1986 Massachusetts elections

1986 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election
← 1982 1990 →
Secretary of the Commonwealth before election; Michael J. Connolly; Democratic	Elected Secretary of the Commonwealth ; Michael J. Connolly; Democratic

1986 Massachusetts Attorney General election
← 1982 1990 →
Attorney General before election; Francis Bellotti; Democratic	Elected Attorney General ; James Shannon; Democratic

A Massachusetts general election was held on November 4, 1986 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The election included:

statewide elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, Secretary of the Commonwealth, treasurer, and auditor;
district elections for U.S. Representatives, State Representatives, State Senators, and Governor's Councillors; and
ballot questions at the state and local levels.

Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 16, 1986.

Governor & Lieutenant Governor

Democrats Michael Dukakis and Evelyn Murphy were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, over Republican candidates George Kariotis and Nicholas Nikitas. Dukakis' victory made him the longest-serving governor in the history of Massachusetts.

Attorney General

Democrat James Shannon was elected attorney general. He defeated former assistant attorney general Joann Shotwell in the Democratic primary and U.S. Attorney Edward Francis Harrington in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

James Shannon, former U.S. Representative from Lowell and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1984
Joann Shotwell, former Assistant Attorney General

Results

Massachusetts Attorney Democratic Primary, 1986 ^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James Shannon	402,744	68.12%
	Democratic	Joann Shotwell	188,404	31.87%
	Write-in		41	0.01%
Total votes			591,189	100.00%

General election

Candidates

Edward Francis Harrington, former Democratic U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts (Republican)
James Shannon, former U.S. Representative from Lowell and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1984 (Democratic)

Results

Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 1986 ^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James Shannon	900,088	54.65%	33.60
	Republican	Edward Francis Harrington	746,791	45.34%	26.45
	Write-in		136	0.01%	0.01
Total votes			1,647,015	100.00%

Secretary of the Commonwealth

Incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth Michael J. Connolly defeated former State Representative Deborah R. Cochran in the general election.

General election

Candidates

Deborah R. Cochran, former State Representative from Dedham (Republican)
Michael J. Connolly, incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth (Democratic)

Results

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1986 ^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Michael J. Connolly (incumbent)	1,091,441	68.01%	4.61
	Republican	Deborah R. Cochran	513,455	31.99%	7.79
	Write-in		57	0.00%
Total votes			1,604,953	100.00%

Treasurer and Receiver-General

1986 Massachusetts Treasurer election

← 1982

1990 →


Nominee	Robert Q. Crane	L. Joyce Hampers
Party	Democratic	Republican
Popular vote	931,704	693,750
Percentage	57.3%	41.7%

Treasurer and Receiver-General before election

Robert Q. Crane
Democratic

Elected Treasurer and Receiver-General

Robert Q. Crane
Republican

Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane defeated Republican L. Joyce Hampers in the general election.

General election

Candidates

Robert Q. Crane, incumbent Treasurer since 1964 (Democratic)
L. Joyce Hampers (Republican)

Results

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1986 ^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert Q. Crane (incumbent)	931,704	57.31%	13.11
	Republican	L. Joyce Hampers	693,750	41.67%	15.03
	Write-in		403	0.03%
Total votes			1,625,857	100.00%

Auditor

1986 Massachusetts Auditor election

← 1982

1990 →


Nominee	A. Joseph DeNucci	William G. Robinson
Party	Democratic	Republican
Popular vote	1,001,236	583,299
Percentage	63.2%	36.8%

Auditor before election

John J. Finnegan
Democratic

Elected Auditor

A. Joseph DeNucci
Democratic

Incumbent Auditor John J. Finnegan did not run for reelection. Democrat A. Joseph DeNucci defeated Boston City Councilors Maura Hennigan and Charles Yancey in the Democratic primary and House Minority Leader William G. Robinson in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

A. Joseph DeNucci, State Representative from Newton and former professional boxer
Maura Hennigan, member of the Boston City Council at-large
Charles Yancey, member of the Boston City Council

Results

Massachusetts Auditor Democratic Primary, 1986 ^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	A. Joseph DeNucci	307,272	54.02%
	Democratic	Maura Hennigan	197,113	34.66%
	Democratic	Charles Yancey	64,300	11.31%
	Write-in		83	0.00%
Total votes			568,685	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

William G. Robinson, State Representative from Melrose and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
Andrew Natsios, State Representative from Holliston and chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party

Results

Massachusetts Auditor Republican Primary, 1986 ^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William G. Robinson	42,794	54.53%
	Republican	Andrew Natsios	35,632	45.40%
	Write-in		51	0.07%
Total votes			78,477	100.00%

General election

Massachusetts Auditor General Election, 1986 ^[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	A. Joseph DeNucci	1,001,236	63.19%	3.75
	Republican	William G. Robinson	583,299	36.81%	7.56
	Write-in		82	0.01%	0.01
Total votes			1,584,617	100.00%

Ballot questions

Question 1

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the legislature to prohibit or regulate abortions to the extent permitted by the United States Constitution. It would also provide that the state constitution does not require public or private funding of abortions, or the provision of services of facilities for performing abortions, beyond what is required by the United States Constitution. The provisions of this amendment would not apply to abortions required to prevent the death of the mother.^[8]

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution ^[9]
Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Yes	689,908	41.83%
✓	No	959,311	58.17%

Question 2

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the expenditure of public funds for private schools and private school students.^[10]

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution ^[11]
Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Yes	502,170	30.32%
✓	No	1,154,069	69.68%

Question 3

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would reduced then repeal the 71⁄2% surtax on Massachusetts state income taxes and would limit state tax revenue growth to the level of growth in the total wages and salaries of the citizens of the state.^[12]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition ^[13]
Candidate		Votes	%	±
✓	Yes	863,130	54.35%
	No	724,925	45.65%

Question 4

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would require that the State Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE) to search for sites in the Commonwealth where oil or hazardous materials have been disposed of and take all steps necessary to clean up those sites within specified time limits. Provisions are made for informing the public about sites in their communities. ^[14]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition ^[15]
Candidate		Votes	%	±
✓	Yes	1,174,676	74.38%
	No	404,521	25.62%

Question 5

Referendum on an Existing Law - The law requires all drivers and passengers to wear properly adjusted and fastened safety belts while traveling in motor vehicles on public ways.^[16]

Referendum on an Existing Law ^[17]
Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Yes	769,806	46.31%
✓	No	892,580	53.69%

Question 6

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would provide a system of voter registration by mail applicable to all qualified voters and would eliminate statutory provisions permitting certain persons to vote only for presidential electors.^[18]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition ^[19]
Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Yes	603,370	38.44%
✓	No	966,229	61.56%

References

^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ "Our Campaigns - MA Attorney General Race - Nov 04, 1986".
^ "Our Campaigns - MA Secretary of State Race - Nov 04, 1986".
^ "Our Campaigns - MA Treasurer Race - Nov 04, 1986".
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ "Our Campaigns - MA Auditor Race - Nov 04, 1986".
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

External links

"Nov 4, 1986 general election", PD43+ Massachusetts Election Statistics, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

[1] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[2] "Our Campaigns - MA Attorney General Race - Nov 04, 1986".

[3] "Our Campaigns - MA Secretary of State Race - Nov 04, 1986".

[4] "Our Campaigns - MA Treasurer Race - Nov 04, 1986".

[5] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[6] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[7] "Our Campaigns - MA Auditor Race - Nov 04, 1986".

[8] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[9] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[10] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[11] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[12] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[13] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[14] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[15] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[16] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[17] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[18] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

[19] Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.

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v t e State elections in Massachusetts
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Governor	1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 (April) 1831 (November) 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1868 1869 1870 1871 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Mass. Senate	1787 1788 ... 1824 ... 1908 ... 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Mass. House	2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Gov.'s Council	2002 2006 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
"s/" = Special election See also: Political party strength in Massachusetts For federal elections, see Template:Federal elections in Massachusetts footer.