# 1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election

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The 1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Popular three-term Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler announced that he would not seek a fourth term, creating an open seat. Attorney Mike Sullivan emerged as the unlikely Democratic nominee, and faced former state representative Pete Simpson, the Republican nominee and the brother of then-U.S. senator Alan K. Simpson, in the general election. Despite Sullivan's political inexperience, he was able to defeat Simpson by a decisive margin, winning his first of two terms in office.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Mike Sullivan, attorney
* Pat McGuire, rancher
* Keith Goodenough, forester
* Al Hamburg, perennial candidate

### Results

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike Sullivan | 29,266 | 70.92% |
| | Democratic | Pat McGuire | 5,406 | 13.10% |
| | Democratic | Keith Goodenough | 4,039 | 9.79% |
| | Democratic | Al Hamburg | 2,554 | 6.19% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,265 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Pete Simpson, former State Representative
* Bill Budd, former state representative
* Fred Schroeder, former chairman of the Republican Party of Wyoming
* Russ Donley, former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives
* David R. Nicholas, state senator
* John R. Johnson, dentist
* Jim L. Bace, computer programmer, 1982 Republican candidate for governor

### Results

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Pete Simpson | 25,948 | 27.58% |
| | Republican | Bill Budd | 25,495 | 27.10% |
| | Republican | Fred Schroeder | 15,013 | 15.96% |
| | Republican | Russ Donley | 12,979 | 13.80% |
| | Republican | David R. Nicholas | 11,092 | 11.79% |
| | Republican | John R. Johnson | 3,139 | 3.34% |
| | Republican | Jim Bace | 402 | 0.43% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 94,068 | 100.00% |

## Results

Sullivan spent $102,219 during the primary and $150,000 in the general election compared to Simpson spending around $300,000 in the primary and $200,000 in the general election.
1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Mike Sullivan | 88,879 | 53.96% | −9.18% |
| | Republican | Pete Simpson | 75,841 | 46.04% | +9.18% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,038 | 7.92% | −18.37% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 164,720 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |