1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

• Michael Dukakis, incumbent governor

Michael Dukakis was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

• Gerard D'Amico, state senator from Worcester
• Evelyn Murphy, former Secretary of Environmental Affairs and candidate for lt. governor in 1982

John Kerry, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1982, did not run for reelection as he had been elected to the United States Senate in 1984.

{{Election box begin no change

| title=Massachusetts Democratic Lt. gubernatorial primary, 1986}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Evelyn Murphy

|votes = 374,714

|percentage = 60.10%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Gerard D'Amico

|votes = 248,671

|percentage = 39.89%

}}

{{Election box end}}

• George Kariotis, businessman and former Secretary of Economic Affairs

• Greg Hyatt, lawyer and candidate for Massachusetts's 5th congressional district in 1984
• Royall H. Switzler, State Representative from Wellesley

• Guy Carbone, former Metropolitan District Commissioner{{cite news |author=Bruce Mohl |title=Guy Carbone Announces GOP Run for Governor |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659850441.html?dids=659850441:659850441&FMT=ABS&FMTS |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723203600/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659850441.html?dids=659850441:659850441&FMT=ABS&FMTS |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |work=Boston Globe |date=April 5, 1986 |access-date=2011-01-11}}

• Paul W. Cronin, former U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 5th congressional district{{cite news |author=Andrew J. Dabilis |title=Switzler Drive Put Together in 4 1/2 Hours |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659860941.html?dids=659860941:659860941&FMT=ABS&FMTS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070549/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659860941.html?dids=659860941:659860941&FMT=ABS&FMTS |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |work=Boston Globe |date=April 13, 1986 |access-date=2011-01-11}}
• Edward J. King, former Democratic governor{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Former Governor King decides not to challenge Dukakis again next fall |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/projo/access/601568921.html?dids=601568921:601568921&FMT=ABS&FMTS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070518/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/projo/access/601568921.html?dids=601568921:601568921&FMT=ABS&FMTS |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |work=Providence Journal |date=January 24, 1986 |access-date=2011-01-11}}

On March 13, Greg Hyatt became the first Republican to enter the gubernatorial race. A self-described "populist conservative", Hyatt supported limiting state taxes, bringing back the death penalty, and competency testing and merit pay for teachers. He opposed the state law that made wearing a seat belt mandatory, the use of roadblocks to crack down on drunken driving, and the use of public funds for abortions.{{cite news |author=Bruce Mohl |title=GOP'S Hyatt Announces Candidacy for Governor |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/660025411.html?dids=660025411:660025411&FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070527/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/660025411.html?dids=660025411:660025411&FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |work=Boston Globe |date=March 14, 1986 |access-date=2011-01-11}}

Shortly before the Republican convention, Boston attorney and former Metropolitan District Commissioner Guy Carbone entered the race.

The convention nomination was won by Royall H. Switzler, a state representative who had been drafted by anti-Hyatt Republicans after former Congressman Paul W. Cronin decided not to enter the race. To receive the endorsement of the party, a candidate must receive the support of 50% of the delegates. Only candidates receiving 15% of the vote or more on any ballot would be eligible for a primary. After a strong showing on the first ballot, some of Hyatt's major supporters, including Ray Shamie and Papa Gino's founder Michael Valerio, announced that they would not oppose Switzler's endorsement. On the second ballot, Switzler won the nomination with 975 votes. Since Carbone did not exceed 15% of the vote on either ballot, he was eliminated.

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! colspan="5" {{party shading/Republican}} | State Republican Convention results, 1986

|- style="background:#eee; text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width: 12em" |Candidate

! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |First ballot

! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Pct.

! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Second ballot

! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Pct.

|-

!scope="row| {{sortname|Royall|Switzler}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 775

| style="text-align:center;"| 40.28%

| style="text-align:center;"| 975

| style="text-align:center;"| 51.02%

|-

! scope="row" | {{sortname|Greg|Hyatt}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 891

| style="text-align:center;"| 46.31%

| style="text-align:center;"| 876

| style="text-align:center;"| 45.84%

|-

!scope="row| {{sortname|Guy|Carbone}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 258

| style="text-align:center;"| 13.41%

| style="text-align:center;"| 60

| style="text-align:center;"| 3.14%

|-

{{Election box end}}

Despite losing the nomination, Hyatt chose to stay in the race and run against Switzler in the Republican primary.{{cite news |author=Bruce Mohl |title=GOP'S Gears Set in Motion; Switzler Plots Strategy, Signals Hyatt Should Quit |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659862791.html?dids=659862791:659862791&FMT=ABS&FMTS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070600/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659862791.html?dids=659862791:659862791&FMT=ABS&FMTS |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |work=Boston Globe |date=April 14, 1986 |access-date=2011-01-11}} However, Switzler dropped out of the race in June after inaccuracies about his military record were revealed. He had falsely claimed to be a member of the United States Army Special Forces and stated that he had fought in Vietnam when he had only visited Vietnam on leave from noncombat duty in Korea.{{cite news |author=Bruce Mohl |title=ACCUSATIONS, TURMOIL SWIRL OVER SWITZLER |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/660069841.html?dids=660069841:660069841&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |work=Boston Globe |date=June 5, 1986 |access-date=2010-06-18 |archive-date=2012-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107133649/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/660069841.html?dids=660069841:660069841&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=dead }}

Hyatt then dropped out of the race on July 14 amid accusations of forging names on his nomination papers, having ties to organized crime, and erratic personal behavior which included working nude in his office.{{cite news |author=Bruce Mohl |title=ADS DEPICT TAX CAP AS A HYATT PROPOSAL |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659733481.html?dids=659733481:659733481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107133701/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/659733481.html?dids=659733481:659733481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |work=Boston Globe |date=October 18, 1986 |access-date=2010-06-18}}{{cite news|title=Hey, gang! It's all over! |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ppwrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D_wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6404,4735927|access-date=30 July 2011|newspaper=Nashua Telegraph|date=July 17, 1986}}

Businessman and former Secretary of Economic Affairs George Kariotis entered the race after both candidates dropped out. Because the filing deadline for the election was on March 1, Hyatt and Switzler remained on the ballot while Kariotis was forced to run a write in campaign. Hyatt won the election, but he and Switzler, who finished second, declined the nomination and Kariotis was declared the nominee.

File:Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 1986.svg

Because both listed candidates had dropped out of the race, the Republican primary saw extremely low turnout.

{{Election box begin no change

| title=Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary, 1986}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Greg Hyatt (withdrew)

|votes = 31,021

|percentage = 48.19%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Royall Switzler (withdrew)

|votes = 20,802

|percentage = 32.32%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = George Kariotis (write-in)

|votes = 11,787

|percentage = 18.31%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 63,610

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Nicholas M. Nikitas, hotel operator, real estate developer, and Republican Party activist{{cite news |title=Sign's '?' on Governor Answered, Massachusetts G.O.P. Seeks End to Slide|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/16/us/sign-s-on-governor-answered-massachusets-gop-seeks-end-to-slide.html |work=New York Times |date=February 16, 1986 |access-date=2011-01-11}}

Dukakis won a convincing victory over Kariotis. He increased his margins across the state, winning all 14 counties with a majority, even as total vote numbers were down sharply from the previous election.{{Cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1972/year_to:2020/office_id:1/stage:General|title=PD43+ » Search Elections|website=PD43+|accessdate=February 11, 2024}}

Soon after being sworn in for his third term as governor, Dukakis began to run for the Democratic nomination for president in 1988.

{{Election box begin

| title=1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Michael Dukakis (incumbent)

|votes = 1,157,786

|percentage = 68.79%

|change = {{increase}}5.67

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = George Kariotis

|votes = 525,364

|percentage = 31.21%

|change = {{decrease}}7.01

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 1,683,150

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box candidate no party link no change

|party = None

|candidate = Blank votes

|votes = 93,138

|percentage = —

}}

{{Election box turnout no change

|votes = 1,776,288

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

• 1985–1986 Massachusetts legislature

{{reflist}}

{{Massachusetts Elections}}

{{United States elections, 1986}}

1986

Massachusetts

Gubernatorial

Category:Michael Dukakis