# 1986 Maryland gubernatorial election

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Question P :
Government :
vte :
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, 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.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 9, 1986.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* William Donald Schaefer, Mayor of Baltimore
* Stephen H. Sachs, Attorney General of Maryland
* Lawrence K. Freeman
* Mary Fellenbaum Holter

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | William Donald Schaefer | 395,170 | 61.75 |
| | Democratic | Stephen H. Sachs | 224,755 | 35.12 |
| | Democratic | Lawrence K. Freeman | 14,120 | 2.21 |
| | Democratic | Mary Fellenbaum Holter | 5,919 | 0.93 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 639,964 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

* William Donald Schaefer, Democratic
* Thomas J. Mooney, Fmr State Delegate, Republican

### Results

1986 Maryland gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | William Donald Schaefer | 907,291 | 82.37% | +20.40% |
| | Republican | Thomas J. Mooney | 194,185 | 17.63% | −20.37% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 713,106 | +64.74% | +40.77% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,101,476 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |