1986 Nevada gubernatorial election

1986 Nevada gubernatorial election

November 4, 1986 (1986-11-04)

Nominee Richard Bryan Patty Cafferata Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 187,268 65,081 Percentage 73.5% 25.5%

County results Bryan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Richard Bryan Democratic Elected Governor Richard Bryan Democratic

The 1986 Nevada gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democrat Richard Bryan won re-election to a second term as Governor of Nevada, defeating Republican nominee Patty Cafferata.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Richard Bryan, incumbent governor of Nevada
• Herb Tobman

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard Bryan (incumbent)	71,920	79.95%
	Democratic	Herb Tobman	13,776	15.31%
		None of These Candidates	4,264	4.74%
Total votes			89,960	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Patty Cafferata, state treasurer
• Jim Stone
• Joni Wines
• M.L. "Smokey" Stover
• Robert A. Swartz

Results

Republican Primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Patty Cafferata	31,430	46.03%
		None of These Candidates	15,116	22.15%
	Republican	Jim Stone	12,296	18.02%
	Republican	Joni Wines	5,599	8.21%
	Republican	M.L. "Smokey" Stover	2,236	3.28%
	Republican	Robert A. Swartz	1,559	2.29%
Total votes			68,236	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Richard Bryan (D), incumbent governor of Nevada
• Patty Cafferata (R), state treasurer
• Lou Tomburello (L)

Results

1986 Nevada gubernatorial election result

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Richard Bryan (incumbent)	187,268	71.92%	+18.48%
	Republican	Patty Cafferata	65,081	25.00%	−16.76%
		None of These Candidates	5,471	2.10%	−0.77%
	Libertarian	Lou Tomburello	2,555	0.98%	−0.96%
Majority			122,187	46.93%
Total votes			260,375	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	+35.24%

County results

County	Richard Bryan Democratic		Patty Cafferata Republican		None of These Candidates		Lou Tomburello Libertarian		Margin		Total votes cast
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
Carson City	9,224	70.61%	3,308	25.32%	393	3.01%	138	1.06%	5,916	45.29%	13,063
Churchill	3,426	64.03%	1,788	33.41%	107	2.00%	30	0.56%	1,638	30.61%	5,351
Clark	98,262	74.33%	30,258	22.89%	2,582	1.95%	1,103	0.83%	68,004	51.44%	132,205
Douglas	5,270	63.27%	2,750	33.02%	209	2.51%	100	1.20%	2,520	30.26%	8,329
Elko	3,306	52.30%	2,850	45.09%	95	1.50%	70	1.11%	456	7.21%	6,321
Esmeralda	363	62.91%	183	31.72%	19	3.29%	12	2.08%	180	31.20%	577
Eureka	297	52.66%	256	45.39%	11	1.95%	0	0.00%	41	7.27%	564
Humboldt	1,999	64.11%	1,025	32.87%	65	2.08%	29	0.93%	974	31.24%	3,118
Lander	1,053	62.83%	553	33.00%	49	2.92%	21	1.25%	500	29.83%	1,676
Lincoln	915	58.99%	569	36.69%	55	3.55%	12	0.77%	346	22.31%	1,551
Lyon	4,306	70.60%	1,620	26.56%	119	1.95%	54	0.89%	2,686	44.04%	6,099
Mineral	1,635	72.25%	554	24.48%	51	2.25%	23	1.02%	1,081	47.77%	2,263
Nye	2,630	60.14%	1,565	35.79%	119	2.72%	59	1.35%	1,065	24.35%	4,373
Pershing	843	68.54%	357	29.02%	22	1.79%	8	0.65%	486	39.51%	1,230
Storey	893	81.33%	174	15.85%	21	1.91%	10	0.91%	719	65.48%	1,098
Washoe	50,759	73.02%	16,425	23.63%	1,472	2.12%	859	1.24%	34,334	40.80%	69,515
White Pine	2,087	68.61%	846	27.81%	82	2.70%	27	0.89%	1,241	40.80%	3,042
Totals	187,268	71.92%	65,081	25.00%	5,471	2.10%	2,555	0.98%	122,187	46.93%	260,375

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Churchill
• Douglas
• Elko
• Eureka
• Humboldt
• Lander
• Lincoln
• Lyon
• Pershing
• Washoe