1986 Vermont gubernatorial election

The 1986 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democrat Madeleine Kunin ran successfully for re-election to a second term as Governor of Vermont, defeating Republican candidate Peter Plympton Smith and independent candidate Bernie Sanders. Since no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, Kunin was elected by the Vermont General Assembly per the state constitution.

This was the first time since 1912 that none of the candidates received a majority of the vote. Along with Democrats' takeover of the state House for the first time in history, Democrats won a trifecta in the state for the first time ever.

Democratic primary

Results

Republican primary

Results

Liberty Union primary

Results

General election

Candidates

• Madeleine M. Kunin (D), incumbent Governor of Vermont
• Peter Plympton Smith (R), Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
• Bernie Sanders (I), Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
• Richard F. Gottlieb (LU)

Results

After no candidate received a majority of the vote, the Vermont Legislature, consisting of 150 representatives and 30 senators, voted to decide the winner, per the state constitution.

References

Works cited

• Doyle, William (1992). The Vermont Political Tradition: And Those Who Helped Make It. W. Doyle. ISBN 0961548614.