1988 Montana gubernatorial election

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1988 Montana gubernatorial election
Flag of Montana.svg
←  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  →
Turnout75.00% Steady2.svg [1]
 
Nominee Stan Stephens Thomas Lee Judge
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Allen Kolstad Barbara B. Skelton
Popular vote190,604169,313
Percentage51.93%46.13%
1988 Montana gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1988 United States Senate election in Montana by congressional district.svg
Stephens:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Judge:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Governor before election

Ted Schwinden
Democratic

Elected Governor

Stan Stephens
Republican

The 1988 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Governor of Montana Ted Schwinden, who was first elected in 1980 and was re-elected in 1984, declined to seek re-election to a third term, creating an open seat. Stan Stephens, the former president of the Montana Senate, won a close Republican primary, and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Thomas Lee Judge, Schwinden's predecessor as governor and the Democratic nominee. Though the general election was hotly contested, Stephens ultimately defeated Judge, becoming the first Republican to win a gubernatorial election in Montana since 1964. [2]

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Thomas Lee Judge 46,412 39.31
Democratic Frank B. Morrison, Jr.32,12427.21
Democratic Mike Greely26,82722.72
Democratic Ted Neuman7,2976.18
Democratic Martin J. "Red" Beckman3,3602.85
Democratic Curly Thornton2,0381.73
Total votes118,058 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Jim Waltermire, the Montana Secretary of State, was widely perceived to be the frontrunner in the primary, but, two months before the election, he was killed in a plane crash. Following his death, the race was narrowed down to Stan Stephens and Carl Winslow, though Waltermire remained on the ballot. Stephens earned the endorsement of much of the Republican establishment in the state, and campaigned on his experience in elected office and his success in the private sector. Winslow, meanwhile, campaigned on his youth and his ability to attract new businesses to the state. [4]

Results

Republican Primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Stan Stephens 44,022 50.07
Republican Carl Winslow37,87543.08
Republican Jim Waltermire6,0246.85
Total votes87,921 100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1988 [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Stan Stephens 190,604 51.93% +25.53%
Democratic Thomas Lee Judge 169,31346.13%−24.21%
Libertarian William Dee Morris7,1041.94%−1.32%
Majority 21,2915.80%−38.14%
Turnout 367,021
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

By congressional district

Stephens won both congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat. [6]

DistrictLee JudgeStephensRepresentative
1st 47%51% Pat Williams
2nd 45%53% Ron Marlenee

References

  1. ↑ "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  2. ↑ Berke, Richard L. (November 9, 1988). "The 1988 Elections; Indiana Elects Bayh's Son Governor; Moore Is Ousted by West Virginians". The New York Times . Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 7, 1988" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ "8 Candidates Vie in Montana Race". The New York Times . May 29, 1988. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the General Election Held in the State of Montana, November 8, 1988". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the General Election Held in the State of Montana" (PDF). November 8, 1988.
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