1986 Massachusetts elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1986 Massachusetts general election parliamentary Massachusetts 1984 Massachusetts general election 1984 1988 Massachusetts general election 1988 November 4, 1986 Part of the1986 United States elections A Massachusetts general election was held on November 4, 1986 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The election included: statewide elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, Secretary of the Commonwealth, treasurer, and auditor; district elections for U.S. Representatives, State Representatives, State Senators, and Governor's Councillors; and ballot questions at the state and local levels. Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 16, 1986. Governor and lieutenant governor Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1986 Democrats Michael Dukakis and Evelyn Murphy were elected governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, over Republican candidates George Kariotis and Nicholas Nikitas. Dukakis' victory made him the longest-serving governor in the history of Massachusetts. Attorney general 1986 Massachusetts Attorney General election presidential no 1982 Massachusetts elections#Attorney general 1982 1990 Massachusetts elections#Attorney general 1990 150x150px James Shannon Democratic Party (United States) 900,088 54.7% 150x150px Edward Francis Harrington Republican Party (United States) 746,791 45.3% 250px Municipality results Attorney General Francis Bellotti Democratic Party (United States) James Shannon Democratic Party (United States) Democrat James Shannon was elected attorney general. He defeated former assistant attorney general Joann Shotwell in the Democratic primary and U.S. Attorney Edward Francis Harrington in the general election. Democratic primary Candidates James Shannon, former U.S. Representative from Lowell and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1984 Joann Shotwell, former Assistant Attorney General Results Massachusetts Attorney Democratic Primary, 19861986 Attorney General Democratic Primary https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/92682/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Democratic Party (US) James Shannon 402,744 68.12% Democratic Party (US) Joann Shotwell 188,404 31.87% 41 0.01% 591,189 100.00% General election Candidates Edward Francis Harrington, former Democratic U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts (Republican) James Shannon, former U.S. Representative from Lowell and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1984 (Democratic) Results Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 1986 1986 Attorney General General Election https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/92684/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Democratic Party (US) James Shannon 900,088 54.65% 33.60 Republican Party (US) Edward Francis Harrington 746,791 45.34% 26.45 136 0.01% 0.01 1,647,015 100.00% Secretary of the Commonwealth 1986 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election presidential no 1982 Massachusetts elections#Secretary of the Commonwealth 1982 1990 Massachusetts elections#Secretary of the Commonwealth 1990 150x150px Michael J. Connolly Democratic Party (United States) 1,091,441 68.0% 150x150px Deborah R. Cochran Republican Party (United States) 513,455 32.0% 250px Municipality results Secretary of the Commonwealth Michael J. Connolly Democratic Party (United States) Michael J. Connolly Democratic Party (United States) Incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth Michael J. Connolly defeated former State Representative Deborah R. Cochran in the general election. General election Candidates Deborah R. Cochran, former State Representative from Dedham (Republican) Michael J. Connolly, incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth (Democratic) Results Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1986 1986 Secretary of the Commonwealth General Election https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/92687/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Democratic Party (US) Michael J. Connolly (incumbent) 1,091,441 68.01% 4.61 Republican Party (US) Deborah R. Cochran 513,455 31.99% 7.79 57 0.00% 1,604,953 100.00% Treasurer and Receiver-General 1986 Massachusetts Treasurer election presidential no 1982 Massachusetts elections#Treasurer and Receiver-General 1982 1990 Massachusetts elections#Treasurer and Receiver-General 1990 150x150px Robert Q. Crane Democratic Party (United States) 931,704 57.3% 150x150px L. Joyce Hampers Republican Party (United States) 693,750 41.7% 250px Municipality results Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane Democratic Party (United States) Robert Q. Crane Democratic Party (United States) Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane defeated Republican L. Joyce Hampers in the general election. General election Candidates Robert Q. Crane, incumbent Treasurer since 1964 (Democratic) L. Joyce Hampers (Republican) Results Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1986 1986 Treasurer General Election https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/92690/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Democratic Party (US) Robert Q. Crane (incumbent) 931,704 57.31% 13.11 Republican Party (US) L. Joyce Hampers 693,750 41.67% 15.03 403 0.03% 1,625,857 100.00% Auditor 1986 Massachusetts Auditor election presidential no 1982 Massachusetts elections#Auditor 1982 1990 Massachusetts elections#Auditor 1990 150x150px A. Joseph DeNucci Democratic Party (United States) 1,001,236 63.2% 150x150px William G. Robinson Republican Party (United States) 583,299 36.8% 250px Municipality results Auditor John J. Finnegan Democratic Party (United States) A. Joseph DeNucci Democratic Party (United States) Incumbent Auditor John J. Finnegan did not run for reelection. Democrat A. Joseph DeNucci defeated Boston City Councilors Maura Hennigan and Charles Yancey in the Democratic primary and House Minority Leader William G. Robinson in the general election. Democratic primary Candidates A. Joseph DeNucci, State Representative from Newton and former professional boxer Maura Hennigan, member of the Boston City Council at-large Charles Yancey, member of the Boston City Council Results Massachusetts Auditor Democratic Primary, 1986 1986 Auditor Democratic Primary https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/92691/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Democratic Party (US) A. Joseph DeNucci 307,272 54.02% Democratic Party (US) Maura Hennigan 197,113 34.66% Democratic Party (US) Charles Yancey 64,300 11.31% 83 0.00% 568,685 100.00% Republican primary Candidates William G. Robinson, State Representative from Melrose and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Andrew Natsios, State Representative from Holliston and chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party Results Massachusetts Auditor Republican Primary, 1986 1986 Auditor Republican Primary https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/92692/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Republican Party (US) William G. Robinson 42,794 54.53% Republican Party (US) Andrew Natsios 35,632 45.40% 51 0.07% 78,477 100.00% General election Massachusetts Auditor General Election, 1986 1986 Auditor General Election https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/92693/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Democratic Party (US) A. Joseph DeNucci 1,001,236 63.19% 3.75 Republican Party (US) William G. Robinson 583,299 36.81% 7.56 82 0.01% 0.01 1,584,617 100.00% Ballot questions Question 1 Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the legislature to prohibit or regulate abortions to the extent permitted by the United States Constitution. It would also provide that the state constitution does not require public or private funding of abortions, or the provision of services of facilities for performing abortions, beyond what is required by the United States Constitution. The provisions of this amendment would not apply to abortions required to prevent the death of the mother. Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution 1986 - Statewide - Question 1 https://electionstats.state.ma.us/ballot_questions/view/5508/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yes 689,908 41.83% ✓ No 959,311 58.17% Question 2 Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the expenditure of public funds for private schools and private school students. Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution1986 - Statewide - Question 2 https://electionstats.state.ma.us/ballot_questions/view/5509/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yes 502,170 30.32% ✓ No 1,154,069 69.68% Question 3 Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would reduced then repeal the 71 2% surtax on Massachusetts state income taxes and would limit state tax revenue growth to the level of growth in the total wages and salaries of the citizens of the state. Law Proposed by Initiative Petition1986 - Statewide - Question 3 https://electionstats.state.ma.us/ballot_questions/view/5510// 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ✓ Yes 863,130 54.35% No 724,925 45.65% Question 4 Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would require that the State Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE) to search for sites in the Commonwealth where oil or hazardous materials have been disposed of and take all steps necessary to clean up those sites within specified time limits. Provisions are made for informing the public about sites in their communities. Law Proposed by Initiative Petition1986 - Statewide - Question 4 https://electionstats.state.ma.us/ballot_questions/view/5511/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ✓ Yes 1,174,676 74.38% No 404,521 25.62% Question 5 Referendum on an Existing Law - The law requires all drivers and passengers to wear properly adjusted and fastened safety belts while traveling in motor vehicles on public ways. Referendum on an Existing Law1986 - Statewide - Question 5 https://electionstats.state.ma.us/ballot_questions/view/5512/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yes 769,806 46.31% ✓ No 892,580 53.69% Question 6 Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would provide a system of voter registration by mail applicable to all qualified voters and would eliminate statutory provisions permitting certain persons to vote only for presidential electors. Law Proposed by Initiative Petition1986 - Statewide - Question 6 https://electionstats.state.ma.us/ballot_questions/view/5512/ 2026-08-19 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yes 603,370 38.44% ✓ No 966,229 61.56% References External links PD43+ Massachusetts Election Statistics Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/date:1986-11-04/stage:General Nov 4, 1986 general election Category:1986 elections in the United States by state or territory