# 1988 United States gubernatorial elections

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 1988, in 12 states and two territories. Going into the elections, eight seats were held by Republicans, and four by Democrats. After the elections, the Democrats had a net gain of one seat. The elections coincided with the United States House elections, United States Senate elections and presidential election. As of 2025, this is the last time that a Republican was elected as a Governor of Delaware, and the last time a Democrat was elected as a Governor of North Dakota.

## Election results

| State | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| Arizona (recall) | Evan Mecham | Republican | 1986 | Already scheduled recall election cancelled after Mecham's impeachment Secretary of State Rose Mofford (D) succeeded him. | Already scheduled recall election cancelled after Mecham's impeachment Secretary of State Rose Mofford (D) succeeded him. |
| Delaware | Mike Castle | Republican | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | Y Mike Castle (Republican) 70.7% Jacob Kreshtool (Democratic) 29.3% |
| Indiana | Robert D. Orr | Republican | 1980 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic gain. | Y Evan Bayh (Democratic) 53.2% John Mutz (Republican) 46.8% |
| Missouri | John Ashcroft | Republican | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | Y John Ashcroft (Republican) 64.2% Betty Cooper Hearnes (Democratic) 34.8% Mike Roberts (Libertarian) 1.0% |
| Montana | Ted Schwinden | Democratic | 1980 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. | Y Stan Stephens (Republican) 51.9% Thomas Lee Judge (Democratic) 46.1% |
| New Hampshire | John H. Sununu | Republican | 1982 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican hold. | Y Judd Gregg (Republican) 60.4% Paul McEachern (Democratic) 39.0% |
| North Carolina | James G. Martin | Republican | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | Y James G. Martin (Republican) 56.1% Robert B. Jordan (Democratic) 43.9% |
| North Dakota | George A. Sinner | Democratic-NPL | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | Y George A. Sinner (Democratic-NPL) 59.9% Leon L. Mallberg (Republican) 40.1% |
| Rhode Island | Edward D. DiPrete | Republican | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | Y Edward D. DiPrete (Republican) 50.8% Bruce Sundlun (Democratic) 49.2% |
| Utah | Norman H. Bangerter | Republican | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | Y Norman H. Bangerter (Republican) 40.1% Ted Wilson (Democratic) 38.4% Merrill Cook (Independent) 21.1% Kitty K. Burton (Libertarian) 0.3% Arly H. Pedersen (Ind. American) 0.2% |
| Vermont | Madeleine Kunin | Democratic | 1982 | Incumbent re-elected. | Y Madeleine Kunin (Democratic) 55.3% Michael Bernhardt (Republican) 43.3% Richard Gottlieb (Liberty Union) 1.2% |
| Washington | Booth Gardner | Democratic | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | Y Booth Gardner (Democratic) 62.2% Robert Williams (Republican) 37.8% |
| West Virginia | Arch A. Moore Jr. | Republican | 1968 1976 (term-limited) 1984 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Democratic gain. | Y Gaston Caperton (Democratic) 58.9% Arch A. Moore Jr. (Republican) 41.1% |

## Close states

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:
* Rhode Island, 1.6%
* Utah, 1.7%
States where the margin of victory was under 10%:
* Indiana, 6.4%
* Montana, 5.8%