The 1986 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Democratic nominee William Donald Schaefer defeated Republican nominee Thomas J. Mooney with 82.37% of the vote. To date this is the largest percentage total ever for a contested statewide election in Maryland.
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 County results Schaefer: 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 2023[update], this was the last time a candidate from either party carried every county in a gubernatorial election, and the last time the Democratic candidate won a majority of counties in a gubernatorial election. He is also the last Democrat to win the following counties: Garrett, Washington, Carroll, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, and Somerset. Anne Arundel County, Frederick County, Kent County, and Talbot County would not vote Democratic again until 2022.
Primary elections
editPrimary elections were held on September 9, 1986.[1]
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- William Donald Schaefer, Mayor of Baltimore
- Stephen H. Sachs, Attorney General of Maryland
- Lawrence K. Freeman
- Mary Fellenbaum Holter
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William Donald Schaefer | 395,170 | 61.75 | |
| Democratic | Stephen H. Sachs | 224,755 | 35.12 | |
| Democratic | Lawrence K. Freeman | 14,120 | 2.21 | |
| Democratic | Mary Fellenbaum Holter | 5,919 | 0.93 | |
| Total votes | 639,964 | 100.00 | ||
General election
editCandidates
edit- William Donald Schaefer, Democratic
- Thomas J. Mooney, Fmr State Delegate, Republican
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William Donald Schaefer | 907,291 | 82.37% | +20.40% | |
| Republican | Thomas J. Mooney | 194,185 | 17.63% | −20.37% | |
| Majority | 713,106 | +64.74% | +40.77% | ||
| Turnout | 1,101,476 | ||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
References
edit- ^ a b "1986 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". Elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- ^ "1986 Gubernatorial General Election Results". Elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2019.