The Florida gubernatorial election of 1986 took place alongside the midterm congressional elections. The Democratic Party won many victories across the country (including retaking United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

). However in Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

, where Democrats gained Senate seat from Republicans

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

, they lost the Governorship for the just second time since Reconstruction.

The primaries took place on September 2, the runoffs on September 30 and the general election on November 4

Candidates

• Harry A. Johnston, Florida State Senator
• Steve Pajcic
  Steve Pajcic
  Steve Pajcic was the Democratic nominee for governor of Florida in 1986. A former state legislator, Pajcic now practices law in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.-Upbringing and education:...
  
  , Florida State Representative
• James C. Smith
  James C. Smith
  James Cloudis Smith is an American lawyer. He served as Florida Attorney General, Florida Secretary of State, and is current the Chairman of the Florida State University Board of Trustees.-Early years:Smith received his B.S...
  
  , Attorney General of Florida
• Many Kane Goldstein
• Joan Woolin

Candidates

• Bob Martinez
  Bob Martinez
  Robert Martinez was the 40th Governor of Florida from 1987 to 1991. Prior to that, he was the mayor of Tampa from 1979 to 1986.- Education and early career :...
  
  , Mayor of Tampa
  Tâmpa
  Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
  
  
• Louis Frey, U.S. Congressman
• Tom Gallagher
  Tom Gallagher
  Tom Gallagher is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida and a member of the Republican Party. Gallagher, a three-time candidate for Governor of Florida, holds the distinction of having served more years as an elected state official than any other individual in Florida history.-Early...
  
  , Florida State Representative
• Chester Clem, Florida State Representative

General election