1986 Vermont gubernatorial election

1986 Vermont gubernatorial election
← 1984 November 4, 1986 1988 →
	Kunin: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%; Smith: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
Governor before election; Madeleine Kunin ; Democratic	Elected Governor; Madeleine Kunin ; Democratic

Last updated February 02, 2026

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, the incumbent Lieutenant Governor, and independent candidate Bernie Sanders, the mayor of Burlington, Vermont's largest city. Since no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, Kunin was elected by the Vermont General Assembly per the state constitution.^[1]

Democratic primary

Results

Democratic primary results^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Madeleine M. Kunin (inc.)	19,401	95.1
	Democratic	Write-ins	993	4.9
Total votes			20,394	100

Republican primary

Results

Republican primary results^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter Plympton Smith	24,837	96.8
	Republican	Write-ins	813	3.2
Total votes			25,650	100

Liberty Union primary

Results

Liberty Union primary results^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberty Union	Richard F. Gottlieb	135	86.0
	Liberty Union	Bernie Sanders (write-in)	16	10.2
	Liberty Union	Write-ins (other)	6	3.8
Total votes			157	100

General election

Pamphlet for Bernie Sanders' campaign

Front and back cover
Inside

Candidates

Madeleine M. Kunin (D), incumbent Governor of Vermont
Peter Plympton Smith (R), Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
Bernie Sanders (I), Mayor of Burlington, Vermont ^[4]
Richard F. Gottlieb (LU)

Results

1986 Vermont gubernatorial election^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Madeleine M. Kunin (inc.)	92,485	47.0	−3.0
	Republican	Peter Plympton Smith	75,239	38.2	−10.3
	Independent	Bernie Sanders	28,418	14.4	+14.4
	Liberty Union	Richard F. Gottlieb	491	0.2	−0.1
	Write-in	Write-ins	83	0.1	n/a
Total votes			196,716	100

After no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Vermont Legislature, consisting of 150 representatives and 30 senators, voted to decide the winner, per the state constitution.

Vermont legislature vote results^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Madeleine M. Kunin (inc.)	139	77.22
	Republican	Peter Plympton Smith	39	21.66
	Independent	Bernie Sanders	2	1.11
Total votes			180	100

References

1 2 3 "General Election Results - Governor - 1789-2012" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
↑ Doyle 1992, p. 222.
1 2 3 "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
↑ "Friends honor Sanders as he says goodbye". The Burlington Free Press . April 4, 1989. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

Works cited

Doyle, William (1992). The Vermont Political Tradition: And Those Who Helped Make It. W. Doyle. ISBN 0961548614.

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[results-1] 1 2 3 "General Election Results - Governor - 1789-2012" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved December 31, 2014.

[FOOTNOTEDoyle1992222-2] Doyle 1992, p. 222.

[primary-3] 1 2 3 "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.

[4] "Friends honor Sanders as he says goodbye". The Burlington Free Press . April 4, 1989. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

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1986 Vermont gubernatorial election

Contents

Democratic primary

Results

Republican primary

Results

Liberty Union primary

Results

General election

Candidates

Results

References

Works cited