Gubernatorial elections
United States elections · 1986 · held
State gubernatorial races held in this midterm year. Each governor is elected separately; there is no combined national percentage.
State races and results map
Each race has its own denominator. Missing counts are blank. The interactive map uses modern state outlines as navigation references.
Alabama — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H. Guy Hunt | Republican | — | 56.40% | Elected |
| Bill Baxley | Democratic | — | 43.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Alaska — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Cowper | Democratic | — | 47.30% | Elected |
| Arliss Sturgulewski | Republican | — | 42.60% | — |
| Joe Vogler | Alaskan Ind. | — | 5.60% | — |
| Wally Hickel | write-in | — | 2.80% | — |
| Mary Jane O'Brannon | Libertarian | — | 0.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Arizona — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evan Mecham | Republican | — | 39.70% | Elected |
| Carolyn Warner | Democratic | — | 34.50% | — |
| Bill Schulz | Independent | — | 25.80% | — |
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Clinton | Democratic | — | 63.90% | Elected |
| Frank D. White | Republican | — | 36.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
California — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Deukmejian | Republican | — | 60.20% | Elected |
| Tom Bradley | Democratic | — | 37.20% | — |
| Maria Elizabeth Muñoz | PF | — | 1.30% | — |
| Joseph Fuhrig | Libertarian | — | 0.70% | — |
| Gary V. Miller | American Ind. | — | 0.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
Colorado — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Romer | Democratic | — | 58.20% | Elected |
| Ted Strickland | Republican | — | 41.00% | — |
| Earl Dodge | Prohibition | — | 0.80% | — |
Sources & further reading
Connecticut — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William A. O'Neill | Democratic | — | 58.50% | Elected |
| Julie Belaga | Republican | — | 41.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Florida — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Martinez | Republican | — | 54.60% | Elected |
| Steve Pajcic | Democratic | — | 45.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Frank Harris | Democratic | — | 70.50% | Elected |
| Guy Davis | Republican | — | 29.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Hawaii — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John D. Waiheʻe III | Democratic | — | 52.00% | Elected |
| D. G. Anderson | Republican | — | 48.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Idaho — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cecil Andrus | Democratic | — | 50.50% | Elected |
| David H. Leroy | Republican | — | 49.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Illinois — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James R. Thompson | Republican | — | 52.70% | Elected |
| Adlai Stevenson III | Solidarity | — | 40.00% | — |
| No candidate | Democratic | — | 6.60% | — |
| Gary L. Shilts | Libertarian | — | 0.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Iowa — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Branstad | Republican | — | 51.90% | Elected |
| Lowell Junkins | Democratic | — | 48.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Kansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Hayden | Republican | — | 51.90% | Elected |
| Thomas R. Docking | Democratic | — | 48.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Maine — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John R. McKernan Jr. | Republican | — | 39.90% | Elected |
| James Tierney | Democratic | — | 30.20% | — |
| Sherry Huber | Independent | — | 15.10% | — |
| John Menario | Independent | — | 14.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
Maryland — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Donald Schaefer | Democratic | — | 82.40% | Elected |
| Thomas J. Mooney | Republican | — | 17.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Massachusetts — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Dukakis | Democratic | — | 68.80% | Elected |
| George Kariotis | Republican | — | 31.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Michigan — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Blanchard | Democratic | — | 68.10% | Elected |
| William Lucas | Republican | — | 31.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Minnesota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rudy Perpich | Democratic | — | 56.10% | Elected |
| Cal Ludeman | Republican | — | 43.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Nebraska — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kay A. Orr | Republican | — | 52.90% | Elected |
| Helen Boosalis | Democratic | — | 47.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Nevada — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Bryan | Democratic | — | 71.90% | Elected |
| Patricia Dillon Cafferata | Republican | — | 25.00% | — |
| Louis R. Tomburello | Libertarian | — | 1.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John H. Sununu | Republican | — | 53.70% | Elected |
| Paul McEachern | Democratic | — | 46.30% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Mexico — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrey Carruthers | Republican | — | 53.00% | Elected |
| Ray Powell | Democratic | — | 47.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
New York — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Cuomo | Democratic | — | 64.30% | Elected |
| Andrew P. O'Rourke | Republican | — | 31.80% | — |
| Denis Dillon | Right to Life | — | 3.10% | — |
| Lenora Fulani | New Alliance | — | 0.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Ohio — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dick Celeste | Democratic | — | 60.60% | Elected |
| Jim Rhodes | Republican | — | 39.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Oklahoma — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Bellmon | Republican | — | 48.10% | Elected |
| David Walters | Democratic | — | 45.20% | — |
| Jerry Brown | Independent | — | 6.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
Oregon — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neil Goldschmidt | Democratic | — | 52.00% | Elected |
| Norma Paulus | Republican | — | 48.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Pennsylvania — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Casey Sr. | Democratic | — | 50.70% | Elected |
| William Scranton III | Republican | — | 48.40% | — |
| Heidi Hoover | Consumer | — | 1.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Rhode Island — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward D. DiPrete | Republican | — | 64.70% | Elected |
| Bruce Sundlun | Democratic | — | 32.40% | — |
| Robert Healey | Cool Moose | — | 1.90% | — |
| Tony Affigne | Citizens | — | 1.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
South Carolina — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll A. Campbell Jr. | Republican | — | 51.00% | Elected |
| Michael R. Daniel | Democratic | — | 47.90% | — |
| William H. Griffin | Libertarian | — | 0.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
South Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George S. Mickelson | Republican | — | 51.80% | Elected |
| Lars Herseth | Democratic | — | 48.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Tennessee — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ned McWherter | Democratic | — | 54.30% | Elected |
| Winfield Dunn | Republican | — | 45.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
Texas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Clements | Republican | — | 52.70% | Elected |
| Mark White | Democratic | — | 46.00% | — |
| Theresa S. Doyle | Libertarian | — | 1.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madeleine Kunin | Democratic | — | 47.00% | Elected |
| Peter Plympton Smith | Republican | — | 38.30% | — |
| Bernie Sanders | Independent | — | 14.50% | — |
Sources & further reading
Wisconsin — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Thompson | Republican | — | 52.70% | Elected |
| Tony Earl | Democratic | — | 46.20% | — |
| Kathryn Christenson | Labor and Farm | — | 0.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
Wyoming — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Sullivan | Democratic | — | 54.00% | Elected |
| Pete Simpson | Republican | — | 46.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Results: final · partial coverage · Separate state governor races
This entry covers governor elections held in the midterm year, including available special contests, not off-year elections or every sitting governor. Candidate-specific ideology is used where sourced; election-era party ideology is the fallback. Historical indirect selections and unavailable counts are identified separately. Source summaries may omit minor candidates; blank values do not mean zero votes.