1986 Ohio gubernatorial election

1986 Ohio gubernatorial election

November 4, 1986

Nominee Dick Celeste Jim Rhodes Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,858,372 1,207,264 Percentage 60.6% 39.4%

Celeste:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Rhodes:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Dick Celeste Democratic Elected Governor Dick Celeste Democratic

The 1986 Ohio gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic Governor Dick Celeste ran against four time former Governor Jim Rhodes, who had previously defeated the last two incumbent Democratic governors in 1962 and 1974. The two had faced off before in 1978, with Rhodes winning by 47,536 votes for his fourth victory. Eight years later, at the age of 77, Rhodes was attempting to win a record fifth term. However, Celeste won by an even bigger margin than he did four years earlier, becoming the first Democrat to win consecutive elections for Governor since Frank Lausche, who won four consecutive times in 1948, 1950, 1952, and 1954. As of 2022, this is the last time a Democrat was re-elected Governor of Ohio and the only time a Democrat won a second four-year term. Democrats wouldn't win another gubernatorial election in Ohio until 2006.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Dick Celeste, Governor of Ohio

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dick Celeste (Incumbent)	684,206	99.87
	Democratic	Write-ins	880	0.13
Total votes			685,086	100.0

Republican primary

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Rhodes	352,261	48.19
	Republican	Paul E. Gillmor	281,737	38.54
	Republican	Paul E. Pfeifer	96,948	13.26
Total votes			730,946	100.00

General election

Results

Ohio gubernatorial election, 1986

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Dick Celeste (Incumbent)	1,858,372	60.6	+1.2
	Republican	Jim Rhodes	1,207,264	39.4	+0.5
	Write-ins		975
Majority			651,108	21.2
Turnout			3,065,636
	Democratic hold		Swing