1988 Montana gubernatorial election

1988 Montana gubernatorial election

← 1984 November 8, 1988 1992 →

Nominee Stan Stephens Thomas Lee Judge Party Republican Democratic Running mate Allen Kolstad Barbara B. Skelton Popular vote 190,604 169,313 Percentage 51.93% 46.13%

County results Stephens:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Judge:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Ted Schwinden Democratic Elected Governor Stan Stephens Republican

Elections in Montana
Federal government Presidential elections 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Presidential primaries Democratic 2004 2008 2016 2020 Republican 2008 2012 2016 2020 U. S. Senate elections 1890 1895 1899 1901 1905 1907 1911 1913 1916 1918 1922 1924 1928 1930 1934 1936 1940 1942 1946 1948 1952 1954 1958 1960 1964 1966 1970 1972 1976 1978 1982 1984 1988 1990 1994 1996 2000 2002 2006 2008 2012 2014 2018 2020 2024 2026 U. S. House elections 1889 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 Special elections Senate 1895 1901 1934 House 2nd 1945 2nd 1969 AL 2017
State government General elections 2010 2016 2020 Gubernatorial elections 1889 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Secretary of State elections 2020 Attorney General elections 2020 State Senate elections 2020 State House elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
Ballot measures 2004 Initiative 96 2012 Referendum 121 2016 Initiative 182 2020 Initiative 190
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The 1988 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Governor of Montana Ted Schwinden, who was first elected in 1980 and was re-elected in 1984, declined to seek re-election to a third term, creating an open seat. Stan Stephens, the former President of the Montana Senate, won a close Republican primary, and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Thomas Lee Judge, Schwinden's predecessor as governor and the Democratic nominee. Though the general election was hotly contested, Stephens ultimately defeated Judge, becoming the first Republican to win a gubernatorial election in Montana since 1964.^[1]

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Thomas Lee Judge, former Governor of Montana
• Frank B. Morrison, Jr., former Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice
• Mike Greely, Attorney General of Montana
• Ted Neuman, State Senator
• Martin J. "Red" Beckman
• Curly Thornton

Results[]

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Stan Stephens, former President of the Montana Senate
• Carl Winslow, State Representative
• Jim Waltermire, Montana Secretary of State

Campaign[]

Jim Waltermire, the Montana Secretary of State, was widely perceived to be the frontrunner in the primary, but, two months before the election, he was killed in a plane crash. Following his death, the race was narrowed down to Stan Stephens and Carl Winslow, though Waltermire remained on the ballot. Stephens earned the endorsement of much of the Republican establishment in the state, and campaigned on his experience in elected office and his success in the private sector. Winslow, meanwhile, campaigned on his youth and his ability to attract new businesses to the state.^[3]

Results[]

General election[]

Results[]

References[]