1988 Utah gubernatorial election

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.

1988 Utah gubernatorial election

November 8, 1988

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

Declared

• Norman H. Bangerter, incumbent Governor[1]
• Dean Samuels, teacher[2]

Withdrawn

• Jon Huntsman Sr., industrialist and former White House Staff Secretary[3]

Results

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

Declared

• Ted Wilson, former Mayor of Salt Lake City
• David E. Hewett, physician[7]

Results

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

Declared

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

Results

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

Polling

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

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

Results

1988 Utah gubernatorial election[13][14][15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Norman H. Bangerter	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

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

Bibliography

• 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.