1986 California gubernatorial election


The 1986 California gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican George Deukmejian won easily in this rematch over the Democratic challenger, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. This was the largest gubernatorial victory since Earl Warren in 1950.

General Election Results

Results by county

Deukmejian is the last Republican gubernatorial nominee to win Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz Counties.
CountyDeukmejianVotesBradleyVotesOthersVotes
Glenn80.45%5,72817.50%1,2462.05%146
Colusa79.49%3,72918.80%8821.71%80
Sutter78.67%12,61618.37%2,9462.96%474
Calaveras74.77%8,22123.02%2,5312.21%243
Modoc74.69%2,64122.91%8102.40%85
Amador74.43%7,35723.46%2,3192.11%209
El Dorado73.57%26,06824.29%8,6052.14%760
Placer73.31%37,28824.66%12,5422.03%1,034
Nevada73.12%20,59924.59%6,9282.29%644
Yuba72.37%8,59425.11%2,9822.52%299
Orange71.89%468,09226.54%172,7821.57%10,222
Inyo71.79%4,86225.88%1,7532.33%158
Tulare71.72%44,33526.35%16,2871.94%1,197
San Joaquin71.32%76,29726.94%28,8171.75%1,868
Tuolumne71.29%11,12127.16%4,2371.54%241
Tehama71.10%10,46326.72%3,9322.18%321
Stanislaus71.05%53,50527.20%20,4811.75%1,315
Shasta71.01%29,44726.89%11,1492.11%873
Butte70.81%40,54627.10%15,5182.09%1,194
Mono70.66%1,84727.62%7221.72%45
Madera70.55%12,93927.00%4,9512.45%449
Mariposa70.06%3,84427.57%1,5132.37%130
Kings69.07%12,25629.33%5,2051.59%283
Lassen68.96%5,15427.66%2,0673.39%253
Merced68.86%21,42629.26%9,1051.88%584
Kern68.23%86,54729.93%37,9731.84%2,333
Plumas68.19%4,82729.61%2,0962.20%156
Napa68.14%26,44529.52%11,4562.34%908
Sacramento68.05%207,08630.12%91,6601.83%5,580
Siskiyou67.95%10,51529.62%4,5842.42%375
Lake67.42%10,99430.07%4,9042.50%408
Ventura67.20%118,64031.09%54,8931.71%3,024
San Luis Obispo67.12%41,89330.89%19,2811.99%1,245
Sierra66.98%1,05330.15%4742.86%45
Trinity66.48%3,72029.68%1,6613.84%215
San Benito66.42%5,28431.68%2,5201.90%151
Fresno66.28%96,95932.17%47,0711.55%2,268
Del Norte65.80%4,21331.64%2,0262.56%164
San Diego65.17%381,09431.53%184,3953.30%19,285
Riverside65.10%155,31833.06%78,8911.84%4,389
Alpine64.22%28029.36%1286.42%28
San Bernardino63.76%166,48334.31%89,5841.93%5,032
Solano63.51%47,39634.01%25,3822.47%1,846
Contra Costa63.31%159,10534.67%87,1172.02%5,086
Monterey63.30%46,19534.81%25,4081.89%1,379
Santa Barbara62.84%67,85235.23%38,0461.93%2,083
San Mateo61.84%121,91036.18%71,3291.98%3,906
Imperial61.19%11,47936.86%6,9151.95%365
Yolo60.79%26,15436.97%15,9062.24%963
Santa Clara59.87%227,28537.64%142,9072.49%9,464
Sonoma59.43%75,00337.92%47,8592.65%3,348
Marin56.47%51,69341.17%37,6862.36%2,161
Mendocino55.96%13,71041.04%10,0543.00%735
Humboldt54.58%22,53442.65%17,6082.78%1,147
Los Angeles52.96%1,090,13845.21%930,5761.82%37,534
Santa Cruz50.54%37,52546.91%34,8312.54%1,888
Alameda47.79%174,55549.68%181,4452.53%9,227
San Francisco37.42%83,74160.20%134,7382.38%5,325