For related races, see 1988 United States gubernatorial elections.
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| Turnout | 75.00%  | |||||||||||||||||||
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 County resultsStephens: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Judge: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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
| 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 campaigned 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.
Results
| 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
| 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
- "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
- 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.
- ^ "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. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
- "8 Candidates Vie in Montana Race". The New York Times. May 29, 1988. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
- "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.
| (1986 ←) 1988 United States elections (→ 1990) | |
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