1986 Florida gubernatorial election

none related races 1986 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 1986 Florida gubernatorial election Florida presidential no 1982 Florida gubernatorial election 1982 1990 Florida gubernatorial election 1990 November 4, 1986 File:Bob Martinez 3x4 crop.jpg 150x150px Bob Martinez Republican Party of Florida Bobby Brantley 1,847,525 54.56% File:Steve Pajcic.jpg Steve Pajcic Florida Democratic Party Franklin B. Mann 1,538,620 45.44% 1986 Florida gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 300px County resultsMartinez: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Pajcic: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Governor Bob Graham Democratic Party (United States) Bob Martinez Republican Party (United States) The 1986 Florida gubernatorial election took place alongside the midterm congressional elections. The Democratic Party won many victories across the country (including retaking the Senate). However, in Florida, where Democrats gained the Senate seat from Republicans, they lost the Governorship for just the second time since Reconstruction. The primaries took place on September 2, the runoffs on September 30, and the general election on November 4, 1986. This was the last time Republicans won Palm Beach County until 2022, and the last time that Democrats won Duval County until 2018. Democratic nomination thumb|Democratic Primary Runoff by county #678cd7 Pajcic #8da9e2 50–60% #678cd7 60–70% #4170cd 70–80% #53bfbf Smith #81d0d0 50–60% #53bfbf 60–70% #1eafaf 70–80% Candidates Mark Kane Goldstein, former Mayor of GainesvilleBlanton Donna August 31, 1986 DEMOCRATS WAGE A 'BIZARRE' BATTLE Orlando Sentinel https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1986-08-31-0250140155-story.html August 13, 2021 Harry Johnston, State Senator from West Palm Beach Steve Pajcic, State Representative from Jacksonville James C. Smith, Attorney General of Florida Joan Wollin, attorney Democratic primary resultshttps://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=9/2/1986&DATAMODE= Florida Department of State - Election Results Steve Pajcic Democratic Party (United States) 360,900 35.89% James C. Smith Democratic Party (United States) 309,908 30.82% Harry Johnston Democratic Party (United States) 257,906 25.65% Mark Kane Goldstein Democratic Party (United States) 54,060 5.38% Joan L. Wollin Democratic Party (United States) 22,691 2.26% 1,005,465 100.00% Democratic primary runoff resultshttps://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=9/30/1986&DATAMODE= Florida Department of State - Election Results Steve Pajcic Democratic Party (United States) 429,527 50.64% James C. Smith Democratic Party (United States) 418,614 49.36% 848,041 100.00% Republican nomination thumb|Republican Primary Runoff by county #e55651 Martinez #e55651 60–70% #d02923 70–80% #b00600 80–90% #ed8783 50–60% #cc5f11 Frey #cc5f11 60–70% #dc8c53 50–60% Candidates Chester Clem, State Representative from Vero Beach Lou Frey, U.S. Representative from Orlando and candidate for Governor in 1978 Tom Gallagher, State Representative from Coconut Grove, Miami Bob Martinez, Mayor of Tampa Withdrew William G. Myers, state senator from JupiterBennett George Dr. William 'Doc' Myers, longtime legislator for the Treasure Coast, dead at 79 https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/state/2010/05/26/dr-william-doc-myers-longtime/7434746007/ 2025-07-21 The Palm Beach Post May 30, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100530062541/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/dr-william-doc-myers-longtime-legislator-for-the-710801.html en-US Declined Jeb Bush, chair of the Dade County Republican Party and son of vice president George Bush Republican primary resultshttps://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=9/2/1986&DATAMODE= Florida Department of State - Election Results Bob Martinez Republican Party (United States) 244,417 43.80% Lou Frey Republican Party (United States) 137,967 24.72% Tom Gallagher Republican Party (United States) 131,265 23.52% Chester Clem Republican Party (United States) 44,409 7.96% 558,058 100.00% Republican primary runoff resultshttps://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=9/30/1986&DATAMODE= Florida Department of State - Election Results Bob Martinez Republican Party (United States) 259,333 66.33% Lou Frey Republican Party (United States) 131,652 33.67% 390,985 100.00% General election thumb|Bob Martinez and Steve Pajcic wish each other luck before their gubernatorial debate Florida gubernatorial election, 1986https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=11/4/1986&DATAMODE= Florida Department of State - Election Results doe.dos.state.fl.us https://web.archive.org/web/20111003141643/https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=11%2F4%2F1986&DATAMODE= 2011-10-03 Republican Party (United States) Bob Martinez 1,847,525 54.56% +19.26 Democratic Party (United States) Steve Pajcic 1,538,620 45.44% -19.26 27 0.00 N/A 308,905 9.12 -20.28 3,386,172 100.00% N/A Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) References 30em 1986 Gubernatorial Florida