1984 United States gubernatorial elections

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 6, 1984, in 13 states and two territories. The Republicans had a net gain of one seat in this election, which coincided with the Senate, House elections and presidential election.

1984 United States gubernatorial elections

← 1983 November 6, 1984 1985 →
15 governorships 13 states; 2 territories
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Seats before 35 15 Seats after 34 16 Seat change 1 1 Seats up 6 7 Seats won 5 8
Republican hold   Republican gain   Democratic hold   Democratic gain

This was the last year in which Arkansas held a gubernatorial election in the same year as the presidential election. The length of gubernatorial terms for Arkansas' governor would be extended from two years to four years with elections taking place in midterm election years following the passage of the Sixty-third Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution.^[1]

Election results

State	Incumbent	Party	First elected	Result	Candidates
Arkansas	Bill Clinton	Democratic	1978 1980 (defeated) 1982	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Bill Clinton (Democratic) 62.5% Woody Freeman (Republican) 37.4%
Delaware	Pete du Pont	Republican	1976	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican hold.	Y Mike Castle (Republican) 55.0% William J. Quillen (Democratic) 45.0%
Indiana	Robert D. Orr	Republican	1980	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Robert D. Orr (Republican) 52.16% Wayne Townsend (Democratic) 47.18% Rockland Snyder (American) 0.34% James A. Ridenour (Libertarian) 0.32%
Missouri	Kit Bond	Republican	1980	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican hold.	Y John Ashcroft (Republican) 56.7% Ken Rothman (Democratic) 43.3%
Montana	Ted Schwinden	Democratic	1980	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Ted Schwinden (Democratic) 70.3% Pat M. Goodover (Republican) 26.4% Larry Dodge (Libertarian) 3.3%
New Hampshire	John H. Sununu	Republican	1982	Incumbent re-elected.	Y John H. Sununu (Republican) 66.8% Chris Spirou (Democratic) 33.1%
North Carolina	Jim Hunt	Democratic	1976	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain.	Y James G. Martin (Republican) 54.3% Rufus L. Edmisten (Democratic) 45.4%
North Dakota	Allen I. Olson	Republican	1980	Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Democratic-NPL gain.	Y George A. Sinner (Democratic-NPL) 55.3% Allen I. Olson (Republican) 44.7%
Rhode Island	J. Joseph Garrahy	Democratic	1976	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain.	Y Edward D. DiPrete (Republican) 60.0% Anthony J. Solomon (Democratic) 40.0%
Utah	Scott M. Matheson	Democratic	1976	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain.	Y Norman H. Bangerter (Republican) 55.9% Wayne Owens (Democratic) 43.8%
Vermont	Richard A. Snelling	Republican	1982	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic gain.	Y Madeleine Kunin (Democratic) 50.0% John J. Easton Jr. (Republican) 48.5% William E. Wicker (Libertarian) 0.8%
Washington	John Spellman	Republican	1980	Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Democratic gain.	Y Booth Gardner (Democratic) 53.3% John Spellman (Republican) 46.7%
West Virginia	Jay Rockefeller	Democratic	1976	Incumbent term-limited to run for U.S. Senator. New governor elected. Republican gain.	Y Arch A. Moore Jr. (Republican) 53.3% Clyde See (Democratic) 46.7%

Close states

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

1. Vermont, 1.5%
2. Indiana, 4.98%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. Washington, 6.6%
2. West Virginia, 6.6%
3. North Carolina, 8.9%

Arkansas

1984 Arkansas gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 6, 1984 1986 →

Nominee Bill Clinton Woody Freeman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 554,561 331,987 Percentage 62.55% 37.45%

County results Clinton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Freeman:      50–60%

Governor before election Bill Clinton Democratic Elected Governor Bill Clinton Democratic

The 1984 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Governor Bill Clinton won reelection with a 25% margin of victory over Jonesboro businessman Woody Freeman. This was the last gubernatorial election in Arkansas before the implementation of Amendment 63, lengthening the term of the governor of Arkansas from two to four years.^[2] Winning his third of five terms as Governor of Arkansas, Clinton continued to serve this office until shortly after he was elected to the presidency in 1992.

Delaware

1984 Delaware gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →

Nominee Mike Castle William T. Quillen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 135,250 108,315 Percentage 55.53% 44.47%

County results House district results Castle:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Quillen:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%

Governor before election Pierre S. duPont IV Republican Elected Governor Mike Castle Republican

The 1984 Delaware gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican governor Pierre S. duPont IV was barred from seeking a third term in office. Lieutenant Governor Mike Castle was elected to succeed him, defeating State Supreme Court Justice William T. Quillen.

Indiana

1984 Indiana gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 (1984-11-06) 1988 →

Nominee Robert D. Orr Wayne Townsend Party Republican Democratic Running mate John Mutz Ann DeLaney Popular vote 1,146,497 1,036,922 Percentage 52.2% 47.2%

County results Orr:      50–60%      60–70% Townsend:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Robert D. Orr Republican Elected Governor Robert D. Orr Republican

The 1984 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984, in all 92 counties of Indiana. Robert D. Orr, the state's incumbent Republican governor, who defeated former State Treasurer John Snyder for the nomination, was comfortably reelected to a second term, defeating State Senator Wayne Townsend and two minor party challengers in the general election.^[3]

Missouri

1984 Missouri gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →

Nominee John Ashcroft Ken Rothman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,194,506 913,700 Percentage 56.7% 43.3%

County results Ashcroft:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Rothman:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Kit Bond Republican Elected Governor John Ashcroft Republican

The 1984 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984 and resulted in a victory for the Republican nominee, Missouri Attorney General John Ashcroft, over the Democratic candidate, Lt. Governor Ken Rothman, and Independent Bob Allen. Incumbent Republican Governor Kit Bond, who was elected to the Governorship in 1972, but lost re-election in 1976 before regaining the office in 1980, chose not to seek a third non-consecutive term.

Montana

1984 Montana gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →
Turnout	75.00%0.10[4]
Nominee Ted Schwinden Pat M. Goodover Party Democratic Republican Running mate George Turman Don Allen Popular vote 266,578 100,070 Percentage 70.34% 26.41%
County results Schwinden:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election Ted Schwinden Democratic Elected Governor Ted Schwinden Democratic

The 1984 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Governor of Montana Ted Schwinden, who was first elected in 1980, ran for re-election. Schwinden won the Democratic primary against a perennial candidate, and moved on to the general election, where he faced Pat M. Goodover, a State Senator and the Republican nominee. Although then-President Ronald Reagan won the state in a landslide that year in the presidential election, Schwinden defeated Goodover with over 70% of the vote to win his second and final term as governor.

New Hampshire

1984 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 6, 1984 1986 →

Nominee John H. Sununu Chris Spirou Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 256,574 127,156 Percentage 66.86% 33.14%

County results Municipality results Sununu:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Spirou:      50–60%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election John H. Sununu Republican Elected Governor John H. Sununu Republican

The 1984 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Governor John Sununu was re-elected to a second term in office.

North Carolina

1984 North Carolina gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →

Nominee James G. Martin Rufus L. Edmisten Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,208,167 1,011,209 Percentage 54.26% 45.41%

County results Martin:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Edmisten:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor before election Jim Hunt Democratic Elected Governor James G. Martin Republican

The 1984 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Democratic incumbent Jim Hunt was unable to run for another consecutive term under the North Carolina Constitution. Hunt ran instead for the U.S. Senate against Jesse Helms and lost, although he later announced his campaign for a third gubernatorial term in the 1992 election. Popular 9th District Congressman James G. Martin ran as the Republican nominee against Democratic Attorney General Rufus L. Edmisten, who defeated Hunt's Lt. Governor, James Green, among other candidates, in a hotly contested primary.

Martin won by a comfortable margin on Election Day thanks to the surprise endorsement of Green, and to President Ronald Reagan's coattails (see also 1984 United States presidential election). Martin became just the second Republican elected to the state's highest office in the 20th century.

North Dakota

1984 North Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 (1984-11-06) 1988 →
Turnout	314,382
Nominee George A. Sinner Allen I. Olson Party Democratic–NPL Republican Running mate Ruth Meiers Ernest Sands Popular vote 173,922 140,460 Percentage 55.3% 44.7%
County results[5] Sinner:      50–60%      60–70% Olsen:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election Allen I. Olson Republican Elected Governor George A. Sinner Democratic–NPL

The 1984 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984 to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota. Voters selected Democratic candidate George A. Sinner and his running mate Ruth Meiers in a landslide over Republican incumbent Governor Allen I. Olson and Lieutenant Governor Ernest Sands.

Rhode Island

1984 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 6, 1984 1986 →

Nominee Edward D. DiPrete Anthony J. Solomon Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 245,059 163,311 Percentage 60.01% 39.99%

County results Municipality results DiPrete:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Solomon:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election J. Joseph Garrahy Democratic Elected Governor Edward D. DiPrete Republican

The 1984 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Republican nominee and Cranston mayor Edward D. DiPrete defeated Democratic nominee Anthony J. Solomon with 60% of the vote.

Utah

1984 Utah gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →

Nominee Norman H. Bangerter Wayne Owens Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 351,792 275,669 Percentage 55.87% 43.78%

County results Bangerter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Owens:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Scott M. Matheson Democratic Elected Governor Norman H. Bangerter Republican

The 1984 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Republican nominee Norman H. Bangerter defeated Democratic nominee Wayne Owens with 55.87% of the vote, becoming Utah's first Republican governor in 20 years.

Vermont

1984 Vermont gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 6, 1984 (1984-11-06) 1986 →

Nominee Madeleine Kunin John Easton Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 116,938 113,264 Percentage 50.0% 48.5%

County results Municipality results Kunin:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Easton:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

Governor before election Richard Snelling Republican Elected Governor Madeleine Kunin Democratic

The 1984 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican Richard A. Snelling did not run for another term as Governor of Vermont. Democratic candidate Madeleine Kunin defeated Republican candidate John J. Easton Jr. to succeed him. Kunin's win coincided with the presidential election, which saw Republican Ronald Reagan win Vermont with nearly 58% of the vote.

Washington

1984 Washington gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →

Nominee Booth Gardner John Spellman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,006,993 881,994 Percentage 53.31% 46.69%

County results Gardner:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Spellman:      50–60%

Governor before election John Spellman Republican Elected Governor Booth Gardner Democratic

The 1984 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican John Spellman ran for re-election to a second term but was defeated by Democrat Booth Gardner despite Republican President Ronald Reagan carrying the state by 13 points in the concurrent 1984 Election.

West Virginia

1984 West Virginia gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 6, 1984 1988 →

Nominee Arch A. Moore Jr. Clyde M. See Jr. Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 394,937 346,565 Percentage 53.26% 46.74%

County results Moore:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% See:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Jay Rockefeller Democratic Elected Governor Arch A. Moore, Jr. Republican

The 1984 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1984, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Until 2020, this was the last time West Virginia voted for the Republican candidate for Governor and for President, as both elections are held concurrently in the state.

See also

• 1984 United States elections
  • 1984 United States presidential election
  • 1984 United States Senate elections
  • 1984 United States House of Representatives elections