The 1988 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988, and resulted in a victory for the Republican nominee, incumbent Governor John Ashcroft, over the Democratic candidate, State Representative Betty Cooper Hearnes, and Libertarian Mike Roberts.
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County results Ashcroft: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hearnes: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Betty Hearnes was married to Warren E. Hearnes, who had served as governor from 1965 to 1973.[1] This election was the only time that an incumbent Republican Governor of Missouri was re-elected to a second consecutive term.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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Republican | John Ashcroft (incumbent) | 1,339,531 | 64.22 | +7.58 | |
Democratic | Betty Cooper Hearnes | 724,919 | 34.75 | -8.59 | |
Libertarian | Mike Roberts | 21,467 | 1.03 | +1.03 | |
Majority | 614,612 | 29.46 | +16.14 | ||
Turnout | 2,085,917 | 42.43 | -0.45 | ||
Republican hold | Swing |