# 1988 Missouri gubernatorial election

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The 1988 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988, and resulted in a victory for the Republican nominee, incumbent Governor John Ashcroft, over the Democratic candidate, State Representative Betty Cooper Hearnes, and Libertarian Mike Roberts.
Betty Hearnes was married to Warren E. Hearnes, who had served as governor from 1965 to 1973. This election was the first time that an incumbent Republican Governor of Missouri was re-elected to a second consecutive term, the most recent being 2020. As of 2024, this is the last time Boone County, Jackson County, and St. Louis County voted Republican in a gubernatorial election.

## Results

1988 gubernatorial election, Missouri :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | John Ashcroft (incumbent) | 1,339,531 | 64.22 | +7.58 |
| | Democratic | Betty Cooper Hearnes | 724,919 | 34.75 | −8.59 |
| | Libertarian | Mike Roberts | 21,467 | 1.03 | +1.03 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 614,612 | 29.46 | +16.14 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,085,917 | 42.43 | −0.45 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |