Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1986
Encyclopedia
The 1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Michael Dukakis
was elected Governor of Massachusetts
for a third term. He beat Republican
George Kariotis
by a 69-31% margin.
on January 12, 1986. At the time he entered the race, no one Republican had announced their candidacy for Governor.
Former Democratic Governor Edward J. King
, now a member of the Republican party, declined to face Dukakis in a third consecutive election, citing personal and business reasons.
On March 13, lawyer and political activist Greg Hyatt
became the first Republican to enter the gubernatorial race. A self-described "populist conservative", Hyatt supported limiting state taxes, bringing back the death penalty, and competency testing and merit pay for teachers. He opposed the state law that made wearing a seat belt mandatory, the use of roadblocks to crack down on drunken driving, and the use of public funds for abortions.
Shortly before the Republican convention, Boston attorney and former Metropolitan District Commissioner
Guy Carbone
entered the race.
The convention nomination was won by Royall H. Switzler
, a state representative who had been drafted
by anti-Hyatt Republicans after former Congressman Paul W. Cronin
decided not to enter the race. After a strong showing on the first ballot (891 votes for Hyatt, 775 votes for Switzler, 258 votes for Carbone), some of Hyatt's major supporters, including Ray Shamie
and Papa Gino's
founder Michael Valerio, announced that they would not oppose Switzler's nomination. On the second ballot, Switzler won the nomination with 975 votes to Hyatt's 876 and Carbone's 60. Despite losing the nomination, Hyatt chose to stay in the race and run against Switzler in the Republican primary.
Switzler dropped out of the race in June after inaccuracies about his military record were revealed. He had falsely claimed to be a member of the United States Army Special Forces and stated that he had fought in Vietnam when he had only visited Vietnam on leave from noncombat duty in Korea.
Hyatt dropped out of the race on July 14 amid accusations of forging names on his nomination papers, having ties to organized crime, and erratic personal behavior which included working nude in his office.
Businessman and former Secretary of Economic Affairs George Kariotis entered the race after both candidates dropped out. Because the filing deadline for the election was on March 1, Hyatt and Switzler remained on the ballot while Kariotis was forced to run a write in campaign. Hyatt won the election, but he and Switzler, who finished second, declined the nomination and Kariotis was declared the nominee.
John Kerry
, the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor in 1982, did not run for reelection as he had been elected to the United States Senate in 1984. Former Environmental Affairs Secretary Evelyn Murphy
and State Senator Gerald D'Amico ran for the Democratic nomination.
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
was elected Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
for a third term. He beat Republican
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...
George Kariotis
George Kariotis
George S. Kariotis is a businessman who was the Republican Party nominee for Governor of Massachusetts in 1986.Kariotis is the son of Greek immigrants. He graduated from Northeastern University in 1940, and then served in the United States Navy during World War II. In 1962, he founded Alpha...
by a 69-31% margin.
Republicans
Nicholas M. Nikitas, a hotel operator, real estate developer, and Republican Party activist, declared his candidacy for Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
on January 12, 1986. At the time he entered the race, no one Republican had announced their candidacy for Governor.
Former Democratic Governor Edward J. King
Edward J. King
Edward Joseph "Ed" King was the 66th Governor of the U.S. state of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983.Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Boston College and Bentley College, King played professional football as a guard with the All-America Football Conference Buffalo Bisons from 1948 to...
, now a member of the Republican party, declined to face Dukakis in a third consecutive election, citing personal and business reasons.
On March 13, lawyer and political activist Greg Hyatt
Greg Hyatt
Gregory S. "Greg" Hyatt is an American political activist, attorney, and politician. He was a candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in 1986, but dropped out of the race due to allegations of forging names on his nomination papers, having ties to organized crime, and erratic personal...
became the first Republican to enter the gubernatorial race. A self-described "populist conservative", Hyatt supported limiting state taxes, bringing back the death penalty, and competency testing and merit pay for teachers. He opposed the state law that made wearing a seat belt mandatory, the use of roadblocks to crack down on drunken driving, and the use of public funds for abortions.
Shortly before the Republican convention, Boston attorney and former Metropolitan District Commissioner
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
Guy Carbone
Guy Carbone
Guy A. Carbone is an American attorney and Perennial candidate in Massachusetts who was Metropolitan District Commissioner from 1979–1980.-Electoral history:-Other races:...
entered the race.
The convention nomination was won by Royall H. Switzler
Royall H. Switzler
Royall H. Switzler is an American politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1977 to 1986...
, a state representative who had been drafted
Draft (politics)
In elections in the United States, political drafts are used to encourage or pressure a certain person to enter a political race, by demonstrating a significant groundswell of support for the candidate. A write-in campaign may also be considered a draft campaign.-The movement to draft Dwight D....
by anti-Hyatt Republicans after former Congressman Paul W. Cronin
Paul W. Cronin
Paul William Cronin was a one-term congressman of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts.Cronin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 14, 1938 and graduated from Boston University in 1962 and the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1969...
decided not to enter the race. After a strong showing on the first ballot (891 votes for Hyatt, 775 votes for Switzler, 258 votes for Carbone), some of Hyatt's major supporters, including Ray Shamie
Ray Shamie
Raymond Shamie was an American politician from the state of Massachusetts. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was twice a Massachusetts Republican nominee for the United States Senate, and served as the chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party from 1987 to 1991.In 1982, Shamie, a millionaire...
and Papa Gino's
Papa Gino's
Papa Gino's is a restaurant chain based in Dedham, Massachusetts specializing in American-style pizza along with pasta, subs, salads, and a variety of appetizers...
founder Michael Valerio, announced that they would not oppose Switzler's nomination. On the second ballot, Switzler won the nomination with 975 votes to Hyatt's 876 and Carbone's 60. Despite losing the nomination, Hyatt chose to stay in the race and run against Switzler in the Republican primary.
Switzler dropped out of the race in June after inaccuracies about his military record were revealed. He had falsely claimed to be a member of the United States Army Special Forces and stated that he had fought in Vietnam when he had only visited Vietnam on leave from noncombat duty in Korea.
Hyatt dropped out of the race on July 14 amid accusations of forging names on his nomination papers, having ties to organized crime, and erratic personal behavior which included working nude in his office.
Businessman and former Secretary of Economic Affairs George Kariotis entered the race after both candidates dropped out. Because the filing deadline for the election was on March 1, Hyatt and Switzler remained on the ballot while Kariotis was forced to run a write in campaign. Hyatt won the election, but he and Switzler, who finished second, declined the nomination and Kariotis was declared the nominee.
Democrats
Michael Dukakis ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor in 1982, did not run for reelection as he had been elected to the United States Senate in 1984. Former Environmental Affairs Secretary Evelyn Murphy
Evelyn Murphy
Evelyn Murphy was the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1991, being the first woman in the history of the state to hold a constitutional office...
and State Senator Gerald D'Amico ran for the Democratic nomination.