1986 Massachusetts general election

November 4, 1986

Part of the
1986 United States elections

A Massachusetts general election was held on November 4, 1986 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The election included:

Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 16, 1986.

Governor and lieutenant governor

Democrats Michael Dukakis and Evelyn Murphy were elected governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, over Republican candidates George Kariotis and Nicholas Nikitas. Dukakis' victory made him the longest-serving governor in the history of Massachusetts.

Attorney general

1986 Massachusetts Attorney General election
 
Nominee James Shannon Edward Francis Harrington
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 900,088 746,791
Percentage 54.7% 45.3%

Attorney General before election

Francis Bellotti
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

James Shannon
Democratic

Democrat James Shannon was elected attorney general. He defeated former assistant attorney general Joann Shotwell in the Democratic primary and U.S. Attorney Edward Francis Harrington in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Attorney Democratic Primary, 1986 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Shannon 402,744 68.12%
Democratic Joann Shotwell 188,404 31.87%
Write-in 41 0.01%
Total votes 591,189 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 1986 [2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James Shannon 900,088 54.65% Decrease33.60
Republican Edward Francis Harrington 746,791 45.34% Increase26.45
Write-in 136 0.01% Increase0.01
Total votes 1,647,015 100.00%

Secretary of the Commonwealth

1986 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election
 
Nominee Michael J. Connolly Deborah R. Cochran
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,091,441 513,455
Percentage 68.0% 32.0%

Secretary of the Commonwealth before election

Michael J. Connolly
Democratic

Elected Secretary of the Commonwealth

Michael J. Connolly
Democratic

Incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth Michael J. Connolly defeated former State Representative Deborah R. Cochran in the general election.

General election

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1986 [3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Michael J. Connolly (incumbent) 1,091,441 68.01% Decrease 4.61
Republican Deborah R. Cochran 513,455 31.99% Increase 7.79
Write-in 57 0.00% Steady
Total votes 1,604,953 100.00%

Treasurer and Receiver-General

1986 Massachusetts Treasurer election
 
Nominee Robert Q. Crane L. Joyce Hampers
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 931,704 693,750
Percentage 57.3% 41.7%

Treasurer and Receiver-General before election

Robert Q. Crane
Democratic

Elected Treasurer and Receiver-General

Robert Q. Crane
Republican

Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane defeated Republican L. Joyce Hampers in the general election.

General election

Candidates

  • Robert Q. Crane, incumbent Treasurer since 1964 (Democratic)
  • L. Joyce Hampers (Republican)

Results

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1986 [4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Q. Crane (incumbent) 931,704 57.31% Decrease13.11
Republican L. Joyce Hampers 693,750 41.67% Increase15.03
Write-in 403 0.03% Steady
Total votes 1,625,857 100.00%

Auditor

1986 Massachusetts Auditor election
 
Nominee A. Joseph DeNucci William G. Robinson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,001,236 583,299
Percentage 63.2% 36.8%

Auditor before election

John J. Finnegan
Democratic

Elected Auditor

A. Joseph DeNucci
Democratic

Incumbent Auditor John J. Finnegan did not run for reelection. Democrat A. Joseph DeNucci defeated Boston City Councilors Maura Hennigan and Charles Yancey in the Democratic primary and House Minority Leader William G. Robinson in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Auditor Democratic Primary, 1986 [5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic A. Joseph DeNucci 307,272 54.02%
Democratic Maura Hennigan 197,113 34.66%
Democratic Charles Yancey 64,300 11.31%
Write-in 83 0.00%
Total votes 568,685 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Auditor Republican Primary, 1986 [6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William G. Robinson 42,794 54.53%
Republican Andrew Natsios 35,632 45.40%
Write-in 51 0.07%
Total votes 78,477 100.00%

General election

Massachusetts Auditor General Election, 1986 [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic A. Joseph DeNucci 1,001,236 63.19% Decrease 3.75
Republican William G. Robinson 583,299 36.81% Increase 7.56
Write-in 82 0.01% Increase 0.01
Total votes 1,584,617 100.00%

Ballot questions

Question 1

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the legislature to prohibit or regulate abortions to the extent permitted by the United States Constitution. It would also provide that the state constitution does not require public or private funding of abortions, or the provision of services of facilities for performing abortions, beyond what is required by the United States Constitution. The provisions of this amendment would not apply to abortions required to prevent the death of the mother.[8]

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution [9]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 689,908 41.83%
No 959,311 58.17%

Question 2

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the expenditure of public funds for private schools and private school students.[10]

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution [11]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 502,170 30.32%
No 1,154,069 69.68%

Question 3

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would reduced then repeal the 712% surtax on Massachusetts state income taxes and would limit state tax revenue growth to the level of growth in the total wages and salaries of the citizens of the state.[12]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [13]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 863,130 54.35%
No 724,925 45.65%

Question 4

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would require that the State Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE) to search for sites in the Commonwealth where oil or hazardous materials have been disposed of and take all steps necessary to clean up those sites within specified time limits. Provisions are made for informing the public about sites in their communities. [14]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [15]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 1,174,676 74.38%
No 404,521 25.62%

Question 5

Referendum on an Existing Law - The law requires all drivers and passengers to wear properly adjusted and fastened safety belts while traveling in motor vehicles on public ways.[16]

Referendum on an Existing Law [17]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 769,806 46.31%
No 892,580 53.69%

Question 6

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would provide a system of voter registration by mail applicable to all qualified voters and would eliminate statutory provisions permitting certain persons to vote only for presidential electors.[18]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [19]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 603,370 38.44%
No 966,229 61.56%

References

  1. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  2. "Our Campaigns - MA Attorney General Race - Nov 04, 1986".
  3. "Our Campaigns - MA Secretary of State Race - Nov 04, 1986".
  4. "Our Campaigns - MA Treasurer Race - Nov 04, 1986".
  5. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  6. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  7. "Our Campaigns - MA Auditor Race - Nov 04, 1986".
  8. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  9. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  10. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  11. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  12. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  13. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  14. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  15. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  16. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  17. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  18. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
  19. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986. 1986.
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