Florida gubernatorial election, 1986

The Florida gubernatorial election of 1986 took place alongside the midterm congressional elections. The Democratic Party won many victories across the country (including retaking United States Senate). However in Florida, where Democrats gained Senate seat from Republicans, they lost the Governorship for the just second time since Reconstruction.

The primaries took place on September 2, the runoffs on September 30 and the general election on November 4

Democratic nomination

Incumbent popular Governor Bob Graham was barred for seeking third term and instead he run for Senate. His Lieutenant Governor Wayne Mixson also decided against running to replace his boss (he, however, became the next Governor for three days, as Graham resigned earlier to take Senate seat).

Candidates [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=66023 Our Campaigns - FL Governor - D Primary Race - Sep 02, 1986 ] ] :
* State Senator Harry A. Johnston
* State Representative Steve Pajcic
* Attorney General James C. Smith
* Many Kane Goldstein
* Joan Woolin

Primary results:
* Pajcic - 360,900 (35.92%)
* Smith - 309,908 (30.85%)
* Johnston - 257,096 (25.59%)
* Goldstein - 54,060 (5.38%)
* Woolin - 22,691 (2.26%)

Runoff results [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=66027 Our Campaigns - FL Governor - D Runoff Race - Sep 30, 1986 ] ] :
* Pajcic - 429,427 (50.64%)
* Smith - 418,614 (49.36%)

Candidates for Lieutenant Governor [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=357370 Our Campaigns - FL Lt. Governor- D Primary Race - Sep 02, 1986 ] ] :
* State Senator Frank Mann
* Marshall L. Harris
* State Representative Mark Gibbons
* Morris H. Wolff
* Sy Simons

Primary results:
* Mann - 360,900 (35.89%)
* Harris - 309,908 (30.82%)
* Gibbons - 257,906 (25.65%)
* Wolff - 54,060 (5.38%)
* Simons - 22,691 (2.26%)

Republican nomination

Candidates [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=66020 Our Campaigns - FL Governor - R Primary Race - Sep 02, 1986 ] ] :
* Mayor of Tampa Bob Martinez
* United States Representative Louis Frey
* State Representative Tom Gallagher
* State Representative Chester Clem

Primary results:
* Martinez - 244,417 (43.80%)
* Frey - 137,967 (24.72%)
* Gallagher - 131,265 (23.52%)
* Clem - 44,409 (7.96%)

Runoff results [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=66029 Our Campaigns - FL Governor - R Runoff Race - Sep 30, 1986 ] ] :
* Martinez - 259,333 (66.33%)
* Frey - 131,652 (33.67%)

Candidates for Lieutenant Governor [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=357371 Our Campaigns - FL Lt. Governor- R Primary Race - Sep 02, 1986 ] ] :
* State Representative Bobby Brantley
* State Representative Marilyn B. Evans-Jones
* Betty Easley
* State Representative Tom Bush

Primary results:
* Brantley - 244,417 (43.80%)
* Evans-Jones - 137,967 (24.72%)
* Easley - 131,265 (23.52%)
* Bush - 44,409 (7.96%)

General election

Democratic Party suffered from break during gubernatorial election as Smith openly endorsed Martinez [http://www.history.ufl.edu/oral/oldcollections/FP/FP73.html] . Also Martinez attacked Pajcic for his opposition for the death penalty [ [http://www.sptimes.com/2002/01/27/State/Candidates_may_keep_q.shtml State: Candidates may keep quiet on death penalty ] ] .

* Bob Martinez/Bobby Brantley - 1,847,525 (54.56%) [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=7723 Our Campaigns - FL Governor Race - Nov 04, 1986 ] ]
* Steve Pajcic/Frank Mann - 1,538,620 (45.44%)

Martinez and Brantley were inaugurated on January 6, 1987 [ [http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/museum/collections/governors/about.cfm?id=47 Museum - Office of Cultural & Historical Programs ] ] .

References