1996 United States gubernatorial elections

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 1996, in 11 states and two territories. Going into the elections, seven of the seats were held by Democrats and four by Republicans. Democrats picked up the open seat in New Hampshire, and Republicans picked up the open seat in West Virginia, for no net change in the partisan balance of power. These elections coincided with the presidential election.

1996 United States gubernatorial elections
November 5, 1996
13 governorships
11 states; 2 territories
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before 32[lower-alpha 1] 17
Seats after 32 17
Seat change Steady Steady
Seats up 4 7
Seats won 4 7
Map of the results
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     New Progressive hold      Nonpartisan
     No election

Election results

States
State Incumbent Party First
elected		 Result Candidates
Delaware Tom Carper Democratic 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
Indiana Evan Bayh Democratic 1988 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
Missouri Mel Carnahan Democratic 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
Montana Marc Racicot Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
New Hampshire Steve Merrill Republican 1992 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
North Carolina Jim Hunt Democratic 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
North Dakota Ed Schafer Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
Utah Mike Leavitt Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Mike Leavitt (Republican) 75.0%
  • Jim Bradley (Democratic) 23.3%
Vermont Howard Dean Democratic 1991[lower-alpha 2] Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Howard Dean (Democratic) 70.5%
  • John L. Gropper (Republican) 22.5%
  • Mary Alice Herbert (Liberty Union) 1.6%
  • Dennis Lane (Grassroots) 1.4%
  • Bill Brunelle (Natural Law) 1.3%
  • August St. John (Independent) 1.3%
  • Neil Randall (Libertarian) 1.2%
Washington Mike Lowry Democratic 1992 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
West Virginia Gaston Caperton Democratic 1988 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.

Territories
Territory Incumbent Party First
elected		 Result Candidates
American Samoa A. P. Lutali Democratic 1992 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.[1]
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Tauese Sunia (Democratic) 51.0%
  • L. Peter Reid (Independent) 49.0%
Puerto Rico Pedro Rosselló New Progressive 1992 Incumbent re-elected.

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

  1. American Samoa, 2.0%
  2. Indiana, 4.7%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. West Virginia, 5.8%
  2. Puerto Rico, 6.4%

See also

Notes
  1. Mike Huckabee (R) succeeded Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker (D) after the latter resigned due to convictions for one count of conspiracy and one count of mail fraud.
  2. Dean took office after his predecessor (Richard Snelling) died. He was subsequently elected in the 1992 Vermont gubernatorial election.

References
  1. "AS Governor Race - Dec 05, 1996". Our Campaigns. July 30, 2008.


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