1986 Florida gubernatorial election

← 1982

November 4, 1986

1990 →


Nominee	Bob Martinez	Steve Pajcic
Party	Republican	Democratic
Running mate	Bobby Brantley	Franklin B. Mann
Popular vote	1,847,525	1,538,620
Percentage	54.6%	45.4%

County results

Martinez: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%

Pajcic: 50–60% 60–70%

Governor before election

Bob Graham
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bob Martinez
Republican

Federal government

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The 1986 Florida gubernatorial election took place alongside the midterm congressional elections. The Democratic Party won many victories across the country (including retaking the Senate). However, in Florida, where Democrats gained the Senate seat from Republicans, they lost the Governorship for just the second time since Reconstruction.

The primaries took place on September 2, the runoffs on September 30 and the general election on November 4, 1986.

Democratic nomination

Candidates

Mark Kane Goldstein, former Mayor of Gainesville^[1]
Harry Johnston, State Senator
Steve Pajcic, State Representative
James C. Smith, Attorney General of Florida
Joan Wollin, attorney^[1]

Democratic primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Pajcic	360,900	35.89%
	Democratic	James C. Smith	309,908	30.82%
	Democratic	Harry Johnston	257,906	25.65%
	Democratic	Mark Kane Goldstein	54,060	5.38%
	Democratic	Joan L. Wollin	22,691	2.26%
Total votes			1,005,465	100.00%

Democratic primary runoff results^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Pajcic	429,527	50.64%
	Democratic	James C. Smith	418,614	49.36%
Total votes			848,041	100.00%

Republican nomination

Candidates

Republican primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Martinez	244,417	43.80%
	Republican	Louis Frey Jr.	137,967	24.72%
	Republican	Tom Gallagher	131,265	23.52%
	Republican	Chester Clem	44,409	7.96%
Total votes			558,058	100.00%

Republican primary runoff results^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Martinez	259,333	66.33%
	Republican	Louis Frey Jr.	131,652	33.67%
Total votes			390,985	100.00%

General election

Florida gubernatorial election, 1986^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bob Martinez	1,847,525	54.56%	+19.26
	Democratic	Steve Pajcic	1,538,620	45.44%	-19.26
	Write-in		27	0.00	N/A
Majority			308,905	9.12	-20.28
Turnout			3,386,172	100.00%	N/A
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

^ ^a ^b Blanton, Donna (August 31, 1986). "DEMOCRATS WAGE A 'BIZARRE' BATTLE". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Florida Department of State - Election Results".
^ ^a ^b "Florida Department of State - Election Results".
^ doe.dos.state.fl.us https://web.archive.org/web/20111003141643/https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=11%2F4%2F1986&DATAMODE=. Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |title= (help)

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v t e Florida gubernatorial elections
1845 1848 1852 1856 1860 1865 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1954 1956 1960 1964 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022