1986 Tennessee gubernatorial election

Summary

The 1986 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Democratic nominee Ned McWherter defeated former Republican Governor Winfield Dunn with 54.3% of the vote.

1986 Tennessee gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 4, 1986 1990 →
 
Nominee Ned McWherter Winfield Dunn
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 656,602 553,449
Percentage 54.3% 45.7%

County results
McWherter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Dunn:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Lamar Alexander
Republican

Elected Governor

Ned McWherter
Democratic

With this win, McWherter flipped the state back into Democratic control, with the state legislature also being controlled by Democrats.

Primary elections edit

Primary elections were held on August 7, 1986.[1]

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ned McWherter 314,449 42.47
Democratic Jane Eskind 225,551 30.46
Democratic Richard Fulton 190,016 25.66
Democratic Joseph L. Crichton 6,582 0.89
Democratic Bill Jacox 3,817 0.52
Total votes 740,415 100.00

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Winfield Dunn 222,458 94.23
Republican Hubert David Patty 7,660 3.25
Republican Charles Gordon Vick 5,954 2.52
Total votes 236,072 100.00

General election edit

Candidates edit

  • Ned McWherter, Democratic
  • Winfield Dunn, Republican

Results edit

1986 Tennessee gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ned McWherter 656,602 54.26%
Republican Winfield Dunn 553,449 45.74%
Majority 103,153
Turnout 1,210,339
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Crowell, Gentry. "Tennessee Blue Book: 1987-1988 - Gentry Crowell". Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  2. ^ Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781506368993. Retrieved October 5, 2018.