# 1982 Michigan gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 1982 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Governor William Milliken decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth full term as governor. The primary elections occurred on August 10, 1982. Businessman Richard Headlee narrowly defeated incumbent lieutenant governor James Brickley in a four way race on the Republican side. Congressman James Blanchard defeated Michigan Senate Majority Leader William B. Fitzgerald Jr. by a wide margin a fractured seven way race. Blanchard won the general election by a relatively comfortable 6.31% margin. Blanchard became the first Democrat to win the governor’s mansion in Michigan in 22 years.

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* James H. Brickley, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
* Richard Headlee, businessman and anti-tax activist
* L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Prosecutor
* Jack Welborn

### Results

1982 Michigan gubernatorial Republican primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Headlee | 220,378 | 34.36 |
| | Republican | James H. Brickley | 194,429 | 30.31 |
| | Republican | L. Brooks Patterson | 180,065 | 28.07 |
| | Republican | Jack Welborn | 46,505 | 7.25 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 42 | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 641,419 | 100.00 |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* James Blanchard, U.S. Representative from Pleasant Ridge
* Zolton Ferency, Ingham County Commissioner, law professor, and nominee for governor in 1966
* William B. Fitzgerald Jr., Michigan Senate Majority Leader and nominee for governor in 1978
* Kerry Kammer
* Edward H. Pierce
* David A. Plaweki
* John Safran

### Results

1982 Michigan gubernatorial Democratic primary election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James Blanchard | 406,941 | 50.23 |
| | Democratic | William B. Fitzgerald Jr. | 138,453 | 17.09 |
| | Democratic | David A. Plaweki | 95,805 | 11.82 |
| | Democratic | Zolton Ferency | 85,088 | 10.50 |
| | Democratic | Edward H. Pierce | 44,894 | 5.54 |
| | Democratic | Kerry Kammer | 32,221 | 3.98 |
| | Democratic | John Safran | 6,782 | 0.84 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 60 | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 810,244 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

1982 Michigan gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James Blanchard | 1,561,291 | 51.36 |
| | Republican | Richard Headlee | 1,369,582 | 45.05 |
| | Tisch Independent Citizens | Robert Tisch | 80,288 | 2.64 |
| | Libertarian | Dick Jacobs | 15,603 | 0.51 |
| | American Independent | James Phillips | 7,356 | 0.24 |
| | Socialist Workers | Tim Craine | 3,682 | 0.12 |
| | Workers League | Martin P. McLaughlin | 1,980 | 0.07 |
| | Write-ins | | 226 | 0.01 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 191,709 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |