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1988 Utah gubernatorial election

Summary

The 1988 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988. Republican nominee and incumbent Governor Norman H. Bangerter defeated Democratic nominee Ted Wilson and independent Merrill Cook with 40.13% of the vote. As of 2023, this is the closest a Democrat has come to winning the governorship in Utah since Scott M. Matheson left office in 1985.

1988 Utah gubernatorial election
← 1984 November 8, 1988 1992 →
 
Nominee Norman H. Bangerter Ted Wilson Merrill Cook
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Popular vote 260,462 249,321 136,651
Percentage 40.13% 38.41% 21.05%
County results
Bangerter:      30–40%      40–50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Wilson:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

Norman H. Bangerter
Republican

Elected Governor

Norman H. Bangerter
Republican

Republican nomination edit

Candidates edit

Declared edit

Withdrawn edit

Results edit

Bangerter defeated Samuels at the state convention on June 11[4] with over 70% of the vote and therefore avoided a primary.[5]

Republican convention, 11 June 1988[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Norm Bangerter (incumbent) 1,502 80.6%
Republican W. Dean Samuels 361 19.4%
Write-in Merrill Cook 1 0.1%
Total votes 1,864

Democratic nomination edit

Candidates edit

Declared edit

Results edit

Wilson defeated Hewett at the state convention on June 25 with over 70% of the vote and therefore avoided a primary.

Democratic convention, 25 June 1988[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ted Wilson 1,654 97.4%
Democratic David E. Hewett 44 2.6%
Total votes 1,698

American Party nomination edit

Candidates edit

Declared edit

  • Arly H. Pedersen, National Chairman[9]
  • Lawrence Ray Topham, perennial candidate

Results edit

Pedersen defeated Topham at the state convention on June 25[10] with over 70% of the vote and therefore avoided a primary.[11]

American Party convention, 25 June 1988[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
American Arly H. Pedersen 42 77.8%
American Lawrence Rey Topham 12 22.2%
Total votes 54

General election edit

Polling edit

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Norm
Bangerter (R) 		Ted
Wilson (D) 		Merrill
Cook (I) 		Other Undecided
Dan Jones & Associates April 19–21, 1988 904 ± 3.0% 28% 56% 8% 1% 7%
Deseret News/KSL (May 3, 1988) 27% 52% 6% 1%
Dan Jones & Associates (June 27, 1988) 30% 49% 11%
Dan Jones & Associates July 26–28, 1988 905 ± 3.2% 31% 50% 12% 1% 7%
Dan Jones & Associates (September 3, 1988) 31% 50% 12%
Dan Jones & Associates November 6, 1988 36% 36% 24%

Candidates edit

  • Ted Wilson, Democratic
  • Norm Bangerter, Republican
  • Arly H. Pedersen, American
  • Merrill Cook, Independent
  • Kitty K. Burton, Libertarian

Results edit

1988 Utah gubernatorial election[13][14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Norman H. Bangerter (incumbent) 260,462 40.13%
Democratic Ted Wilson 249,321 38.41%
Independent Merrill Cook 136,651 21.05%
Libertarian Kitty K. Burton 1,661 0.26%
American Arly H. Pedersen 1,019 0.16%
Majority 11,141 1.72%
Turnout 649,114 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

References edit

  1. ^ "Here's a list of those who've filed to run for public office throughout the State". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. April 16, 1988. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "Midvale educator jumps into race for Governor, vowing to battle taxes". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. April 20, 1988. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  3. ^ Bernick, Bob Jr. (April 13, 1988). "Huntsman bows out of State House race". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  4. ^ Bernick, Bob Jr. (June 10, 1988). "Bangerter tries to win back dissidents". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  5. ^ "Ex-candidate decides against fighting Bangerter nomination". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. July 14, 1988. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  6. ^ Davidson, Lee (June 20, 1988). "Bangerter's convention win challenged. Kearns legislative candidate says write-ins for Cook weren't counted". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Bernick, Bob Jr. (April 17, 1988). "They're off! But Utah's political sprint may resemble walkathon more than a horse race". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  8. ^ Bernick, Bob Jr. (June 26, 1988). "Demos relish 'new unity'. Wilson will lead slate that has rousing support". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  9. ^ World Almanac 1989, p. 332.
  10. ^ Davidson, Lee (June 26, 1988). "American Party's convention fraught with mudslinging. Chairman wins nomination for Governor's race by 78 percent of vote". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  11. ^ Davidson, Lee (June 30, 1988). "American Party nomination assailed". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  12. ^ "UT Governor, 1988 - Amer Convention". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  13. ^ "UT Governor, 1988". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  14. ^ "1988 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Utah". US Election Atlas. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  15. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 82.

Bibliography edit

  • Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
  • The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 1989. New York, NY: Pharos Books. 1988. ISBN 0-88687-361-4.

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