1986 Maryland gubernatorial election

1986 Maryland gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 4, 1986 1990 →

Nominee William Donald Schaefer Thomas J. Mooney Party Democratic Republican Running mate Melvin Steinberg Melvin A. Bilal Popular vote 907,291 194,185 Percentage 82.37% 17.63%

County results Schaefer:      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90%

Governor before election Harry Hughes Democratic Elected Governor William Donald Schaefer Democratic

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The 1986 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Democratic nominee William Donald Schaefer defeated Republican nominee Thomas J. Mooney with 82.37% of the vote. To date this is the largest percentage total ever for a contested statewide election in Maryland.

As of 2023^[update], this was the last time a candidate from either party carried every county in a gubernatorial election, and the last time the Democratic candidate won a majority of counties in a gubernatorial election. He is also the last Democrat to win the following counties: Garrett, Washington, Carroll, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, and Somerset. Anne Arundel County, Frederick County, Kent County, and Talbot County would not vote Democratic again until 2022.