1982 United States gubernatorial elections

Election results

States

Territories and federal district

Close states

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

1. Illinois, 0.14%

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

1. California, 1.2%
2. Nebraska, 1.4%
3. New York, 2.4%
4. Pennsylvania, 2.7%
5. New Hampshire, 4.7%
6. Guam, 4.8%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. Idaho, 5.8%
2. New Mexico, 6.0%
3. Iowa, 6.2%
4. Michigan, 6.3%
5. Texas, 7.3%
6. Connecticut, 7.4%
7. Kansas, 8.7%
8. Alaska, 9.0%
9. Arkansas, 9.4%

Alabama

Main article: 1982 Alabama gubernatorial election

Wallace:
Folmar:

The 1982 Alabama gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, to elect the governor of Alabama. Incumbent Democrat Fob James declined to run for re-election; he later successfully ran again in 1994 as a Republican. The open seat election saw former Democratic governor George Wallace, who narrowly won the Democratic primary, defeat Republican Emory Folmar, the Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama.

Alaska

Main article: 1982 Alaska gubernatorial election

Sheffield:
Fink:

The 1982 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982, for the post of Governor of Alaska. To replace outgoing Republican governor Jay Hammond, Democratic nominee Bill Sheffield defeated three opponents: Republican nominee Tom Fink, Libertarian nominee Dick Randolph and Alaskan Independence Party nominee Joe Vogler. Hammond had endorsed his lieutenant governor, Terry Miller, who lost the Republican nomination to Fink in the primary election, as did Don Wright. Sheffield defeated Steve Cowper and former Lieutenant Governor H. A. Boucher for the Democratic nomination.

Arizona

Main article: 1982 Arizona gubernatorial election

Babbitt:

The 1982 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Democratic incumbent Bruce Babbitt defeated Republican nominee Leo Corbet and Libertarian candidate and former U.S. Representative Sam Steiger. Evan Mecham unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination. This was the last time until 2002 that a Democrat was elected governor of Arizona, and the last time a male Democrat was elected governor.

Arkansas

Main article: 1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election

Clinton:

White:

The 1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Former Democratic governor Bill Clinton regained the position after having narrowly been defeated by Republican candidate Frank D. White at the previous election. Clinton held the position from January 1983 until he resigned after being elected president in 1992. As of , this is the last time that an incumbent governor of Arkansas lost re-election.

California

Main article: 1982 California gubernatorial election

Deukmejian:
Bradley:

The 1982 California gubernatorial election occurred on November 2, 1982. The Republican nominee, Attorney General George Deukmejian, narrowly defeated the Democratic nominee, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. Incumbent Governor Jerry Brown did not seek reelection to a third consecutive term; he later successfully ran again in 2010 and 2014.

Colorado

Main article: 1982 Colorado gubernatorial election

Lamm:

Fuhr:

The 1982 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democrat Richard Lamm defeated Republican nominee John Fuhr with 65.69% of the vote.

Connecticut

Main article: 1982 Connecticut gubernatorial election

|County results |220px |Municipality results}} Rome:

The 1982 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democratic governor Bill O'Neill had assumed the governor's office in 1980 after Ella Grasso resigned due to poor health. Grasso died just weeks later on February 5, 1981. Governor O'Neill defeated former Connecticut state senator Lewis Rome for his first full term in the governor's office.

Florida

Main article: 1982 Florida gubernatorial election

Graham:
Bafalis:

The 1982 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democratic governor Bob Graham was re-elected in a landslide, defeating Republican nominee Skip Bafalis with 64.70% of the vote.

Georgia

Main article: 1982 Georgia gubernatorial election

Harris:
**Bell: **

The 1982 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Joe Frank Harris was elected as the 78th Governor of Georgia.

Hawaii

Main article: 1982 Hawaii gubernatorial election

Ariyoshi:

The 1982 Hawaii gubernatorial election was Hawaii's seventh gubernatorial election. The election was held on November 2, 1982, and resulted in a victory for the Democratic candidate, governor George Ariyoshi, over Frank Fasi, running as an Independent Democrat, and the Republican candidate, state senator D. G. Anderson. Ariyoshi received more votes than any other candidate in every county in the state.

Idaho

Main article: 1982 Idaho gubernatorial election

Evans:

Batt:

The 1982 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 2. Incumbent Democrat John V. Evans narrowly defeated Republican nominee Phil Batt with 50.64% of the vote, the fourth of six consecutive wins for the Democratic party.

Illinois

Main article: 1982 Illinois gubernatorial election

Thompson:
Stevenson:

The 1982 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican governor James R. Thompson won a third term in office, defeating the Democratic nominee, former United States Senator Adlai Stevenson III, by a slim margin of 5,074 votes.

Iowa

Main article: 1982 Iowa gubernatorial election

Branstad:
Conlin:

The 1982 Iowa gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Republican nominee Terry Branstad defeated Democratic nominee Roxanne Conlin with 52.81% of the vote.

Kansas

Main article: 1982 Kansas gubernatorial election

Carlin:
Hardage:

The 1982 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democrat John W. Carlin defeated Republican nominee Sam Hardage with 53.2% of the vote.

Maine

Main article: 1982 Maine gubernatorial election

|[[File:1982 Maine gubernatorial election results map by county.svg|280px]]|County results |[[File:1982 Maine gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg|280px]]|Municipality results}} Cragin:
Tie:

The 1982 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democratic Governor Joseph Brennan defeated Republican challenger Charles R. Cragin. Brennan defeated Cragin, winning his re-election by the highest percent margin in more than thirty years.

Maryland

Main article: 1982 Maryland gubernatorial election

Hughes:
Pascal:

The 1982 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democrat Harry Hughes defeated Republican nominee Robert A. Pascal with 61.97% of the vote.

Massachusetts

Main article: 1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

|[[File:1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election results map by county.svg|300px]] |County results |[[File:1982 Massachusetts Gubernatorial Election by Municipality.svg|300px|]] |Municipality results

Sears:

The 1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Michael Dukakis was elected to a second non-consecutive term. He beat Republican John W. Sears in the general election, after defeating incumbent Governor Edward J. King in the Democratic primary.

Michigan

Main article: 1982 Michigan gubernatorial election

Blanchard:
Headlee:

The 1982 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Governor William Milliken decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth full term as governor. The primary elections occurred on August 10, 1982. Businessman Richard Headlee narrowly defeated incumbent lieutenant governor James Brickley in a four way race on the Republican side. Congressman James Blanchard defeated Michigan Senate Majority Leader William B. Fitzgerald Jr. by a wide margin a fractured seven way race. Blanchard won the general election by a relatively comfortable 6.31% margin. Blanchard became the first Democrat to win the governor’s mansion in Michigan in 22 years.

Minnesota

Main article: 1982 Minnesota gubernatorial election

Perpich:
Whitney:

The 1982 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate Rudy Perpich defeated Independent-Republican Party challenger Wheelock Whitney, Jr. Warren Spannaus unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination, while Lou Wangberg and Harold Stassen unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination. Perpich became the first candidate to receive over a million votes in a gubernatorial election in Minnesota.

Nebraska

Main article: 1982 Nebraska gubernatorial election

Kerrey:
Thone:

The 1982 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, and featured businessman Bob Kerrey, a Democrat, narrowly defeating incumbent Republican governor Charles Thone.

Nevada

Main article: 1982 Nevada gubernatorial election

Bryan:
List:

The 1982 Nevada gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982 to elect the Governor of Nevada. Incumbent Republican Robert List ran unsuccessfully for re-election to a second term. He lost to Democratic nominee Richard Bryan by 11.7%.

New Hampshire

Main article: 1982 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

|x240px |County results |x240px |Municipality results}} Gallen:

The 1982 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1982. Incumbent Democratic governor Hugh Gallen ran for re-election but was defeated by Tufts University professor John Sununu. Sununu, who defeated Lou D'Allesandro for the Republican nomination, became the first Arab-American governor of New Hampshire. Gallen died just over a week before Sununu's inauguration.

New Mexico

Main article: 1982 New Mexico gubernatorial election

Anaya:

Irick:

The 1982 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982 to elect the governor of New Mexico. Due to term limits, incumbent Democrat Bruce King was ineligible to seek a second consecutive (and third overall) term as governor. Democrat Toney Anaya defeated Republican state senator John B. Irick by about five points. Anaya was the first Democrat to carry Harding County in a gubernatorial election since Thomas J. Mabry in 1946.

New York

Main article: 1982 New York gubernatorial election

Statewide Ind. Cuomo:
Lehrman:

The 1982 New York gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York. Incumbent Democratic Governor Hugh Carey chose not to run for a third term, which resulted in an open race. Democratic nominee Mario Cuomo, the Lieutenant Governor of New York, narrowly defeated Republican Lewis Lehrman, a banker who ran as a conservative.

Ohio

Main article: 1982 Ohio gubernatorial election

Celeste:
Brown:

The 1982 Ohio gubernatorial election was held in Ohio on November 2, 1982. Dick Celeste of the Democratic Party was elected with 59% of the vote.

Oklahoma

Main article: 1982 Oklahoma gubernatorial election

Nigh:

The 1982 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, and was a race for Governor of Oklahoma. Democrat George Nigh won re-election by a substantial majority over the Republican, former State Auditor and Inspector Tom Daxon.

Oregon

Main article: 1982 Oregon gubernatorial election

Atiyeh:

The 1982 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican Governor Victor Atiyeh won re-election to a second term in a landslide, defeating Democratic state senator Ted Kulongoski and carrying every county in the state.

Pennsylvania

Main article: 1982 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

Thornburgh:
Ertel:

The 1982 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, between incumbent Republican Dick Thornburgh and Democratic U.S. Congressman Allen E. Ertel. Thornburgh was a popular incumbent, who largely was the favorite throughout the race. However, owing to a nationwide recession which hit the state particularly hard, and a backlash to Reaganomics, the final result ended up becoming much closer than what was initially anticipated.

Rhode Island

Main article: 1982 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

|County results |[[File:1982 Rhode Island gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg|250px]] |Municipality results}}

The 1982 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democrat J. Joseph Garrahy defeated Republican nominee Vincent Marzullo with 73.30% of the vote.

South Carolina

Main article: 1982 South Carolina gubernatorial election

Riley:

The 1982 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. The state constitution was amended by the voters on November 4, 1980 to allow for the governor to serve a second consecutive four-year term. Governor Richard Riley, the popular Democratic incumbent, easily defeated Republican W. D. Workman, Jr. and became the first governor since Thomas Gordon McLeod in 1924 to be elected to a second consecutive term.

South Dakota

Main article: 1982 South Dakota gubernatorial election

Janklow:
O'Connor:

The 1982 South Dakota gubernatorial elections were held on November 2, 1982, to elect a Governor of South Dakota. Republican candidate Bill Janklow was elected, defeating Democratic nominee Mike O'Connor to take a second term in office.

Tennessee

Main article: 1982 Tennessee gubernatorial election

Alexander:
Tyree:

The 1982 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, to elect the governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican governor Lamar Alexander was now qualified to run for re-election because of Tennessee's 1978 constitutional amendment allowing governors to serve a second consecutive four-year term. Alexander ran for re-election and defeated Democratic nominee Randy Tyree with 59.6% of the vote in the general election.

Alexander was the first Republican to be re-elected governor since 1912.

Texas

Main article: 1982 Texas gubernatorial election

White:
Clements:

The 1982 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican governor Bill Clements ran for reelection, but was defeated in the general election by Democrat Mark White, winning 46% of the vote to White's 53%. White was sworn into office on January 18, 1983.

Vermont

Main article: 1982 Vermont gubernatorial election

|x220px |County results |x220px |Municipality results }} Kunin:

The 1982 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican Richard A. Snelling ran successfully for a fourth term as Governor of Vermont, defeating Democratic candidate Madeleine Kunin.

Wisconsin

Main article: 1982 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Earl:
Kohler:

The 1982 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Democrat Anthony S. Earl won the election with 56.75% of the vote, defeating Republican Terry J. Kohler.

Wyoming

Main article: 1982 Wyoming gubernatorial election

Herschler:
Morton:

The 1982 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler ran for re-election to a third term. He faced former State House Speaker Warren A. Morton in the general election after several prominent Republicans, including then-Congressman Dick Cheney, declined to challenge him. However, Herschler remained personally popular and the national political environment favored Democrats, and he had little difficulty defeating Morton to win a third term. In doing so, Herschler became the first (and, with the subsequent adoption of gubernatorial term limits, likely the last) Governor of Wyoming to win three terms in office.

Territories and federal district

District of Columbia

Main article: 1982 Washington, D.C., mayoral election

On November 2, 1982, the District of Columbia held an election for its mayor. It resulted in the reelection of incumbent Democratic mayor Marion Barry to a second term, defeating Republican candidate E. Brooke Lee.

Guam

U.S. Virgin Islands

Notes

References

References

1. (July 3, 2015). "Guam Governor Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns.
2. (January 19, 2006). "USVI Governor Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns.
3. "Candidate – D.G. "Andy" Anderson". Our Campaigns.
4. "HI Governor Race – Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns.
5. Kennedy, John. (October 31, 1982). "Idaho governor: Strange blend of issues may decide state's top race". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
6. (November 3, 1982). "Gov. Evans holds slight lead". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
7. "Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 02, 1982".
8. Michigan. (1985). "Michigan manual. 1983/1984.".
9. "1982 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Ohio". US Election Atlas.
10. "1982 results". Oklahoma State Election Board.
11. Robbins, William. (1982-11-04). "G.O.P. SHAKEN IN PENNSYLVANIA". The New York Times.
12. Phillip Langsdon, ''Tennessee: A Political History'' (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 370–381, 370–393.
13. Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, Wisconsin Legislature. (2015). "Wisconsin Blue Book 2015-2016". Wisconsin Department of Administration.
14. Clark, Clayton. (July 11, 1982). "Cheney says he won't run for governor". [[Casper Star-Tribune]].