1988 United States gubernatorial elections

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1988 United States gubernatorial elections
Flag of the United States.svg
  1987 November 8, 1988 1989  

14 governorships
12 states; 2 territories
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before27 [a] 23
Seats after2822
Seat changeIncrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg1
Seats up48
Seats won57

1988 United States gubernatorial elections results map.svg
  Democratic gain  Democratic hold

  Republican gain  Republican hold

  Scheduled Recall cancelled

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 1988, in 12 states and two territories. Going into the elections, eight seats were held by Republicans, and four by Democrats. After the elections, the Democrats had a net gain of one seat. The elections coincided with the United States House elections, United States Senate elections and presidential election. As of 2025, this is the last time that a Republican was elected as a Governor of Delaware, and the last time a Democrat was elected as a Governor of North Dakota.

Contents

Election results

StateIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Arizona
(recall)
Evan Mecham Republican 1986 Already scheduled recall election cancelled after Mecham's impeachment
Secretary of State Rose Mofford (D) succeeded him.
Delaware Mike Castle Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Mike Castle (Republican) 70.7%
  • Jacob Kreshtool (Democratic) 29.3%
Indiana Robert D. Orr Republican 1980 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
Missouri John Ashcroft Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected.
Montana Ted Schwinden Democratic 1980 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
New Hampshire John H. Sununu Republican 1982 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green check.svgY Judd Gregg (Republican) 60.4%
  • Paul McEachern (Democratic) 39.0%
North Carolina James G. Martin Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected.
North Dakota George A. Sinner Democratic-NPL 1984 Incumbent re-elected.
Rhode Island Edward D. DiPrete Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected.
Utah Norman H. Bangerter Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected.
Vermont Madeleine Kunin Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected.
Washington Booth Gardner Democratic 1984 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Booth Gardner (Democratic) 62.2%
  • Robert Williams (Republican) 37.8%
West Virginia Arch A. Moore Jr. Republican 1968
1976 (term-limited)
1984
Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.

Close states

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

  1. Rhode Island, 1.6%
  2. Utah, 1.7%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. Indiana, 6.4%
  2. Montana, 5.8%

Delaware

1988 Delaware gubernatorial election
Flag of Delaware.svg
  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  
  Mike Castle 1982.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Mike Castle Jacob Kreshtool
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Dale E. Wolf Gary E. Hindes
Popular vote169,73370,236
Percentage70.7%29.3%

1988 Delaware gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1988 Delaware gubernatorial results map by house district.svg
Castle:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Kreshtool:     60–70%

Governor before election

Mike Castle
Republican

Elected Governor

Mike Castle
Republican

The 1988 Delaware gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Castle won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic nominee labor lawyer Jacob Kreshtool in a landslide.

Indiana

1988 Indiana gubernatorial election
Flag of Indiana.svg
  1984 November 8, 1988 (1988-11-8) 1992  
  Evan Bayh official portrait v2.jpg John Mutz.jpg
Nominee Evan Bayh John Mutz
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Frank O'Bannon Stephen Goldsmith
Popular vote1,138,5741,000,207
Percentage53.2%46.8%

1988 Indiana gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Bayh:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Mutz:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Robert D. Orr
Republican

Elected Governor

Evan Bayh
Democratic

The 1988 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988, in all 92 counties in the state of Indiana. Incumbent Governor Robert D. Orr, a Republican, was ineligible to run for a third consecutive term due to term limits established by the Indiana Constitution. In the general election, the Republican nominee, Lieutenant Governor John Mutz, was defeated by Democrat Indiana Secretary of State Evan Bayh by a margin of six percentage points. Bayh was the first Democrat to be elected Governor of Indiana since Roger D. Branigin's victory during the 1964 Democratic landslides twenty-four years previously.

Missouri

1988 Montana gubernatorial election
Flag of Montana.svg
  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  
Turnout75.00% Steady2.svg [1]
  3x4.svg 3x4.svg
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
County results
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]

New Hampshire

1988 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
Flag of New Hampshire.svg
  1986 November 6, 1988 1990  
  Judd Gregg 00.gif 3x4.svg
Nominee Judd Gregg Paul McEachern
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote267,064172,543
Percentage60.45%39.05%

1988 New Hampshire gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1988 New Hampshire gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg
Gregg:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
McEachern:     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

John Sununu
Republican

Elected Governor

Judd Gregg
Republican

The 1988 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1988. Incumbent Governor John Sununu did not run for re-election, and was succeeded by U.S. Representative Judd Gregg.

North Carolina

1988 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg
  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  
  James G. Martin (cropped).jpg Robert B. Jordan (cropped).jpg
Nominee James G. Martin Robert B. Jordan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,222,258997,408
Percentage55.06%44.94%

1988 North Carolina gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results

Martin:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Jordan:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

James Martin
Republican

Elected Governor

James Martin
Republican

The 1988 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988. Popular Incumbent Governor James G. Martin ran and was re-elected by a comfortable margin over Democratic Challenger former Lieutenant Governor Robert B. Jordan III.

North Dakota

1988 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Flag of North Dakota.svg
  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  
  George Sinner.png 3x4.svg
Nominee George A. Sinner Leon Mallberg
Party Democratic–NPL Republican
Running mate Lloyd Omdahl Donna Nalewaja
Popular vote179,094119,986
Percentage59.9%40.1%

1988 North Dakota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Sinner:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Mallberg:      50–60%

Governor before election

George A. Sinner
Democratic–NPL

Elected Governor

George A. Sinner
Democratic–NPL

The 1988 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1988 to elect the governor of North Dakota. Incumbent Democratic governor George A. Sinner was reelected to a second term with 58% of the vote, defeating Republican nominee Leon Mallberg.

Rhode Island

1988 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
Flag of Rhode Island.svg
  1986 November 8, 1988 1990  
  RI Governor Edward D. DiPrete 1985-1991 (cropped).jpg Bruce Sundlun.jpg
Nominee Edward D. DiPrete Bruce Sundlun
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote203,550196,925
Percentage50.8%49.2%

1988 Rhode Island gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1988 Rhode Island gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg
DiPrete:     50–60%     60–70%
Sundlun:     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

Edward D. DiPrete
Republican

Elected Governor

Edward D. DiPrete
Republican

The 1988 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican Edward D. DiPrete defeated Democratic nominee Bruce Sundlun with 50.83% of the vote.

Utah

1988 Utah gubernatorial election
Flag of Utah (1922-2011).svg
  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  
  Norman Bangerter (Utah governor).png Ted Wilson 1984 (cropped).jpeg Merrillcook.jpg
Nominee Norman H. Bangerter Ted Wilson Merrill Cook
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Popular vote260,462249,321136,651
Percentage40.13%38.41%21.05%

1988 Utah gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Bangerter:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Wilson:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Norman H. Bangerter
Republican

Elected Governor

Norman H. Bangerter
Republican

The 1988 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988. Republican nominee and incumbent governor Norman H. Bangerter defeated Democratic nominee Ted Wilson and independent Merrill Cook with 40.13% of the vote.

Vermont

1988 Vermont gubernatorial election
Flag of Vermont.svg
  1986 November 8, 1988 (1988-11-8) 1990  
  Madeleine Kunin (D-VT).jpg MikeBernhardt.png
Nominee Madeleine Kunin Michael Bernhardt
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote134,558105,319
Percentage55.3%43.3%

1988 Vermont gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1988 Vermont gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg
Kunin:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%
Bernhardt:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%

Governor before election

Madeleine Kunin
Democratic

Elected Governor

Madeleine Kunin
Democratic

The 1988 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democrat Madeleine Kunin ran successfully for re-election to a third term as Governor of Vermont, defeating Republican candidate Michael Bernhardt.

Washington

1988 Washington gubernatorial election
Flag of Washington.svg
  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  
  Booth Gardner.jpg Bob Williams.jpg
Nominee Booth Gardner Bob Williams
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,166,448708,481
Percentage62.21%37.79%

1988 Washington gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Gardner:      50–60%     60–70%
Williams:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

Booth Gardner
Democratic

Elected Governor

Booth Gardner
Democratic

The 1988 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic governor Booth Gardner won a second term, defeating Republican state representative Bob Williams in a landslide. This election was the first time since 1960 that an incumbent Democratic governor of Washington was re-elected. Gardner won the highest share of the vote since Clarence Martin in 1936.

West Virginia

1988 West Virginia gubernatorial election
Flag of West Virginia.svg
  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  
  Gaston Caperton crop.jpg Arch Moore.jpg
Nominee Gaston Caperton Arch A. Moore Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote382,421267,172
Percentage58.9%41.1%

1988 West Virginia gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Caperton:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Moore:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Arch A. Moore, Jr.
Republican

Elected Governor

Gaston Caperton
Democratic

The 1988 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1988 to elect the governor of West Virginia. Incumbent Republican governor Arch A. Moore Jr. ran for re-election to a fourth term in office, but was defeated by Democratic nominee Gaston Caperton.

See also

Notes

  1. Rose Mofford (D) succeeded Arizona Governor Evan Mecham (R) following his impeachment conviction.

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.