1986 Nebraska gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1986 Nebraska gubernatorial election
| country = Nebraska
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1982 Nebraska gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1982
| next_election = 1990 Nebraska gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1990
| election_date = November 4, 1986
| image1 = File:Kay A. Orr.jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Kay Orr
| running_mate1 = Bill Nichol
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 298,325
| percentage1 = 52.9%
| image2 = File:Helen Boosalis.jpg
| nominee2 = Helen Boosalis
| running_mate2 = Donald McGinley
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 265,156
| percentage2 = 47.0%
| map_image = 1986 Nebraska gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
| map_caption = County results
Orr: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40-50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50-60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60-70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70-80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80-90%}}
Boosalis: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
| map_size = 300px
| title = Governor
| before_election = Bob Kerrey
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Kay Orr
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsNE}}
The 1986 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986, and featured state Treasurer Kay Orr, a Republican, defeating Democratic nominee, former Mayor of Lincoln Helen Boosalis. Incumbent Democratic governor Bob Kerrey did not seek a second term.
The election was the first state gubernatorial election in U.S. history where the candidates of both major national parties were women.Knudson, Thomas J. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE7D8113DF93AA35752C0A961948260 "Nebraska, in new page to history, installs woman".] [https://www.nytimes.com/ New York Times.] 1987-01-09. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
Democratic primary
=Governor=
==Candidates==
- Chris Beutler, member of the Nebraska Legislature
- Helen Boosalis, former mayor of Lincoln and Director of the Nebraska Department of Aging
- Barton E. Chandler
- Mina B. Dillingham
- David Domina, attorney
- Marge Higgins
- Robert J. Prokop
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic gubernatorial primary results{{cite web |title=Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska - Primary Election, May 13, 1986 & General Election, November 4, 1986 |url=http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1986prim_gen.pdf |publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Helen Boosalis
| votes = 63,833
| percentage = 44.01
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = David Domina
| votes = 37,975
| percentage = 26.18
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Chris Beutler
| votes = 31,605
| percentage=21.79
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Robert J. Prokop
| votes =5,160
| percentage = 3.56
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Marge Higgins
| votes = 4,433
| percentage = 3.06
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Barton E. Chandler
| votes = 1,260
| percentage = 0.87
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Mina B. Dillingham
| votes = 402
| percentage = 0.28
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Write-in
| votes = 369
| percentage = 0.25
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Lieutenant governor=
==Candidates==
- Rachel Hepburn, director of social services and public relations at O.U.R. Homes from Lincoln, Nebraska,{{cite news|title=Lt. governor has opponent in Hepburn|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|date=March 14, 1986|page=20|access-date=June 22, 2023|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/312543184/}} who withdrew from the race in April 1986{{cite news|title=2 Demos want to be lieutenant governor: Rachel Hepburn is pulling out of race|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|date=April 25, 1986|page=12|access-date=June 22, 2023|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/312716376/}}
- Donald F. McGinley, incumbent Nebraska Lieutenant Governor
- Ken L. Michaelis, disbarred attorney from West Point, Nebraska{{cite news|title=Ken Michaelis Files For Lt. Governor|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=March 11, 1986|page=33|access-date=June 22, 2023|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/889033152/}}
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Donald F. McGinley (incumbent)
| votes = 76,602
| percentage = 62.65
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Ken L. Michaelis
| votes = 23,646
| percentage = 19.34
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Rachel Hepburn
| votes = 21,822
| percentage= 17.85
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Write-in
| votes = 193
| percentage = 0.16
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
=Governor=
==Candidates==
- Kermit Brashear, attorney and former chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party
- Nancy Hoch, businesswoman and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 1984
- Chuck Loos
- Kay A. Orr, Nebraska State Treasurer
- Paul A. Rosberg
- Everett Sileven
- Monte Taylor
- Roger Yant
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican gubernatorial primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Kay A. Orr
| votes = 75,914
| percentage = 39.41
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Kermit Brashear
| votes = 60,308
| percentage = 31.30
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Nancy Hoch
| votes = 42,649
| percentage=22.14
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Everett Sileven
| votes =4,281
| percentage = 2.22
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Paul A. Rosberg
| votes = 4,280
| percentage =2.22
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Monte Taylor
| votes = 3,276
| percentage = 1.70
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Roger Yant
| votes = 682
| percentage = 0.35
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Chuck Loos
| votes = 658
| percentage = 0.34
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Write-in
| votes =601
| percentage = 0.31
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Lieutenant governor=
==Candidates==
- Richard J. Mathews, retired Air Force officer from Bellevue, Nebraska{{cite news|title=Richard Mathews Files for Lt. Governor|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=March 14, 1986|page=36|access-date=June 22, 2023|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/889035429/}}
- Randy Moody, lobbyist, former Lancaster County Republican chairman, and former aide to Rep. John Y. McCollister, Sen. Roman Hruska, Rep. Virginia D. Smith, and Gov. Charles Thone from Lincoln, Nebraska{{cite news|title=Randy Moody GOP Candidate For Lt. Gov.|author=Rich Laden|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=January 31, 1986|page=13|access-date=June 22, 2023|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/889115557/}}
- Bill Nichol, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature since 1983 and member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 48 since 1975 from Scottsbluff, Nebraska.{{citation|title=2020-21 Nebraska Blue Book|pages=317–378|author=State of Nebraska|access-date=June 22, 2023|url=http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/l3000/D001-202021.pdf}}
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Bill Nichol
| votes = 80,621
| percentage = 52.12
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Randy Moody
| votes = 38,160
| percentage = 24.67
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Richard J. Mathews
| votes = 35,656
| percentage= 23.05
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party=Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Write-in
| votes = 260
| percentage = 0.17
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change| title=Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1986}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Kay A. Orr
|votes = 298,325
|percentage = 52.86%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Helen Boosalis
|votes = 265,156
|percentage = 46.98%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change|
|party = Write-in
|candidate = Others
|votes = 941
|percentage = 0.17%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 564,442
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change|
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser = Democratic Party (United States)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{United States elections, 1986}}
Category:November 1986 in the United States
{{Nebraska-election-stub}}