Montana gubernatorial election, 1988

Montana gubernatorial election, 1988

November 8, 1988

Nominee Stan Stephens Thomas Lee Judge Party Republican Democratic Running mate Allen Kolstad Barbara B. Skelton Popular vote 190,604 169,313 Percentage 51.93% 46.13%

Governor before election Ted Schwinden Democratic Elected Governor Stan Stephens Republican

The 1988 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Governor of Montana Ted Schwinden, who was first elected in 1980 and was re-elected in 1984, declined to seek re-election to a third term, creating an open seat. Stan Stephens, the former President of the Montana Senate, won a close Republican primary, and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Thomas Lee Judge, Schwinden's predecessor as Governor and the Democratic nominee. Though the general election was hotly-contested, Stephens ultimately defeated Judge, becoming the first Republican to win a gubernatorial election in Montana since 1964.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Thomas Lee Judge, former Governor of Montana
• Frank B. Morrison, Jr., former Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice
• Mike Greely, Attorney General of Montana
• Ted Neuman, State Senator
• Martin J. "Red" Beckman
• Curly Thornton

Results

Democratic Party primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas Lee Judge	46,412	39.31
	Democratic	Frank B. Morrison, Jr.	32,124	27.21
	Democratic	Mike Greely	26,827	22.72
	Democratic	Ted Neuman	7,297	6.18
	Democratic	Martin J. "Red" Beckman	3,360	2.85
	Democratic	Curly Thornton	2,038	1.73
Total votes			118,058	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Stan Stephens, former President of the Montana Senate
• Carl Winslow, State Representative
• Jim Waltermire, Montana Secretary of State

Campaign

Jim Waltermire, the Montana Secretary of State, was widely perceived to be the frontrunner in the primary, but, two months before the election, he was killed in a plane crash. Following his death, the race was narrowed down to Stan Stephens and Carl Winslow, though Waltermire remained on the ballot. Stephens earned the endorsement of much of the Republican establishment in the state, and camapigned on his experience in elected office and his success in the private sector. Winslow, meanwhile, campaigned on his youth and his ability to attract new businesses to the state.^[3]

Results

Republican Primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Stan Stephens	44,022	50.07
	Republican	Carl Winslow	37,875	43.08
	Republican	Jim Waltermire	6,024	6.85
Total votes			87,921	100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1988^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Stan Stephens	190,604	51.93%	+25.53%
	Democratic	Thomas Lee Judge	169,313	46.13%	-24.21%
	Libertarian	William Dee Morris	7,104	1.94%	-1.32%
Majority			21,291	5.80%	-38.14%
Turnout			367,021
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

1. Berke, Richard L. (November 9, 1988). "The 1988 Elections; Indiana Elects Bayh's Son Governor; Moore Is Ousted by West Virginians". The New York Times. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
2. "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 7, 1988" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
3. "8 Candidates Vie in Montana Race". The New York Times. May 29, 1988. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
4. "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the General Election Held in the State of Montana, November 8, 1988". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.