepublicanEvan Mecham, who defeated Burton Barr for the Republican nomination, defeated the Democratic nominee and State Superintendent Carolyn Warner and independent candidate Bill Schulz.
The 1986 Arkansas gubernatorial election was conducted on November 4, 1986, to elect the Governor of Arkansas. Incumbent Democratic Governor Bill Clinton stood for re-election. He had been elected in 1982 and re-elected in 1984, and sought a third consecutive term and fourth overall (Clinton had been first elected in 1978). His opponent was former Republican Governor Frank D. White, who was seeking to return to the office he had defeated Clinton for in the 1980 election.
Clinton had defeated former Governor Orval Faubus for the Democratic nomination, while White defeated former Lieutenant Governor Maurice Britt in the Republican primary.
The 1986 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic governor Bill O'Neill won his second full term against Republican assemblywoman Julie Belaga, who defeated Jerry Labriola for the Republican nomination. This election marked the last time a Democrat would win the governorship in Connecticut until the 2010 election, the last time a Democratic gubernatorial candidate has won every county in the state and the last time a Democrat won by a margin of larger than 5 percent until the 2022 election.
The 1986 Florida gubernatorial election took place alongside the midterm congressional elections. The Democratic Party won many victories across the country (including retaking the Senate). However, in Florida, where Democrats gained the Senate seat from Republicans, they lost the Governorship for just the second time since Reconstruction.
The 1986 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Governor Joe Frank Harris (D) was overwhelmingly re-elected over Guy Davis (R) to win re-election.
This was an open seat election; longtime incumbent John V. Evans ran for the U.S. Senate, but lost. This was the first open-seat gubernatorial election in Idaho or the first open-seat Idaho gubernatorial election since 1954.
The 1986 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic Governor John W. Carlin did not run for re-election. Republican nominee Mike Hayden, then Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, beat the Democratic nominee Thomas Docking, who was then the incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Kansas.[7] This was the last gubernatorial election in Kansas in which the winner was of the same party as the incumbent president until Laura Kelly's victory in 2022.
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.
The 1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Michael Dukakis was elected Governor of Massachusetts for a third term. He defeated RepublicanGeorge Kariotis by a 69–31% margin. This was the last time a Democrat was elected governor of Massachusetts until 2006.
The 1986 Nevada gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democrat Richard Bryan won re-election to a second term as Governor of Nevada, defeating Republican nominee Patty Cafferata.
The 1986 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. IncumbentGovernorJohn Sununu was re-elected to a third term in office, defeating Paul McEachern, who had defeated Paul M. Gagnon for the Democratic nomination.
The 1986 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986, in order to elect the governor of New Mexico. Due to term limits, incumbent Democratic governor Toney Anaya was ineligible to seek a second term as governor.
The 1986 Ohio gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent DemocraticGovernorDick Celeste ran against four time former Governor Jim Rhodes, who had previously defeated the last two incumbent Democratic governors in 1962 and 1974.
The 1986 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986, to elect the governor of Oklahoma. Republican former Governor and Senator Henry Bellmon won the election by a plurality with Independent Jerry Brown receiving more than twice the number of votes separating Bellmon from DemocratDavid Walters.[12]
The 1986 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Democratic nominee Neil Goldschmidt defeated Republican Norma Paulus to win the election.
The 1986 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. DemocratBob Casey narrowly defeated RepublicanBill Scranton III, in a race that featured two very high-profile candidates.
The 1986 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986, to elect the governor of Texas. The election was a rematch of the 1982 election, as incumbent Democratic governor Mark White ran for reelection against former Republican governor Bill Clements. Clements was elected to a second, non-consecutive term as governor, winning 53% of the vote to White's 46%.
The 1986 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democrat Madeleine Kunin ran successfully for re-election to a second term as Governor of Vermont, defeating Republican candidate Peter Plympton Smith and independent candidate Bernie Sanders. Since no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, Kunin was elected by the Vermont General Assembly per the state constitution.
The 1986 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. RepublicanTommy G. Thompson won the election with 53% of the vote, winning his first term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating incumbent Governor Anthony S. Earl.[13] This was the first time since 1962 that the winner of a Wisconsin gubernatorial election was of the same party as the incumbent president. Jonathan B. Barry unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination.
The 1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Popular three-term Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler announced that he would not seek a fourth term, creating an open seat.[14] Attorney Mike Sullivan emerged as the unlikely Democratic nominee, and faced former state representative Pete Simpson, the Republican nominee and the brother of then-U.S. senator Alan K. Simpson, in the general election. Despite Sullivan's political inexperience, he was able to defeat Simpson by a decisive margin, winning his first of two terms in office.
↑ Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, Wisconsin Legislature (2015). Wisconsin Blue Book 2015-2016. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Department of Administration. pp.699–701. ISBN978-0-9752820-7-6.
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