1982 Kansas gubernatorial election

The 1982 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democrat John W. Carlin defeated Republican nominee Sam Hardage with 53.2% of the vote. As of 2025, this was the most recent election in which a male Democrat was elected governor of Kansas.

1982 Kansas gubernatorial election

← 1978 November 2, 1982 1986 →

Nominee John W. Carlin Sam Hardage Party Democratic Republican Running mate Thomas Docking Dan Thiessen Popular vote 405,772 339,356 Percentage 53.2% 44.5%

County results Carlin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hardage:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election John W. Carlin Democratic Elected Governor John W. Carlin Democratic

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 3, 1982.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John W. Carlin, incumbent Governor
• Jimmy D. Montgomery

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John W. Carlin (incumbent)	103,780	78.88
	Democratic	Jimmy D. Montgomery	27,785	21.12
Total votes			131,565	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Sam Hardage, businessman
• Dave Owen, former Lieutenant Governor
• Wendell Lady, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
• Louis A. Klemp Jr., Leavenworth County Commissioner
• Bill Huffman

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sam Hardage	86,692	36.76
	Republican	Dave Owen	79,770	33.83
	Republican	Wendell Lady	61,419	26.04
	Republican	Louis A. Klemp Jr.	4,113	1.74
	Republican	Bill Huffman	3,834	1.63
Total votes			235,828	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• John W. Carlin, Democratic
• Sam Hardage, Republican

Other candidates

• James H. Ward, Libertarian
• Frank W. Shelton Jr., American
• Warren C. Martin, Prohibition

Results

1982 Kansas gubernatorial election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John W. Carlin (incumbent)	405,772	53.16%
	Republican	Sam Hardage	339,356	44.46%
	Libertarian	James H. Ward	7,595	1.00%
	American	Frank W. Shelton Jr.	6,136	0.80%
	Prohibition	Warren C. Martin	4,404	0.58%
Majority			66,416
Turnout			763,263
	Democratic hold		Swing