1986 Arizona gubernatorial election

← 1982

November 4, 1986

1990–91 →


Nominee	Evan Mecham	Carolyn Warner	Bill Schulz
Party	Republican	Democratic	Independent
Popular vote	343,913	298,986	224,085
Percentage	39.67%	34.49%	25.85%

County results
Mecham: 30–40% 40–50%
Warner: 40–50% 60–70%

Governor before election

Bruce Babbitt
Democratic

Elected Governor

Evan Mecham
Republican

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The 1986 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Republican Evan Mecham, who defeated Burton Barr for the Republican nomination, defeated the Democratic nominee and State Superintendent Carolyn Warner and independent candidate Bill Schulz.

Mecham's victory in the primary and general elections are considered among the greatest political surprises in Arizona history. Ultimately, Mecham did not complete his full four-year term in office; he was impeached and removed from office in 1988.

This was the first gubernatorial election in which La Paz County participated after separating from Yuma County in between this election and the one just before it.

Background

Bruce Babbitt, who succeed to the office of Governor upon the 1978 death of Wesley Bolin, chose not to run for a third term in office. Babbitt was first elected over Evan Mecham in 1978 and re-elected in a landslide in 1982; some speculated that he would seek to succeed Barry Goldwater in the United States Senate, but Babbitt ultimately focused on a run for President of the United States in 1988.

Although no Republican had been elected Governor of Arizona since 1970, President Ronald Reagan had carried the state with record margins in 1980 and 1984.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Tony Mason, candidate for U.S. House in 1976
Dave Moss, candidate for governor in 1978 and 1982
Carolyn Warner, Superintendent of Public Instruction

Withdrew

Bill Schulz, businessman and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1980^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Carolyn Warner	106,687	50.6
	Democratic	Tony Mason	92,413	43.9
	Democratic	Dave Moss	11,588	5.5
Total votes			210,688	100.0

Source: OurCampaigns.com, AZ Governor - D Primary

Republican primary

Candidates

Burton Barr, House Majority Leader and State Representative from Phoenix
Evan Mecham, auto dealer and perennial candidate

Campaign

Barr, who was personally recruited by President Reagan to run for Governor and had the universal support of the state Republican establishment, was the heavy favorite. His campaign largely ignored Mecham, who launched negative attacks on Barr and the state party generally.^[1] When Republicans responded to Mecham's criticism, such as when the Senate Republican leader called him an "ethical pygmy," his popularity with voters rose.^[1]

Results

1986 Republican gubernatorial primary^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Evan Mecham	121,614	53.7
	Republican	Burton Barr	104,682	46.3
Total votes			226,296	100.0

Mecham's primary victory over Barr was received as the "the biggest upset in Arizona" since Barry Goldwater's 1952 victory over United States Senator Ernest McFarland.^[1]

General election

Candidates

Evan Mecham, auto dealer and perennial candidate (Republican)
Bill Schulz, businessman and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1980 (Independent)
Carolyn Warner, Superintendent of Public Instruction (Democratic)

Following Mecham and Warner's victory in the September 9 primary, Schulz announced that

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1986^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Evan Mecham	343,913	39.67%	7.20
	Democratic	Carolyn Warner	298,986	34.49%	27.98
	Independent	Bill Schulz	224,085	25.85%	N/A
Majority			44,927	5.18%	-24.82%
Turnout			866,984
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Reid, T.R. (October 4, 1986). The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/10/05/twin-threat-pleases-republican/20a799a8-254f-4dd8-85e4-a3f058c0eef0/. Retrieved February 19, 2024. ((cite news)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ OurCampaigns.com, AZ Governor - R Primary
^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2014.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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