1986 Ohio gubernatorial election

The 1986 Ohio gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic Governor Dick Celeste ran against four time former Governor Jim Rhodes, who had previously defeated the last two incumbent Democratic governors in 1962 and 1974. The two had faced off before in 1978, with Rhodes winning by 47,536 votes for his fourth victory. Eight years later, at the age of 77, Rhodes was attempting to win a record fifth term. However, Celeste won by an even bigger margin than he did four years earlier, becoming the first Democrat to win consecutive elections for Governor since Frank Lausche, who won four consecutive times in 1948, 1950, 1952, and 1954. As of 2022, this is the last time a Democrat was re-elected Governor of Ohio and the only time a Democrat won a second four-year term. This was the penultimate time a Democrat was elected Governor of Ohio, with the last time being in 2006.

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1986 Ohio gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 4, 1986 1990 →

Nominee Dick Celeste Jim Rhodes Party Democratic Republican Running mate Paul Leonard Bob Taft Popular vote 1,858,372 1,207,264 Percentage 60.60% 39.37%

County results Township results Celeste:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Rhodes:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Dick Celeste Democratic Elected Governor Dick Celeste Democratic

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