1988 Missouri gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1988 United States gubernatorial elections.

1988 Missouri gubernatorial election

←  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  →

Nominee John Ashcroft Betty Hearnes Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,339,531 724,919 Percentage 64.2% 34.8%

County results Ashcroft:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Hearnes:     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election John Ashcroft Republican Elected Governor John Ashcroft Republican

The 1988 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988, and resulted in a victory for the Republican nominee, incumbent Governor John Ashcroft, over the Democratic candidate, State Representative Betty Cooper Hearnes, and Libertarian Mike Roberts.

Betty Hearnes was married to Warren E. Hearnes, who had served as governor from 1965 to 1973. ^[1] This election was the first time that an incumbent Republican Governor of Missouri was re-elected to a second consecutive term, the most recent being 2020. As of 2024, this is the last time Boone, Jackson, and St. Louis Counties voted Republican in a gubernatorial election.

Results

1988 gubernatorial election, Missouri ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Ashcroft (incumbent)	1,339,531	64.22	+7.58
	Democratic	Betty Cooper Hearnes	724,919	34.75	−8.59
	Libertarian	Mike Roberts	21,467	1.03	+1.03
Majority			614,612	29.46	+16.14
Turnout			2,085,917	42.43	−0.45
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. Keller, Rudi. "Hearnes remembered as 'outstanding' governor". Southeast Missourian Aug. 18, 2009 Archived 2009-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
2. "MO Governor Race - Nov 08, 1988". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 10, 2013.