1986 Maryland gubernatorial election

Summary

The 1986 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Democratic nominee William Donald Schaefer defeated Republican nominee Thomas J. Mooney with 82.37% of the vote. To date this is the largest percentage total ever for a contested statewide election in Maryland.

1986 Maryland gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 4, 1986 1990 →
 
Nominee William Donald Schaefer Thomas J. Mooney
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Melvin Steinberg Melvin A. Bilal
Popular vote 907,291 194,185
Percentage 82.37% 17.63%

County results
Schaefer:      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90%

Governor before election

Harry Hughes
Democratic

Elected Governor

William Donald Schaefer
Democratic

As of 2023, this was the last time a candidate from either party carried every county in a gubernatorial election, and the last time the Democratic candidate won a majority of counties in a gubernatorial election. He is also the last Democrat to win the following counties: Garrett, Washington, Carroll, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, and Somerset. Anne Arundel County, Frederick County, Kent County, and Talbot County would not vote Democratic again until 2022.

Primary elections edit

Primary elections were held on September 9, 1986.[1]

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Donald Schaefer 395,170 61.75
Democratic Stephen H. Sachs 224,755 35.12
Democratic Lawrence K. Freeman 14,120 2.21
Democratic Mary Fellenbaum Holter 5,919 0.93
Total votes 639,964 100.00

General election edit

Candidates edit

  • William Donald Schaefer, Democratic
  • Thomas J. Mooney, Fmr State Delegate, Republican

Results edit

1986 Maryland gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic William Donald Schaefer 907,291 82.37%
Republican Thomas J. Mooney 194,185 17.63%
Majority 713,106
Turnout 1,101,476
Democratic hold Swing

References edit

  1. ^ a b "1986 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". Elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "1986 Gubernatorial General Election Results". Elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2019.