Florida gubernatorial election, 1986

The Florida gubernatorial election of 1986 took place alongside the midterm congressional elections. The Democratic Party won many victories across the country (including retaking United States Senate). However, in Florida, where Democrats gained Senate seat from Republicans, they lost the Governorship for the just second time since Reconstruction.

The primaries took place on September 2, the runoffs on September 30 and the general election on November 4

Democratic nomination

Candidates

• Mary Kane Goldstein
• Harry A. Johnston, State Senator
• Steve Pajcic, State Representative
• James C. Smith, Attorney General of Florida
• Joan Woolin

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Pajcic	360,900	35.89
	Democratic	James C. Smith	309,908	30.82
	Democratic	Harry Johnston	257,906	25.65
	Democratic	Mary Kane Goldstein	54,060	5.38
	Democratic	Joan L. Woolin	22,691	2.26
Total votes			1,005,465	100

Democratic primary runoff results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Pajcic	429,527	50.64
	Democratic	James C. Smith	418,614	49.36
Total votes			848,041	100

Republican nomination

Candidates

• Chester Clem, State Representative
• Louis Frey, U.S. Representative
• Tom Gallagher, State Representative
• Bob Martinez, Mayor of Tampa

Republican primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Martinez	244,417	43.80
	Republican	Louis Frey, Jr.	137,967	24.72
	Republican	Tom Gallagher	131,265	23.52
	Republican	Chester Clem	44,409	7.96
Total votes			558,058	100

Republican primary runoff results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Martinez	259,333	66.33
	Republican	Louis Frey, Jr.	131,652	33.67
Total votes			390,985	100

General election

Florida gubernatorial election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bob Martinez	1,847,525	54.56	+19.26
	Democratic	Steve Pajcic	1,538,620	45.44	-19.26
	Write-ins		27	0.00	N/A
Majority			308,905	9.12	-20.28
Turnout			3,386,172
	Republican gain from Democratic