1986 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 4, 1986 1990 →

Nominee Tommy Thompson Tony Earl Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 805,090 705,578 Percentage 52.7% 46.2%

County results Thompson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Earl:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Tony Earl Democratic Elected Governor Tommy Thompson Republican

Elections in Wisconsin
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State government General elections 1995 2000 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Gubernatorial elections 1848 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2012 (recall) 2014 2018 2022 2026 Secretary of State elections 2014 2018 2022 Attorney General elections 2014 2018 2022 Treasurer elections 2022 State Senate elections 1934 1996 2008 2010 2011 (recall) 2012 (recall) 2012 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 State Assembly elections 2008 2014 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Supreme Court elections 2011 2023 2025
Ballot measures 2006 Referendum 1
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Madison Mayoral elections 1997 sp 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Milwaukee Mayoral elections 1910 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2022 sp 2024
v t e

The 1986 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Republican Tommy Thompson won the election with 53% of the vote, winning his first term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating incumbent Governor Anthony Earl.^[1] This was the first time since 1962 that the winner of a Wisconsin gubernatorial election was of the same party as the incumbent president. Jonathan B. Barry unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination.

Results