The 1984 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Republican nominee Norman H. Bangerter defeated Democratic nominee Wayne Owens with 55.87% of the vote, becoming Utah's first Republican governor in 20 years.
Background
Up until 1984, the Democratic Party had held the Utah Governors seat for twenty years since Cal Rampton first won in 1964. Popular Democratic Governor Scott Matheson declined to seek a third time, allowing for an open democratic primary, in which former congressman Wayne Owens won. Kem Gardner, the chairman of the State Board of Regents, a wealthy real estate developer, and Owen's main opponent in the primary, routinely attacked Owens as being too liberal, a label Owens denied. Despite have the backing of party leadership and their endorsements, Gardner lost the primary by 24 points.[1] In the Republican primary, Utah House Speaker Norman Bangerter faced off against congressman Dan Marriott, and won by nearly 13 points. Bangerter stated that his win was due to groundwork laid out by his legislative colleagues, as well as believing that Utahan's were "..ready for that experience and maybe a new face." Marriott blamed low turnout and "democratic crossover" for his loss, as well as believing voters weren't used to seeing a congressman trying fill a governors role.[2]
Since Republican's already held every major elective office in Utah, from Congress to state executive positions, as well as having a majority in the state legislature, the race was seen as a likely Republican pick-up.[1]Owen's consistently trailed in the polls behind Bangerter to election day. Nevertheless, Owen's embarked on a last minute 36-hour campaign blitz, making stops in crowded spaces from stores to bowling alleys, as well as organizing "honk and wave" demonstrations for passing drivers. Bangerter spent the last hours of the campaign at a Republican rally and gave media interviews.[3] Bangerter was ultimately elected with 55.87% of the vote, compared to Owen's 43.78%, further solidifying Republican dominance in the state.
In the Little America Hotel, Bangerter was greeted by a large crowd of supporters and with a rendition of the song "Happy Days are Here Again" playing as he took to the stage for a speech, a tune closely related to Franklin Roosevelt's 1932 campaign. Bangerter promised that the democrats would still have a voice in his government, saying "I intend in this assignment to be a governor to all people." A few blocks away, at the Salt Lake Hilton Hotel, Democrats realized they lost their only method to balance power in the Republican controlled legislature. However, it was reported that a spirit of optimism was still in the Hilton. [9]
Bangerter's victory would mark a new Republican dominance in Utah's gubernatorial elections, as a Democrat has not won the seat as of 2024.[10]
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