1986 Arizona gubernatorial election

none related races 1986 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 1986 Arizona gubernatorial election Arizona presidential no 1982 Arizona gubernatorial election 1982 1990–91 Arizona gubernatorial election 1990–91 November 4, 1986 File:Evan Mecham %28Arizona governor%29.jpg 150x150px Evan Mecham Republican Party (United States) 343,913 39.67% File:Carolyn Warner by Gage Skidmore.jpg Carolyn Warner Democratic Party (United States) 298,986 34.49% 3x4.svg Bill Schulz Independent 224,085 25.85% 1986 Arizona gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 220px County resultsMecham: #ffc8cd 30–40% #ffb2b2 40–50%Warner: #a5b0ff 40–50% #6674de 60–70% Governor Bruce Babbitt Democratic Party (United States) Evan Mecham Republican Party (United States) The 1986 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Republican Evan Mecham, who defeated Burton Barr for the Republican nomination, defeated the Democratic nominee and State Superintendent Carolyn Warner and independent candidate Bill Schulz. Mecham's victory in the primary and general elections are considered among the greatest political surprises in Arizona history. Ultimately, Mecham did not complete his full four-year term in office; he was impeached and removed from office in 1988. This was the first gubernatorial election in which La Paz County participated after separating from Yuma County in between this election and the one just before it. Background Bruce Babbitt, who succeed to the office of Governor upon the 1978 death of Wesley Bolin, chose not to run for a third term in office. Babbitt was first elected over Evan Mecham in 1978 and re-elected in a landslide in 1982; some speculated that he would seek to succeed Barry Goldwater in the United States Senate, but Babbitt ultimately focused on a run for President of the United States in 1988. Although no Republican had been elected Governor of Arizona since 1970, President Ronald Reagan had carried the state with record margins in 1980 and 1984. Democratic primary Candidates Tony Mason, candidate for U.S. House in 1976 Dave Moss, candidate for governor in 1978 and 1982 Carolyn Warner, Superintendent of Public Instruction Withdrew Bill Schulz, businessman and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1980 Results thumb|center|Primary results by county Map legend #7996E2 Warner—50–60% #A5B0FF Warner—40–50% #5fd35f Mason—50–60% #87de87 Mason—40–50% Democratic primary resultshttps://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/102683 State of Arizona - Official Canvass Primary Election - September 9, 1986 Arizona Secretary of State 2024-07-14 Democratic Party (United States) Carolyn Warner 106,687 50.64% Democratic Party (United States) Tony Mason 92,413 43.86% Democratic Party (United States) Dave Moss 11,588 5.50% 210,688 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Burton Barr, House Majority Leader and State Representative from Phoenix Evan Mecham, auto dealer and perennial candidate Campaign Barr, who was personally recruited by President Reagan to run for governor and had the universal support of the state Republican establishment, was the heavy favorite. His campaign largely ignored Mecham, who launched negative attacks on Barr and the state party generally.https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/10/05/twin-threat-pleases-republican/20a799a8-254f-4dd8-85e4-a3f058c0eef0/ Twin Threat Pleases Republican: Two Democrats on Arizona Ballot May Make Mecham Governor The Washington Post February 19, 2024 October 4, 1986 Reid T.R. When Republicans responded to Mecham's criticism, such as when the Senate Republican leader called him an "ethical pygmy," his popularity with voters rose. Results thumb|center|Primary results by county Map legend #D75D5D Mecham—60–70% #E27F7F Mecham—50–60% #FF9A50 Barr—50–60% 1986 Republican gubernatorial primary Republican Party (United States) Evan Mecham 121,614 53.74% Republican Party (United States) Burton Barr 104,682 46.26% 226,296 100.00% Mecham's primary victory over Barr was received as "the biggest upset in Arizona" since Barry Goldwater's 1952 victory over United States Senator Ernest McFarland. General election Candidates Evan Mecham, auto dealer and perennial candidate (Republican) Bill Schulz, businessman and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1980 (Independent) Carolyn Warner, Superintendent of Public Instruction (Democratic) Predictions SourceRatingAs ofThe Cook Political Report https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings/462246 1986 CPR Governor Race Ratings The Cook Political Report en March 28, 2024Toss UpOctober 28, 1986 Results Arizona gubernatorial election, 1986https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/102682 State of Arizona - Official Canvass - General Election - November 4, 1986 Arizona Secretary of State 2024-07-14 Republican Party (United States) Evan Mecham 343,913 39.67% +7.20% Democratic Party (United States) Carolyn Warner 298,986 34.49% -27.98% Independent Bill Schulz 224,085 25.85% +25.85% 44,927 5.18% 866,984 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) +35.18% Results by county County Evan MechamRepublican Carolyn WarnerDemocratic Bill SchulzIndependent Margin Total votescast # % # % # % # %Apache2,96526.52%6,93662.04%1,27911.44%-3,971-35.52%11,180Cochise8,48438.52%8,36837.99%5,17423.49%1160.53%22,026Coconino6,64728.04%11,49248.48%5,56523.48%-4,845-20.44%23,704Gila4,77934.45%5,77541.63%3,31923.92%-996-7.18%13,873Graham3,25747.13%2,38134.46%1,27218.41%87612.68%6,910Greenlee99133.24%1,21840.86%77225.90%-227-7.61%2,981La Paz1,35238.99%1,20134.63%91526.38%1514.35%3,468Maricopa213,04943.06%142,54028.81%139,23128.14%70,50914.25%494,820Mohave9,33343.20%7,96936.89%4,30019.91%1,3646.31%21,602Navajo6,25037.77%7,52745.49%2,76916.74%-1,277-7.72%16,546Pima56,59832.97%72,36642.16%42,70024.87%-15,768-9.19%171,664Pinal8,24433.35%11,12745.02%5,34721.63%-2,883-11.66%24,718Santa Cruz1,49028.10%2,34944.30%1,46427.61%-859-16.20%5,303Yavapai15,00046.91%10,28832.17%6,68820.92%4,71214.74%31,976Yuma5,47433.76%7,44945.94%3,29020.29%-1,975-12.18%16,213Totals343,91339.67%298,98634.49%224,08525.85%44,9275.18%866,984 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Cochise Graham Maricopa Mohave Yavapai References 1986 Category:1986 United States gubernatorial elections Gubernatorial