1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election
The 1986 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Popular three-term Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler announced that he would not seek a fourth term, creating an open seat. Attorney Mike Sullivan emerged as the unlikely Democratic nominee, and faced former state representative Pete Simpson, the Republican nominee and the brother of then-U.S. senator Alan K. Simpson, in the general election. Despite Sullivan's political inexperience, he was able to defeat Simpson by a decisive margin, winning his first of two terms in office.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Mike Sullivan, attorney
- Pat McGuire, rancher
- Keith Goodenough, forester
- Al Hamburg, perennial candidate
Republican primary
Candidates
- Pete Simpson, former State Representative
- Bill Budd, former state representative
- Fred Schroeder, former chairman of the Republican Party of Wyoming
- Russ Donley, former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives
- David R. Nicholas, state senator
- John R. Johnson, dentist
- Jim L. Bace, computer programmer, 1982 Republican candidate for governor