1986 Maryland gubernatorial election

1986 Maryland gubernatorial election
	County results; Schaefer: 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90%
Governor before election; Harry Hughes; Democratic	Elected Governor ; William Donald Schaefer; Democratic

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.

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

Primary elections were held on September 9, 1986.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

William Donald Schaefer, Mayor of Baltimore
Stephen H. Sachs, Attorney General of Maryland
Lawrence K. Freeman
Mary Fellenbaum Holter

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]
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

Candidates

William Donald Schaefer, Democratic
Thomas J. Mooney, Fmr State Delegate, Republican

Results

1986 Maryland gubernatorial election^[2]
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

^ ^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.

[Maryland-1] "1986 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". Elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

[2] "1986 Gubernatorial General Election Results". Elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

[1]

[2]

v t e Elections in Maryland
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House of Delegates	1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
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U.S. House	1789 1790 1792 1794 1798 1803 1806 1822 1826 1829 1831 1833 1835 1837 1839 1841 1844 1845 1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1863 1864 1866 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
Attorney General	1895 1899 1903 1907 1911 1915 1919 1923 1926 1930 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Comptroller	1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1905 1907 1909 1911 1913 1915 1917 1919 1921 1923 1926 1930 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
County Executive	2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2025 sp
County offices	2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
See also: Political party strength in Maryland

v t e (1985 ←) 1986 United States elections (→ 1987)
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