# 1986 Vermont gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 1986 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democrat Madeleine Kunin ran successfully for re-election to a second term as Governor of Vermont, defeating Republican candidate Peter Plympton Smith and independent candidate Bernie Sanders. Since no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, Kunin was elected by the Vermont General Assembly per the state constitution.
This was the first time since 1912 that none of the candidates received a majority of the vote. Along with Democrats' takeover of the state House for the first time in history, Democrats won a trifecta in the state for the first time ever.

## Democratic primary
### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Madeleine M. Kunin (inc.) | 19,401 | 95.1 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 993 | 4.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,394 | 100 |

## Republican primary
### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Peter Plympton Smith | 24,837 | 96.8 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 813 | 3.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,650 | 100 |

## Liberty Union primary
### Results

Liberty Union primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberty Union | Richard F. Gottlieb | 135 | 86.0 |
| | Liberty Union | Bernie Sanders (write-in) | 16 | 10.2 |
| | Liberty Union | Write-ins (other) | 6 | 3.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 157 | 100 |

## General election

* Front and back cover
* Inside

### Candidates

* Madeleine M. Kunin (D), incumbent Governor of Vermont
* Peter Plympton Smith (R), Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
* Bernie Sanders (I), Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
* Richard F. Gottlieb (LU)

### Results

1986 Vermont gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Madeleine M. Kunin (inc.) | 92,485 | 47.0 | −3.0 |
| | Republican | Peter Plympton Smith | 75,239 | 38.2 | −10.3 |
| | Independent | Bernie Sanders | 28,418 | 14.4 | +14.4 |
| | Liberty Union | Richard F. Gottlieb | 491 | 0.2 | −0.1 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 83 | 0.1 | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 196,716 | 100 |
After no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Vermont Legislature, consisting of 150 representatives and 30 senators, voted to decide the winner, per the state constitution.
Vermont legislature vote results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Madeleine M. Kunin (inc.) | 139 | 77.22 |
| | Republican | Peter Plympton Smith | 39 | 21.66 |
| | Independent | Bernie Sanders | 2 | 1.11 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 180 | 100 |