Florida gubernatorial election, 1986

Elections in Florida
Federal government Presidential elections 1860 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Presidential primaries Democratic 2008 2012 Republican 2008 2012 U.S. Senate elections 1968 1970 1976 1980 1982 1986 1988 1992 1994 1998 2000 2004 2006 2010 2012 U.S. House elections 2006 5th 8th 9th 16th 2008 2010 2012 2014
State government Gubernatorial elections 1966 1970 1974 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 Attorney General elections 2002 2006 2010 2014 Chief Financial Officer elections 2006 2010 Agriculture Commissioner of Florida 1994 2006 2010 Ballot measures Other elections 2006 2010
Jacksonville Mayoral elections 2003 2007 2011
Tampa Mayoral elections 2011
Orlando Mayoral elections 2012

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

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

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	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%
Totals			1,005,465	100%

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

Republican nomination

Candidates

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

Republican primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	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%
Totals			558,058	100%

Republican primary runoff results
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Bob Martinez	259,333	66.33%
	Republican	Louis Frey, Jr.	131,652	33.67%
Totals			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