1986 Alaska gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1986 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1986 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986, for the post of Governor of Alaska. Incumbent Governor Bill Sheffield, a Democrat who was seeking re-election, was defeated by Steve Cowper in the Democratic primary election on August 26, 1986.^[1][2]

1986 Alaska gubernatorial election

← 1982 November 6, 1986 1990 →

Nominee Steve Cowper Arliss Sturgulewski Joe Vogler Party Democratic Republican Independence Running mate Steve McAlpine Terry Miller Al Rowe Popular vote 84,943 76,515 10,013 Percentage 47.31% 42.61% 5.58%

Results by state house district Cowper:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Sturgulewski:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election Bill Sheffield Democratic Elected Governor Steve Cowper Democratic

In the general election, Democratic state Representative Steve Cowper defeated Republican candidate Arliss Sturgulewski and Alaska Independence candidate Joe Vogler. Sturgulewski had defeated former governor Wally Hickel, former Libertarian nominee Dick Randolph, former State House Speaker Joe L. Hayes, and former Alaskan Independence nominee Don Wright for the Republican nomination.

Results

1986 Alaska gubernatorial election^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Steve Cowper	84,943	47.31%	+1.19%
	Republican	Arliss Sturgulewski	76,515	42.61%	+5.52%
	Independence	Joe Vogler	10,013	5.58%	+3.92%
	Libertarian	Mary Jane O'Brannon	1,050	0.58%	−14.33%
	Write-in votes		7,034	3.92%	+3.73%
Majority			8,428	4.70%
Turnout			179,555
	Democratic hold		Swing