1992 United States gubernatorial elections

1992 United States gubernatorial elections

←  1991 November 3, 1992 1993  →
14 governorships 12 states; 2 territories
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Seats before 28 20 Seats after 30 18 Seat change 2 2 Seats up 6 6 Seats won 8 4
Democratic gain     Democratic hold      Republican gain     Republican hold      New Progressive gain     Nonpartisan

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 1992, in 12 states and two territories. Going into the elections, six of the seats were held by Democrats and six by Republicans. After the elections, eight seats were held by Democrats and four by Republicans. The elections coincided with the presidential election.

This was the last year in which Rhode Island held a gubernatorial election in the same year as the presidential election. The length of gubernatorial terms for Rhode Island's governor would be extended from two to four years, with elections taking place in midterm election years.

Election results

States

State	Incumbent	Party	First elected	Result	Candidates
Delaware	Mike Castle	Republican	1984	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic gain.	Y Tom Carper (Democratic) 64.7% B. Gary Scott (Republican) 32.7% Floyd E. McDowell (A Delaware Party) 1.4% Richard A. Cohen (Libertarian) 1.1%
Indiana	Evan Bayh	Democratic	1988	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Evan Bayh (Democratic) 62.0% Linley E. Pearson (Republican) 36.9% Mary Barton (New Alliance) 1.1%
Missouri	John Ashcroft	Republican	1984	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic gain.	Y Mel Carnahan (Democratic) 58.7% William L. Webster (Republican) 41.3%
Montana	Stan Stephens	Republican	1988	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican hold.	Y Marc Racicot (Republican) 51.3% Dorothy Bradley (Democratic) 48.6%
New Hampshire	Judd Gregg	Republican	1988	Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. New governor elected. Republican hold.	Y Steve Merrill (Republican) 56.0% Deborah Arnie Arnesen (Democratic) 40.0% Miriam Luce (Libertarian) 4.0%
North Carolina	James G. Martin	Republican	1984	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic gain.	Y Jim Hunt (Democratic) 52.7% Jim Gardner (Republican) 43.2% Scott McLaughlin (Libertarian) 4.0%
North Dakota	George A. Sinner	Democratic–NPL	1984	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain.	Y Ed Schafer (Republican) 56.0% Nicholas Spaeth (Democratic-NPL) 39.3%
Rhode Island	Bruce Sundlun	Democratic	1990	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Bruce Sundlun (Democratic) 61.6% Elizabeth A. Leonard (Republican) 34.3% Joseph F. Devine (Independent) 3.4%
Utah	Norman H. Bangerter	Republican	1984	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican hold.	Y Mike Leavitt (Republican) 42.2% Merrill Cook (Independent) 33.5% Stewart Hanson (Democratic) 23.2%
Vermont	Howard Dean	Democratic	1991 [a]	Incumbent elected to full term.	Y Howard Dean (Democratic) 74.7% John McClaughry (Republican) 23.0% Richard F. Gottlieb (Liberty Union) 1.1% August Jaccaci (Natural Law) 1.0%
Washington	Booth Gardner	Democratic	1984	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic hold.	Y Mike Lowry (Democratic) 52.2% Ken Eikenberry (Republican) 47.8%
West Virginia	Gaston Caperton	Democratic	1988	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Gaston Caperton (Democratic) 56.0% Cleve Benedict (Republican) 36.6% Charlotte Pritt (Write-in) 7.4%

Territories

Territory	Incumbent	Party	First elected	Result	Candidates
American Samoa	Peter Tali Coleman	Republican	1988	Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. [1] Democratic gain.	Y A. P. Lutali (Democratic) 53.0% Peter Tali Coleman (Republican) 36.0%
Puerto Rico	Rafael Hernández Colón	Popular Democratic	1984	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. New Progressive gain.	Y Pedro Rosselló (PNP) 49.9% Victoria Muñoz Mendoza (PPD) 45.9% Fernando Martín García (PIP) 4.2%

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

1. Montana, 2.7%
2. Puerto Rico, 4.0%
3. Washington, 4.3%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. Utah, 8.6%
2. North Carolina, 9.5%

Delaware

1992 Delaware gubernatorial election

←  1988 November 3, 1992 1996  →

Nominee Tom Carper B. Gary Scott Party Democratic Republican Running mate Ruth Ann Minner Sherman N. Miller Popular vote 179,365 90,725 Percentage 64.7% 32.8%

County results House district results Carper:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

Governor before election Dale E. Wolf Republican Elected Governor Tom Carper Democratic

The 1992 Delaware gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Castle, barred by term limits from seeking another term as Governor of Delaware, instead sought election to the United States House of Representatives. Congressman and Democratic nominee Tom Carper defeated Republican nominee B. Gary Scott in a landslide, winning his first term in office and becoming Delaware's first Democratic governor since 1977.

Indiana

1992 Indiana gubernatorial election

←  1988 November 3, 1992 (1992-11-3) 1996  →

Nominee Evan Bayh Linley E. Pearson Party Democratic Republican Running mate Frank O'Bannon Robert D. Green Popular vote 1,382,151 822,533 Percentage 62.0% 36.9%

County results Bayh:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Pearson:      40–50%     50–60%

Governor before election Evan Bayh Democratic Elected Governor Evan Bayh Democratic

The 1992 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Governor Evan Bayh, a Democrat, won reelection over his Republican challenger, Linley E. Pearson with 62% of the vote. He was the first Democratic governor of Indiana to win reelection since governors became eligible for election to consecutive terms in office in 1972.

Missouri

1992 Missouri gubernatorial election

←  1988 November 3, 1992 1996  →

Nominee Mel Carnahan William L. Webster Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,375,425 968,574 Percentage 58.7% 41.3%

County results Carnahan:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Webster:      50-60%     60-70% Tie:     50–50%

Governor before election John Ashcroft Republican Elected Governor Mel Carnahan Democratic

The 1992 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1992, and resulted in a victory for the Democratic nominee, Lt. Governor Mel Carnahan, over the Republican candidate, Missouri Attorney General William L. Webster, and Libertarian Joan Dow. ^[2] Carnahan had defeated St. Louis mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl for the Democratic nomination, while Webster had defeated Secretary of State Roy Blunt and Treasurer Wendell Bailey for the Republican nomination.

Montana

1992 Montana gubernatorial election

←  1988 November 3, 1992 1996  →
Turnout	78.90%3.90 [3]
Nominee Marc Racicot Dorothy Bradley Party Republican Democratic Running mate Denny Rehberg Mike Halligan Popular vote 209,401 198,421 Percentage 51.3% 48.7%
County results Racicot:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Bradley:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Governor before election Stan Stephens Republican Elected Governor Marc Racicot Republican

The 1992 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Governor of Montana Stan Stephens, who was first elected in 1988, declined to seek re-election. Marc Racicot, the Attorney General of Montana, won the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced State Representative Dorothy Bradley, who had emerged from a crowded Democratic primary as the nominee of her party. A close election ensued, but in the end, Racicot ended up defeating Bradley to win his first of two terms as governor. While on the same ballot, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton won the state of Montana, and eventually won the 1992 United States presidential election.

New Hampshire

1992 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

←  1990 November 3, 1992 1994  →

Nominee Steve Merrill Deborah Arnie Arnesen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 289,170 206,232 Percentage 56.02% 39.95%

County results Municipality results Merrill:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     >90% Arnesen:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     >90%

Governor before election Judd Gregg Republican Elected Governor Steve Merrill Republican

The 1992 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1992. Republican nominee Steve Merrill, who defeated Ed Dupont and Liz Hager for the Republican nomination, won the election, defeating Deborah Arnie Arnesen, who had defeated Norman D'Amours for the Democratic nomination.

North Carolina

1992 North Carolina gubernatorial election

←  1988 November 3, 1992 1996  →

Nominee Jim Hunt Jim Gardner Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,368,246 1,121,955 Percentage 52.72% 43.23%

County results Hunt:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Gardner:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election James G. Martin Republican Elected Governor Jim Hunt Democratic

The 1992 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Governor James G. Martin was unable to run for a third consecutive term due to term limits, and his Lieutenant Governor, Jim Gardner, was chosen to replace him as the Republican nominee. Gardner had also been the nominee in a previous gubernatorial election over twenty years earlier. Former Governor Jim Hunt decided to seek his third term as the Democratic nominee. The race became one of the nastiest and most talked about races in the country, with Hunt winning a third term easily over Gardner and Libertarian nominee Scott McLaughlin.

North Dakota

1992 North Dakota gubernatorial election

←  1988 November 3, 1992 1996  →

Nominee Ed Schafer Nicholas Spaeth Party Republican Democratic–NPL Running mate Rosemarie Myrdal Julie Hill Popular vote 176,398 123,845 Percentage 58.0% 40.6%

County results Schafer:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70% Spaeth:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election George A. Sinner Democratic–NPL Elected Governor Ed Schafer Republican

The 1992 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on 3 November 1992. Incumbent Democratic-NPL Governor George A. Sinner retired. Republican nominee Ed Schafer defeated Democratic former Attorney General of North Dakota Nicholas Spaeth in a landslide. This was the only gubernatorial seat which the Republicans gained during this election cycle.

Rhode Island

1992 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

←  1990 November 3, 1992 1994  →

Nominee Bruce Sundlun Elizabeth A. Leonard Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 261,484 145,590 Percentage 61.6% 34.3%

County results Municipality results Sundlun:      50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election Bruce Sundlun Democratic Elected Governor Bruce Sundlun Democratic

The 1992 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Democrat Bruce Sundlun defeated Republican nominee Elizabeth A. Leonard with 61.55% of the vote.

A Democrat would not be elected Governor of Rhode Island again until Gina Raimondo did so in 2014.

Utah

1992 Utah gubernatorial election

←  1988 November 3, 1992 1996  →

Nominee Mike Leavitt Merrill Cook Stewart Hanson Party Republican Independent Democratic Running mate Olene Walker Frances H. Merrill Paula Julander Popular vote 321,713 255,753 177,181 Percentage 42.2% 33.6% 23.3%

County results Leavitt:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Cook:     30-40% Hanson:     30–40%     40–50%

Governor before election Norman Bangerter Republican Elected Governor Mike Leavitt Republican

The 1992 Utah gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1992. Republican nominee Michael Leavitt won the three-way election.

Vermont

1992 Vermont gubernatorial election

←  1990 November 3, 1992 (1992-11-3) 1994  →

Nominee Howard Dean John McClaughry Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 213,523 65,837 Percentage 74.7% 23.0%

County results Municipality results Dean:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90% McClaughry:      40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Governor before election Howard Dean Democratic Elected Governor Howard Dean Democratic

The 1992 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1992. After Republican Governor Richard Snelling died in office on August 13, 1991, Lieutenant Governor Howard Dean, a Democrat, took over for the remainder of his term. Incumbent Democrat Howard Dean ran successfully for election to a full term as Governor of Vermont, defeating Republican candidate John McClaughry. This is the best Democratic performance for governor in the history of the state.

Washington

1992 Washington gubernatorial election

←  1988 November 3, 1992 1996  →

Nominee Mike Lowry Ken Eikenberry Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,184,315 1,086,216 Percentage 52.16% 47.84%

County results Lowry:      50–60%     60–70% Eikenberry:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election Booth Gardner Democratic Elected Governor Mike Lowry Democratic

The 1992 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Democratic Governor Booth Gardner chose not to run for a third term. This resulted in an open race for Governor of Washington in which Democrat Mike Lowry narrowly defeated Republican Ken Eikenberry. This is the last time that a gubernatorial nominee and a lieutenant gubernatorial nominee of different political parties were elected governor and lieutenant governor of Washington.

West Virginia

1992 West Virginia gubernatorial election

←  1988 November 7, 1992 1996  →

Nominee Gaston Caperton Cleve Benedict Charlotte Pritt (write-in) Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 368,302 240,390 48,873 Percentage 56.0% 36.6% 7.4%

County results Caperton:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Benedict:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election Gaston Caperton Democratic Elected Governor Gaston Caperton Democratic

The 1992 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1992. Incumbent Democratic governor Gaston Caperton won re-election by defeating former Republican U.S. representative Cleve Benedict and Democratic State Senator Charlotte Pritt, who ran as an independent write-in candidate after losing to Caperton in the Democratic primary election. Benedict had defeated Vernon Criss for his party's nomination; this was the only election between 1964 and 2000 that the Republicans had nominated someone other than Arch A. Moore or Cecil H. Underwood.

Territories

American Samoa

Northern Marina Islands election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	A.P. Lutali	{{{votes}}}	53.0%
	Republican	Peter Tali Coleman	{{{votes}}}	47.0%

Puerto Rico

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Pedro Rosselló	New Progressive Party	938,969	49.90
	Victoria Muñoz Mendoza	Popular Democratic Party	862,989	45.86
	Fernando Martín García	Puerto Rican Independence Party	79,219	4.21
Other candidates			695	0.04
Total			1,881,872	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			2,242,381	–
Source: Nohlen

See also

• 1992 United States elections
  • 1992 United States presidential election
  • 1992 United States Senate elections
  • 1992 United States House of Representatives elections

Notes

1. Dean took office after his predecessor (Richard Snelling) died.

References

1. "AS Governor Race - Nov 03, 1992". Our Campaigns. January 1, 2006.
2. "Libertarian Party - Election Results". Archived from the original on August 28, 2001.
3. "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.