The 1986 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986, for the post of

Governor of Arizona A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

Evan Mecham Evan Mecham ( ; May 12, 1924 – February 21, 2008) was an American businessman and the 17th governor of Arizona, serving from January 5, 1987, until his impeachment conviction on April 4, 1988. A decorated veteran of World War II, Mecham was a ...

, who defeated

Burton Barr Burton Barr (1917–1997) was an American Army colonel, businessman and politician. He served as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 1964 to 1986, and as its Republican Majority Leader from 1966 to 1986. Biography E ...

for the Republican nomination, defeated the Democratic nominee and State Superintendent Carolyn Warner and independent candidate Bill Schulz. However, Mecham did not complete his full term, as he was impeached and removed from office in 1988. This was the first gubernatorial election in which

La Paz County La Paz County is the 15th county in the U.S. state of Arizona, located in the western part of the state. As of the 2020 census, its population was 16,557, making it the second-least populous county in Arizona. The county seat is Parker. Th ...

participated after separating from Yuma County in between this election and the one just before it.

Democratic primary

Candidates

*Tony Mason, candidate for U.S. House in 1976 *Dave Moss, candidate for Governor in 1978 and 1982 *

Carolyn Warner Carolyn Rexroat Warner (August 2, 1930 – October 9, 2018) was an American politician who served as the 15th Superintendent of Public Instruction for the state of Arizona, elected as a Democrat, from 1975 to 1987. Warner was the Democratic nomi ...

, Superintendent of Public Instruction

Declined

* Bill Schulz, businessman and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1980

Results

:''Source
OurCampaigns.com, AZ Governor - D Primary
'

Republican primary

Candidates

, House Majority Leader and State Representative from Phoenix *

, auto dealer and perennial candidate

Results

:''Source
OurCampaigns.com, AZ Governor - R Primary
'

General election

Results

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arizona Gubernatorial Election, 1986

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal ente ...

1986 United States gubernatorial elections

Gubernatorial A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political_regions, political region, ranking under the Head of State, head of state and in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of ...