1986 Vermont gubernatorial election

The 1986 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democrat Madeleine Kunin ran successfully for re-election to a second term as Governor of Vermont, defeating Republican candidate Peter Plympton Smith and independent candidate Bernie Sanders. Since no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, Kunin was elected by the Vermont General Assembly per the state constitution.[1]

1986 Vermont gubernatorial election

November 4, 1986 (1986-11-04)

Nominee Madeleine Kunin Peter Smith Bernie Sanders Party Democratic Republican Independent Electoral vote 139 39 2 Popular vote 92,485 75,239 28,418 Percentage 47.0% 38.2% 14.4%

County results Kunin:      40–50%      50–60% Smith:      40-50%

Governor before election Madeleine Kunin Democratic Elected Governor Madeleine Kunin Democratic

Democratic primary

Results

Democratic primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Madeleine M. Kunin (inc.)	19,401	95.1
	Democratic	Write-ins	993	4.9
Total votes			20,394	100

Republican primary

Results

Republican primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter Plympton Smith	24,837	96.8
	Republican	Write-ins	813	3.2
Total votes			25,650	100

Liberty Union primary

Results

Liberty Union primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberty Union	Richard F. Gottlieb	135	86.0
	Liberty Union	Bernie Sanders (write-in)	16	10.2
	Liberty Union	Write-ins (other)	6	3.8
Total votes			157	100

General election

Candidates

• Madeleine M. Kunin (D), incumbent Governor of Vermont
• Peter Plympton Smith (R), Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
• Bernie Sanders (I), Mayor of Burlington, Vermont[3]
• Richard F. Gottlieb (LU)

Results

1986 Vermont gubernatorial election[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Madeleine M. Kunin (inc.)	92,485	47.0	-3.0
	Republican	Peter Plympton Smith	75,239	38.2	-10.3
	Independent	Bernie Sanders	28,418	14.4	+14.4
	Liberty Union	Richard F. Gottlieb	491	0.2	-0.1
	Write-in	Write-ins	83	0.1	n/a
Total votes			196,716	100

After no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Vermont Legislature, consisting of 150 representatives and 30 senators, voted to decide the winner, per the state constitution.

Vermont legislature vote results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Madeleine M. Kunin (inc.)	139	77.22
	Republican	Peter Plympton Smith	39	21.66
	Independent	Bernie Sanders	2	1.11
Total votes			180	100

References

1. "General Election Results - Governor - 1789-2012" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
2. "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
3. Mike Donoghue (May 26, 2015). "Sanders: 'A political revolution'". Burlington Free Press.