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. As of 2023, this is the closest a Democrat has come to winning the governorship in Utah since Scott M. Matheson left office in 1985.
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County results Bangerter: 30–40% 40–50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Wilson: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Bangerter defeated Samuels at the state convention on June 11[4] with over 70% of the vote and therefore avoided a primary.[5]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Norm Bangerter (incumbent) | 1,502 | 80.6% | |
Republican | W. Dean Samuels | 361 | 19.4% | |
Write-in | Merrill Cook | 1 | 0.1% | |
Total votes | 1,864 |
Wilson defeated Hewett at the state convention on June 25 with over 70% of the vote and therefore avoided a primary.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ted Wilson | 1,654 | 97.4% | |
Democratic | David E. Hewett | 44 | 2.6% | |
Total votes | 1,698 |
Pedersen defeated Topham at the state convention on June 25[10] with over 70% of the vote and therefore avoided a primary.[11]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
American | Arly H. Pedersen | 42 | 77.8% | |
American | Lawrence Rey Topham | 12 | 22.2% | |
Total votes | 54 |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Norm Bangerter (R) |
Ted Wilson (D) |
Merrill Cook (I) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dan Jones & Associates | April 19–21, 1988 | 904 | ± 3.0% | 28% | 56% | 8% | 1% | 7% |
Deseret News/KSL | (May 3, 1988) | 27% | 52% | 6% | 1% | |||
Dan Jones & Associates | (June 27, 1988) | 30% | 49% | 11% | ||||
Dan Jones & Associates | July 26–28, 1988 | 905 | ± 3.2% | 31% | 50% | 12% | 1% | 7% |
Dan Jones & Associates | (September 3, 1988) | 31% | 50% | 12% | ||||
Dan Jones & Associates | November 6, 1988 | 36% | 36% | 24% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Norman H. Bangerter (incumbent) | 260,462 | 40.13% | ||
Democratic | Ted Wilson | 249,321 | 38.41% | ||
Independent | Merrill Cook | 136,651 | 21.05% | ||
Libertarian | Kitty K. Burton | 1,661 | 0.26% | ||
American | Arly H. Pedersen | 1,019 | 0.16% | ||
Majority | 11,141 | 1.72% | |||
Turnout | 649,114 | 100.00% | |||
Republican hold | Swing |