1982 Florida gubernatorial election
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The 1982 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democratic Governor Bob Graham was re-elected in a landslide, defeating Republican Congressman Skip Bafalis with 64.70% of the vote. Bafalis was the last Florida Republican gubernatorial nominee never to have won at least one gubernatorial election in his career.
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November 2, 1982
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 County results Graham: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Bafalis: 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Graham carried 63 of Florida’s counties, with Bafalis only carrying Charlotte, Collier, Lee, and Sarasota counties. As of 2026, this is the last time that the following counties have voted for a Democrat in a gubernatorial election: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Bay, Suwannee, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, Marion, Lake, Brevard, Indian River, and Martin. This is also the last occasion in which either nominee received over 60% of the vote[a], and the last time a Republican failed to win at least 60% in a single county.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on September 7, 1982.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Bob Graham, incumbent governor
- Running mate: Wayne Mixson, incumbent lieutenant governor
- Fred Kuhn
- Bob Kunst, gay rights activist and perennial candidate
Results
- 50–60%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- >90%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bob Graham (incumbent) | 839,128 | 84.47% | |
| Democratic | Fred Kuhn | 93,083 | 9.37% | |
| Democratic | Bob Kunst | 61,191 | 6.16% | |
| Total votes | 993,402 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Skip Bafalis, U.S. representative from North Palm Beach
- Running mate: Leo Callahan, Fort Lauderdale chief of police
- Vernon Davids, attorney
Withdrew
- Tom Gallagher, state representative from Coconut Grove, Miami
Results
- 50–60%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- >90%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Skip Bafalis | 325,118 | 86.36% | |
| Republican | Vernon Davids | 51,343 | 13.64% | |
| Total votes | 376,461 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Bob Graham, Democratic
- Skip Bafalis, Republican
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bob Graham (incumbent) | 1,739,553 | 64.70% | ||
| Republican | Skip Bafalis | 949,013 | 35.30% | ||
| Total votes | 2,688,566 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Notes
- Ron Desantis’s performance in the 2022 gubernatorial election, which he won in a landslide, is to date the closest time either candidate won 60%