1986 Maine gubernatorial election

1986 Maine gubernatorial election
← 1982 November 4, 1986 1990 →
 
Nominee John McKernan James Tierney
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 170,312 128,744
Percentage 39.9% 30.2%
 
Nominee Sherry Huber John Menario
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 64,317 63,474
Percentage 15.1% 14.9%
County results
McKernan:      30–40%      40–50%
Tierney:      30–40%
Governor before election

Joseph Brennan
Democratic

Elected Governor

John McKernan
Republican

The 1986 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic Governor Joseph Brennan was term limited and ineligible to seek re-election. First district Congressman John McKernan defeated Democratic Party challenger James Tierney as well as former Republican turned Independent Sherry Huber and former Portland, Maine, city manager John Menario, making McKernan the first Republican to win The Blaine House since 1962.

Tierney, the sitting state Attorney General, won a crowded Democratic primary over state senators Severin Beliveau and William Diamond, as well as David Redmond, the chief of staff of incumbent governor Joseph E. Brennan. McKernan faced only conservative activist Porter Leighton in the GOP primary, and dispatched him with relative ease.

The three main issues during the campaign were: the future of the Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in Wiscasset, economic development and McKernan's congressional record.[1]

Maine Yankee

The future of the Power Plant had been placed up for statewide referendum in 1980 and again in 1982. McKernan and Menario opposed the closure of Maine Yankee, while Tierney and Huber supported the efforts to close the Plant in 1988.[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Tierney 44,087 37.23
Democratic Severin Beliveau 27,991 23.64
Democratic William Diamond 24,693 20.85
Democratic David Redmond 17,598 14.86
Democratic Joseph Ricci 4,039 3.41
Total votes 118,408 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John McKernan 79,393 68.37
Republican Porter Leighton 24,631 31.61
Republican Others 31 0.02
Total votes 116,129 100.00

General election

Candidates

Results

1986 Gubernatorial Election, Maine[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John R. McKernan Jr. 170,312 39.90% −
Democratic James Tierney 128,744 30.16% −
Independent Sherry Huber 64,317 15.07% −
Independent John Menario 63,474 14.87% −
Majority 41,568 9.74%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

References

  1. ^ a b Mothes, J. Barry (October 31, 1986). "Three issues have hung in there all the way". Sun Journal. p. A8. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  2. ^ "Maine Primary Election Results - June 10, 1986 | Governor - Democratic" (PDF). Maine.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, Elections Division" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Guide to US Elections, Fifth Edition, Volume II. CQ Press. 2005. pp. 1497–1499. ISBN 978-1-56802-981-8. Retrieved May 6, 2009.


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