1986 Maryland gubernatorial election
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November 4, 1986
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 County results Schaefer: 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Maryland |
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 Government |
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 November, 2025, this is 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
[edit]Primary elections were held on September 9, 1986.[1]
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[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
[edit]Candidates
[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.
