1996 Missouri gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1996 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1996 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1996, and resulted in a victory for the Democratic nominee, incumbent Governor Mel Carnahan, over the Republican candidate, State Auditor Margaret B. Kelly, and Libertarian J. Mark Oglesby.

1996 Missouri gubernatorial election

← 1992 November 5, 1996 2000 →

Nominee Mel Carnahan Margaret B. Kelly Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,224,801 866,268 Percentage 57.17% 40.43%

County results Carnahan:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Kelly:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Mel Carnahan Democratic Elected Governor Mel Carnahan Democratic

Governor Carnahan died in a plane crash on October 16, 2000, near the end of this term, and was replaced by Lt. Governor Roger B. Wilson.^[1]

Primary Results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mel Carnahan (incumbent)	347,488	81.70%
	Democratic	Ruth Redel	33,452	7.87%
	Democratic	Edwin W. Howald	29,890	7.03%
	Democratic	Nicholas Clement	14,490	3.40%
Total votes			425,320	100.0%

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Margaret B. Kelly	219,435	77.73%
	Republican	John M. Swenson	29,675	10.51%
	Republican	David Andrew Brown	18,755	6.64%
	Republican	Lester W. Duggan Jr.	14,448	5.12%
Total votes			282,313	100.0%

Results

1996 gubernatorial election, Missouri^[4][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mel Carnahan (incumbent)	1,224,801	57.17	−1.51
	Republican	Margaret B. Kelly	866,268	40.43	−0.89
	Libertarian	J. Mark Oglesby	51,432	2.40	+2.40
	N/A	V. Marvalene Pankey (write-in)	10	0.00
	N/A	Jock Peacock (write-in)	7	0.00
Majority			358,533	16.73	−0.63
Turnout			2,142,518	41.87	−3.94
	Democratic hold		Swing