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1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
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1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election Massachusetts presidential no 1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 1982 1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 1990 November 3, 1986 57.41% 25.1https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=24521 Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 04, 1986 www.ourcampaigns.com February 11, 2024 x150px File:Michael Dukakis 1988 DNC (2).jpg Michael Dukakis Democratic Party (United States) Evelyn Murphy 1,157,786 68.79% 3x4.svg George Kariotis Republican Party (United States) Nicholas Nikitas 525,364 31.21% 300px County results 300px| Municipality results 1 250px Dukakis: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80%
#3933E5 80–90% Kariotis: #e27f7f 50–60% #d72f30 70–80% Governor Michael Dukakis Democratic Party (United States) Michael Dukakis Democratic Party (United States)
The 1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Michael Dukakis was elected governor of Massachusetts for a third term. He defeated Republican George Kariotis by a 69–31% margin. This was the last time a Democrat was elected governor of Massachusetts until 2006.
Democratic primary
Governor
Candidates
Michael Dukakis, incumbent governor
Michael Dukakis was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Gerard D'Amico, state senator from Worcester
Evelyn Murphy, former secretary of environmental affairs and candidate for lt. governor in 1982
John Kerry, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1982, did not run for reelection, as he had been elected to the United States Senate in 1984.
Results
Massachusetts Democratic lt. gubernatorial primary, 1986
Democratic Party (United States)
Evelyn Murphy
374,714
60.10%
Democratic Party (United States)
Gerard D'Amico
248,671
39.89%
Republican primary
Governor
Candidates
George Kariotis, businessman and former secretary of economic affairs
Withdrew
Greg Hyatt, lawyer and candidate for Massachusetts's 5th congressional district in 1984
Royall H. Switzler, state representative from Wellesley
Eliminated at convention
Guy Carbone, former Metropolitan District commissionerBruce Mohl Guy Carbone Announces GOP Run for Governor https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659850441.html?dids=659850441:659850441&FMT=ABS&FMTS https://archive.today/20120723203600/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659850441.html?dids=659850441:659850441&FMT=ABS&FMTS dead July 23, 2012 Boston Globe April 5, 1986 2011-01-11
Declined
Paul W. Cronin, former U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 5th congressional districtAndrew J. Dabilis Switzler Drive Put Together in 4 1/2 Hours https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659860941.html?dids=659860941:659860941&FMT=ABS&FMTS https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070549/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659860941.html?dids=659860941:659860941&FMT=ABS&FMTS dead November 5, 2012 Boston Globe April 13, 1986 2011-01-11
Edward J. King, former Democratic governorAssociated Press Former Governor King decides not to challenge Dukakis again next fall https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/projo/access/601568921.html?dids=601568921:601568921&FMT=ABS&FMTS https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070518/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/projo/access/601568921.html?dids=601568921:601568921&FMT=ABS&FMTS dead November 5, 2012 Providence Journal January 24, 1986 2011-01-11
Campaign
On March 13, Greg Hyatt became the first Republican to enter the gubernatorial race. A self-described "populist conservative", Hyatt supported limiting state taxes, bringing back the death penalty, and competency testing and merit pay for teachers. He opposed the state law that made wearing a seat belt mandatory, the use of roadblocks to crack down on drunken driving, and the use of public funds for abortions.Bruce Mohl GOP'S Hyatt Announces Candidacy for Governor https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/660025411.html?dids=660025411:660025411&FMT=ABS https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070527/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/660025411.html?dids=660025411:660025411&FMT=ABS dead November 5, 2012 Boston Globe March 14, 1986 2011-01-11
Shortly before the Republican convention, Boston attorney and former Metropolitan District Commissioner Guy Carbone entered the race.
The convention nomination was won by Royall H. Switzler, a state representative who had been drafted by anti-Hyatt Republicans after former Congressman Paul W. Cronin decided not to enter the race. To receive the endorsement of the party, a candidate must receive the support of 50% of the delegates. Only candidates receiving 15% of the vote or more on any ballot would be eligible for a primary. After a strong showing on the first ballot, some of Hyatt's major supporters, including Ray Shamie and Papa Gino's founder Michael Valerio, announced that they would not oppose Switzler's endorsement. On the second ballot, Switzler won the nomination with 975 votes. Since Carbone did not exceed 15% of the vote on either ballot, he was eliminated.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! colspan="5" | State Republican Convention results, 1986
|- style="background:#eee; text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width: 12em" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |First ballot
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Pct.
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Second ballot
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Pct.
|-
!scope="row| Royall Switzler
| style="text-align:center;"| 775
| style="text-align:center;"| 40.28%
| style="text-align:center;"| 975
| style="text-align:center;"| 51.02%
|-
! scope="row" | Greg Hyatt
| style="text-align:center;"| 891
| style="text-align:center;"| 46.31%
| style="text-align:center;"| 876
| style="text-align:center;"| 45.84%
|-
!scope="row| Guy Carbone
| style="text-align:center;"| 258
| style="text-align:center;"| 13.41%
| style="text-align:center;"| 60
| style="text-align:center;"| 3.14%
|-
Despite losing the nomination, Hyatt chose to stay in the race and run against Switzler in the Republican primary.Bruce Mohl GOP'S Gears Set in Motion; Switzler Plots Strategy, Signals Hyatt Should Quit https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659862791.html?dids=659862791:659862791&FMT=ABS&FMTS https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070600/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659862791.html?dids=659862791:659862791&FMT=ABS&FMTS dead November 5, 2012 Boston Globe April 14, 1986 2011-01-11 However, Switzler dropped out of the race in June after inaccuracies about his military record were revealed. He had falsely claimed to be a member of the United States Army Special Forces and stated that he had fought in Vietnam when he had only visited Vietnam on leave from noncombat duty in Korea.Bruce Mohl ACCUSATIONS, TURMOIL SWIRL OVER SWITZLER https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/660069841.html?dids=660069841:660069841&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT Boston Globe June 5, 1986 2010-06-18 2012-11-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20121107133649/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/660069841.html?dids=660069841:660069841&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead
Hyatt then dropped out of the race on July 14 amid accusations of forging names on his nomination papers, having ties to organized crime, and erratic personal behavior which included working nude in his office.Bruce Mohl ADS DEPICT TAX CAP AS A HYATT PROPOSAL https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659733481.html?dids=659733481:659733481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20121107133701/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659733481.html?dids=659733481:659733481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead November 7, 2012 Boston Globe October 18, 1986 2010-06-18Hey, gang! It's all over! https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ppwrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D_wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6404,4735927 30 July 2011 Nashua Telegraph July 17, 1986
Businessman and former Secretary of Economic Affairs George Kariotis entered the race after both candidates dropped out. Because the filing deadline for the election was on March 1, Hyatt and Switzler remained on the ballot while Kariotis was forced to run a write in campaign. Hyatt won the election, but he and Switzler, who finished second, declined the nomination and Kariotis was declared the nominee.
Results
thumb|Republican primary results by municipality
Because both listed candidates had dropped out of the race, the Republican primary saw extremely low turnout.
Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary, 1986
Republican Party (United States)
Greg Hyatt (withdrew)
31,021
48.19%
Republican Party (United States)
Royall Switzler (withdrew)
20,802
32.32%
Republican Party (United States)
George Kariotis (write-in)
11,787
18.31%
63,610
100.00%
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Nicholas M. Nikitas, hotel operator, real estate developer, and Republican Party activistSign's '?' on Governor Answered, Massachusetts G.O.P. Seeks End to Slide https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/16/us/sign-s-on-governor-answered-massachusets-gop-seeks-end-to-slide.html New York Times February 16, 1986 2011-01-11
General election
Results
Dukakis won a convincing victory over Kariotis. He increased his margins across the state, winning all 14 counties with a majority, even as total vote numbers were down sharply from the previous election.https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1972/year_to:2020/office_id:1/stage:General PD43+ » Search Elections PD43+ February 11, 2024
Soon after being sworn in for his third term as governor, Dukakis began to run for the Democratic nomination for president in 1988.
1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Democratic Party (United States)
Michael Dukakis (incumbent)
1,157,786
68.79%
5.67
Republican Party (United States)
George Kariotis
525,364
31.21%
7.01
1,683,150
100.00%
None
Blank votes
93,138
—
1,776,288
100.00%
Results by county
1986 United States presidential election in Massachusetts (by county) County Dukakis - D % Dukakis - D # Kariotis - R % Kariotis - R # Write-ins % Write-ins # Total #Barnstable 62.8% 41,644 37.2% 24,641 0.0% 23 66,308Berkshire 79.1% 33,753 20.9% 8,910 0.0% 6 42,669Bristol 75.8% 97,813 24.2% 31,188 0.0% 31 129,032Dukes 78.5% 3,642 21.4% 994 0.0% 1 4,637Essex 67.0% 130,975 33.0% 64,437 0.0% 83 195,495Franklin 74.8% 15,745 25.0% 5,259 0.3% 54 21,058Hampden 72.5% 81,467 27.5% 30,881 0.0% 35 112,383Hampshire 73.8% 28,500 26.0% 10,038 0.3% 105 38,463Middlesex 68.2% 291,618 31.7% 135,699 0.1% 264 427,581Nantucket 75.6% 1,567 24.4% 507 0.0% 0 2,074Norfolk 65.4% 128,741 34.5% 67,923 0.0% 58 196,722Plymouth 61.6% 71,100 38.4% 44,291 0.0% 42 115,443Suffolk 74.5% 108,995 25.4% 37,223 0.1% 111 146,329Worcester 65.8% 122,216 34.1% 63,373 0.1% 116 185,705
See also
1985–1986 Massachusetts legislature
References
1986
Massachusetts
Gubernatorial
Category:Michael Dukakis