1982 Idaho gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1982 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1982 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 2.^[1][2] Incumbent Democrat John V. Evans narrowly defeated Republican nominee Phil Batt with 50.64% of the vote, the fourth of six consecutive wins for the Democratic party.

1982 Idaho gubernatorial election

← 1978 November 2, 1982 1986 →

Nominee John V. Evans Phil Batt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 165,365 161,157 Percentage 50.6% 49.4%

County results Evans:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Batt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election John V. Evans Democratic Elected Governor John V. Evans Democratic

Evans served nearly ten years as governor, then ran for the U.S. Senate in 1986. Batt ran again for governor twelve years later in 1994 and won.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 25, 1982.^[3][4][5]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Phil Batt, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
• Ralph Olmstead, Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives^[4][5]

Results

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Phil Batt	63,622	63.91
	Republican	Ralph Olmstead	35,932	36.09
Total votes			99,554	100.00

General election

Candidates

• John V. Evans, Democratic
• Phil Batt, Republican

Results

1982 Idaho gubernatorial election^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John V. Evans (incumbent)	165,365	50.64%
	Republican	Phil Batt	161,157	49.36%
Majority			4,208
Turnout			326,522
	Democratic hold		Swing