1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election

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1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Flag of Wyoming.svg
  1982 November 4, 1986 1990  
  WY Governor Mike Sullivan WSA OH-2104.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Mike Sullivan Pete Simpson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote88,87975,841
Percentage53.96%46.04%

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

Sullivan:     50–60%     60–70%

Simpson:     50–60%

Governor before election

Edgar Herschler
Democratic

Elected Governor

Mike Sullivan
Democratic

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. [1] 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.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mike Sullivan 29,266 70.92%
Democratic Pat McGuire5,40613.10%
Democratic Keith Goodenough4,0399.79%
Democratic Al Hamburg2,5546.19%
Total votes41,265 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Pete Simpson 25,948 27.58%
Republican Bill Budd25,49527.10%
Republican Fred Schroeder15,01315.96%
Republican Russ Donley12,97913.80%
Republican David R. Nicholas11,09211.79%
Republican John R. Johnson3,1393.34%
Republican Jim Bace4020.43%
Total votes94,068 100.00%

Results

Sullivan spent $102,219 during the primary and $150,000 in the general election compared to Simpson spending around $300,000 in the primary and $200,000 in the general election. [7]

1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Mike Sullivan 88,879 53.96% −9.18%
Republican Pete Simpson 75,84146.04%+9.18%
Majority13,0387.92%−18.37%
Turnout 164,720
Democratic hold

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References

  1. 1 2 "Jim Bace joints tight GOP race". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyo. March 11, 1986. p. B1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Melnykovych, Andrew (March 21, 1986). "Sullivan announces candidacy". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyo. p. A1, A2.
  3. 1 2 3 Thomson, Thyra (1987). 1987 Wyoming Official Directory and 1986 Election Returns. pp. 162, 275–76.
  4. Melnykovych, Andrew (January 16, 1986). "Bill Budd announces candidacy". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyo. p. A1, A16.
  5. 1 2 "GOP gubernatorial race candidates: Wyoming economy tops issue list". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyo. December 7, 1985. p. B1.
  6. 1 2 "Donley makes race for governor formal today". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyo. March 20, 1986. p. A3.
  7. "Mead campaign has spent $280,000". Casper Star-Tribune . June 13, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024 via Newspapers.com.