1986 Wyoming state elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1986 Wyoming state elections Wyoming presidential no 1982 Wyoming state elections 1982 1990 Wyoming state elections 1990 A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 4, 1986. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. Democrats performed well in the year's elections; Democratic nominee Mike Sullivan won the gubernatorial election by a decisive margin, Superintendent Lynn Simons won a sizable majority in her bid for a third term, and Kathy Karpan won the open Secretary of State's race. Republicans prevailed in elections for State Auditor and Treasurer, as well as in the US House seat. US House 1986 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming Governor 1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election Incumbent Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler declined to run for re-election to a fourth term, and attorney Mike Sullivan won the Democratic primary to succeed him. He faced former State Representative Pete Simpson in the general election, whom he defeated by a decisive margin. 1986 Wyoming gubernatorial electionKarpan Kathy 1987 Wyoming Official Directory and 1986 Election Returns 162, 275–76 1987 Democratic Party (United States) Mike Sullivan 88,879 53.96% -9.18% Republican Party (United States) Pete Simpson 75,841 46.04% +9.18% 13,038 7.92% -18.37% 164,720 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Secretary of State Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Thyra Thomson declined to run for re-election to a seventh term. Her son, K. C. Thomson, a Sheridan banker, ran in the Republican primary to succeed her, as did State Senate President Jerry Geis. The contest between the two was extremely close, with unofficial results showing Thomson with a 61-vote lead over Geis.August 21, 1986 Recount of secretary of state race begins Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A14 https://www.newspapers.com/image/349122764/ June 5, 2021 The recount confirmed Thomson's narrow victory over Geis, and he advanced to the general election,August 27, 1986 Vote recount shows winner still Thomson Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/349129115/ June 5, 2021 where he faced Kathy Karpan, the former Director of the Wyoming Department of Health and Social Services in Governor Edgar Herschler's cabinet. Karpan ended up narrowly defeating Thomson, the first Democratic victory in a Secretary of State's race since 1958. Democratic primary Candidates Kathy Karpan, former Director of the Wyoming Department of Health and Social ServicesMarch 15, 1986 Geis enters running for secretary of state Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348962705/ June 5, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Kathy Karpan Democratic Party (United States) 38,201 100.0% 38,201 100.00% Republican primary Candidates K. C. Thomson, Sheridan banker, son of incumbent State Treasurer Thyra ThomsonMay 3, 1986 Karpan will run for Thomson's job: DHSS director will resign in June to seek nomination Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348943004/ June 5, 2021 Jerry Geis, President of the Wyoming Senate Results Republican Primary results K. C. Thomson Republican Party (United States) 44,868 50.03% Jerry Geis Republican Party (United States) 44,807 100.00% 89,675 100.00% General election Results 1986 Wyoming Secretary of State election Democratic Party (United States) Kathy Karpan 86,449 53.59% +7.29% Republican Party (United States) K. C. Thomson 74,880 46.41% -7.29% 11,569 7.17% -0.24% 161,329 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Karpan: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% Thomson: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% Auditor Incumbent Republican State Auditor Jim Griffith declined to seek re-election to a fourth term. State House Speaker Jack Sidi won the Republican nomination unopposed, and faced Bil Tucker, a technical manager and a former trustee on the Albany County School Board, in the general election. Sidi ultimately defeated Tucker by a decisive margin, though considerably reduced from Griffith's 1982 landslide. Democratic primary Candidates Bil Tucker, former Trustee on the Albany County School BoardJune 7, 1986 Candidate for state auditor says his campaign will cost at least $60,000 Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. D4 https://www.newspapers.com/image/349018716/ June 5, 2021 Results Democratic primary results Bil Tucker Democratic Party (United States) 36,254 100.00% 36,254 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Jack Sidi, Speaker of the Wyoming House of RepresentativesMarch 14, 1986 Sidi announces candidacy for state auditor's position Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348961873/ June 5, 2021 Results Republican primary results Jack Sidi Republican Party (United States) 78,168 100.00% 78,168 100.00% General election Results 1986 Wyoming Auditor election Republican Party (United States) Jack Sidi 86,384 55.30% -18.31% Democratic Party (United States) Bil Tucker 69,819 44.70% +18.31% 16,565 10.60% -36.62% 156,203 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Sidi: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Tucker: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% Treasurer In 1982, Wyoming voters approved a constitutional amendment that allowed state treasurers to seek re-election,November 11, 1982 Voters not voting kills amendment White Philip Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446376563/ June 5, 2021 making incumbent Republican State Treasurer Stan Smith the first treasurer in state history to be eligible for re-election to a second term. Though Smith initially announced that he would run for governor, he ended his campaign and sought re-election as Treasurer.April 12, 1986 Smith drops out of race for governor: He says he'll run for treasurer again Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348924047/ June 5, 2021 He faced a challenge in the Republican primary from Lee Galeotos, a former official in Governor Stanley Hathaway's administration, who announced that he would run for State Treasurer while Smith was running for governor. When Smith ran for re-election instead, Galeotos remained in the race.April 16, 1986 Galeotos staying in treasurer's race Melnykovych Andrew Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348928397/ June 5, 2021 Smith defeated Galeotos by a wide margin, and faced former State Representative Carrol P. Orrison, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Democratic primary Candidates Carrol P. Orrison, former State Representative from Laramie CountyJune 18, 1986 Casper man files for state treasurer Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/349035483/ June 5, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Carrol P. Orrison Democratic Party (United States) 36,080 100.00% 36,080 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Stan Smith, incumbent State Treasurer Sam Galeotos, former State Director of Administrative and Fiscal ControlJanuary 18, 1986 Galeotos expected to run for treasurer Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/349121205/ June 5, 2021 Results Republican Primary results Stan Smith (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 60,411 68.15% Sam Galeotos Republican Party (United States) 28,233 31.85% 88,644 100.00% General election Results 1986 Wyoming Treasurer election Republican Party (United States) Stan Smith (inc.) 98,502 61.81% +3.25% Democratic Party (United States) Carrol P. Orrison 60,870 38.19% -3.25% 37,632 23.61% +6.49% 159,372 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Smith: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Orrison: #7996E2 50–60% Superintendent of Public Instruction Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Lynn Simons ran for re-election to a third term. She faced Millard I. Meredith, the Superintendent of the Converse County School District No. 1 and the Republican nominee, in the general election. Simons defeated Meredith by a sizable margin, largely replicating her victory from 1986. Democratic primary Candidates Lynn Simons, incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Results Democratic Party primary results Lynn Simons (inc.) Democratic Party (United States) 39,172 100.00% 39,172 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Millard I. Meredith, Superintendent of the Converse County School District No. 1, 1978 Republican candidate for Superintendent of Public InstructionJanuary 16, 1986 Meredith announces candidacy for superintendent of public instruction Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/349118870/ June 5, 2021 Results Republican Party primary results Millard I. Meredith Republican Party (United States) 77,107 100.00% 77,107 100.00% General election Results 1986 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Democratic Party (United States) Lynn Simons (inc.) 90,978 56.88% -0.08% Republican Party (United States) Millard I. Meredith 68,960 43.12% +0.08% 22,018 13.77% -0.17% 159,938 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Simons: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #584CDE 70–80% Meredith: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% References Wyoming