1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election
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The 1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Popular three-term Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler announced that he would not seek a fourth term, creating an open seat.[1] Attorney Mike Sullivan emerged as the unlikely Democratic nominee, and faced former state representative Pete Simpson, the Republican nominee and the brother of then-U.S. senator Alan K. Simpson, in the general election. Despite Sullivan's political inexperience, he was able to defeat Simpson by a decisive margin, winning his first of two terms in office.
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November 4, 1986
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 County results Sullivan: 50–60% 60–70% Simpson: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Mike Sullivan, attorney[2]
- Pat McGuire, rancher[2]
- Keith Goodenough, forester[2]
- Al Hamburg, perennial candidate[2]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike Sullivan | 29,266 | 70.92% | |
| Democratic | Pat McGuire | 5,406 | 13.10% | |
| Democratic | Keith Goodenough | 4,039 | 9.79% | |
| Democratic | Al Hamburg | 2,554 | 6.19% | |
| Total votes | 41,265 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Pete Simpson, former State Representative
- Bill Budd, former state representative[4]
- Fred Schroeder, former chairman of the Republican Party of Wyoming[5]
- Russ Donley, former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives[6]
- David R. Nicholas, state senator[6]
- John R. Johnson, dentist[5]
- Jim L. Bace, computer programmer, 1982 Republican candidate for governor[1]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pete Simpson | 25,948 | 27.58% | |
| Republican | Bill Budd | 25,495 | 27.10% | |
| Republican | Fred Schroeder | 15,013 | 15.96% | |
| Republican | Russ Donley | 12,979 | 13.80% | |
| Republican | David R. Nicholas | 11,092 | 11.79% | |
| Republican | John R. Johnson | 3,139 | 3.34% | |
| Republican | Jim Bace | 402 | 0.43% | |
| Total votes | 94,068 | 100.00% | ||
Results
Sullivan spent $102,219 during the primary and $150,000 in the general election compared to Simpson spending around $300,000 in the primary and $200,000 in the general election.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike Sullivan | 88,879 | 53.96% | −9.18% | |
| Republican | Pete Simpson | 75,841 | 46.04% | +9.18% | |
| Majority | 13,038 | 7.92% | −18.37% | ||
| Turnout | 164,720 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||