1986 Massachusetts general election

A Massachusetts general election was held on November 4, 1986 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The election included:

• statewide elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, Secretary of the Commonwealth, treasurer, and auditor;
• district elections for U.S. Representatives, State Representatives, State Senators, and Governor's Councillors; and
• ballot questions at the state and local levels.

Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 16, 1986.

Statewide elections

Governor & Lieutenant Governor

Democrats Michael Dukakis and Evelyn Murphy were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, over Republican candidates George Kariotis and Nicholas Nikitas. Dukakis' victory made him the longest-serving governor in the history of Massachusetts.

Attorney General

Democrat James Shannon was elected attorney general. He defeated former assistant attorney general Joann Shotwell in the Democratic primary and US Attorney Edward Francis Harrington in the general election.

Massachusetts Attorney Democratic Primary, 1986 [1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James Shannon	402,744	68.12%
	Democratic	Joann Shotwell	188,404	31.87%
	Write-in		41	0.01%

Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 1986 [2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James Shannon	900,088	54.65%
	Republican	Edward Francis Harrington	746,791	45.34%
	Write-in		136	0.01%

Secretary of the Commonwealth

Incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth Michael J. Connolly defeated former State Representative Deborah R. Cochran in the general election.

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1986 [3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Michael J. Connolly	1,091,441	68.01%
	Republican	Deborah R. Cochran	513,455	31.99%
	Write-in		57	0.00%

Treasurer and Receiver-General

Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane defeated Republican L. Joyce Hampers in the general election.

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1986 [4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert Q. Crane	931,704	57.31%
	Republican	L. Joyce Hampers	693,750	41.67%
	Write-in		403	0.03%

Auditor

Incumbent Auditor John J. Finnegan did not run for reelection. Democrat A. Joseph DeNucci defeated Boston City Councilors Maura Hennigan and Charles Yancey in the Democratic primary and House Minority Leader William G. Robinson in the general election.

Massachusetts Auditor Democratic Primary, 1986 [5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	A. Joseph DeNucci	307,272	54.02%
	Democratic	Maura Hennigan	197,113	34.66%
	Democratic	Charles Yancey	64,300	11.31%
	Write-in		83	0.00%

Massachusetts Auditor Republican Primary, 1986 [6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William G. Robinson	42,794	54.53%
	Republican	Andrew Natsios	35,632	45.40%
	Write-in		51	0.07%

Massachusetts Auditor General Election, 1986 [7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	A. Joseph DeNucci	1,001,236	63.19%
	Republican	William G. Robinson	583,299	36.81%
	Write-in		82	0.01%

Ballot questions

Question 1

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the legislature to prohibit or regulate abortions to the extent permitted by the United States Constitution. It would also provide that the state constitution does not require public or private funding of abortions, or the provision of services of facilities for performing abortions, beyond what is required by the United States Constitution. The provisions of this amendment would not apply to abortions required to prevent the death of the mother.[8]

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution [9]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Yes	689,908	41.83%
✓	No	959,311	58.17%

Question 2

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution - The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the expenditure of public funds for private schools and private school students.[10]

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution [11]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Yes	502,170	30.32%
✓	No	1,154,069	69.68%

Question 3

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would reduced then repeal the 7​¹⁄₂% surtax on Massachusetts state income taxes and would limit state tax revenue growth to the level of growth in the total wages and salaries of the citizens of the state.[12]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [13]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
✓	Yes	863,130	54.35%
	No	724,925	45.65%

Question 4

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would require that the State Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE) to search for sites in the Commonwealth where oil or hazardous materials have been disposed of and take all steps necessary to clean up those sites within specified time limits. Provisions are made for informing the public about sites in their communities. [14]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [15]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
✓	Yes	1,174,676	74.38%
	No	404,521	25.62%

Question 5

Referendum on an Existing Law - The law requires all drivers and passengers to wear properly adjusted and fastened safety belts while traveling in motor vehicles on public ways.[16]

Referendum on an Existing Law [17]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Yes	769,806	46.31%
✓	No	892,580	53.69%

Question 6

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law would provide a system of voter registration by mail applicable to all qualified voters and would eliminate statutory provisions permitting certain persons to vote only for presidential electors.[18]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [19]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Yes	603,370	38.44%
✓	No	966,229	61.56%

References

1. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
2. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=557211
3. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=558102
4. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=558103
5. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
6. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
7. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=558104
8. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
9. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
10. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
11. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
12. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
13. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
14. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
15. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
16. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
17. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
18. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.
19. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1986.

External links

• "Nov 4, 1986 general election", PD43+ Massachusetts Election Statistics, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts