# 1986 Nebraska gubernatorial election

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The 1986 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986, and featured state Treasurer Kay Orr, a Republican, defeating Democratic nominee, former Mayor of Lincoln Helen Boosalis. Incumbent Democratic governor Bob Kerrey did not seek a second term.
The election was the first state gubernatorial election in U.S. history where the candidates of both major national parties were women.

## Democratic primary
### Governor
#### Candidates

* Chris Beutler, member of the Nebraska Legislature
* Helen Boosalis, former mayor of Lincoln and Director of the Nebraska Department of Aging
* Barton E. Chandler
* Mina B. Dillingham
* David Domina, attorney
* Marge Higgins
* Robert J. Prokop

#### Results

Democratic gubernatorial primary results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Helen Boosalis | 63,833 | 44.01 |
| Democratic | David Domina | 37,975 | 26.18 |
| Democratic | Chris Beutler | 31,605 | 21.79 |
| Democratic | Robert J. Prokop | 5,160 | 3.56 |
| Democratic | Marge Higgins | 4,433 | 3.06 |
| Democratic | Barton E. Chandler | 1,260 | 0.87 |
| Democratic | Mina B. Dillingham | 402 | 0.28 |
| Democratic | Write-in | 369 | 0.25 |

### Lieutenant governor
#### Candidates

* Rachel Hepburn, director of social services and public relations at O.U.R. Homes from Lincoln, Nebraska, who withdrew from the race in April 1986
* Donald F. McGinley, incumbent Nebraska Lieutenant Governor
* Ken L. Michaelis, disbarred attorney from West Point, Nebraska

#### Results

Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Donald F. McGinley (incumbent) | 76,602 | 62.65 |
| Democratic | Ken L. Michaelis | 23,646 | 19.34 |
| Democratic | Rachel Hepburn | 21,822 | 17.85 |
| Democratic | Write-in | 193 | 0.16 |

## Republican primary
### Governor
#### Candidates

* Kermit Brashear, attorney and former chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party
* Nancy Hoch, businesswoman and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 1984
* Chuck Loos
* Kay A. Orr, Nebraska State Treasurer
* Paul A. Rosberg
* Everett Sileven
* Monte Taylor
* Roger Yant

#### Results

Republican gubernatorial primary results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Kay A. Orr | 75,914 | 39.41 |
| Republican | Kermit Brashear | 60,308 | 31.30 |
| Republican | Nancy Hoch | 42,649 | 22.14 |
| Republican | Everett Sileven | 4,281 | 2.22 |
| Republican | Paul A. Rosberg | 4,280 | 2.22 |
| Republican | Monte Taylor | 3,276 | 1.70 |
| Republican | Roger Yant | 682 | 0.35 |
| Republican | Chuck Loos | 658 | 0.34 |
| Republican | Write-in | 601 | 0.31 |

### Lieutenant governor
#### Candidates

* Richard J. Mathews, retired Air Force officer from Bellevue, Nebraska
* Randy Moody, lobbyist, former Lancaster County Republican chairman, and former aide to Rep. John Y. McCollister, Sen. Roman Hruska, Rep. Virginia D. Smith, and Gov. Charles Thone from Lincoln, Nebraska
* Bill Nichol, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature since 1983 and member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 48 since 1975 from Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

#### Results

Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Bill Nichol | 80,621 | 52.12 |
| Republican | Randy Moody | 38,160 | 24.67 |
| Republican | Richard J. Mathews | 35,656 | 23.05 |
| Republican | Write-in | 260 | 0.17 |

## General election
### Results

Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kay A. Orr | 298,325 | 52.86% |
| | Democratic | Helen Boosalis | 265,156 | 46.98% |
| | Write-in | Others | 941 | 0.17% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 564,442 | 100.0% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |