Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1982/Governor/Pennsylvania
      1982·Governor·Pennsylvania

      Pennsylvania Governor

      Winner
      REP
      Richard Thornburgh
      50.8%1,872,784 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Allen E Ertel
      48.1%1,772,353 votes
      Margin
      R+2.7
      3,683,985 total votes
      3 candidates3,683,985 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Richard ThornburghREP✓
      		REP1,872,78450.8%
      Allen E ErtelDEM
      		DEM1,772,35348.1%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH38,8481.1%

      Seat History

      Governor in Pennsylvania

      2022
      Josh ShapiroDEM
      D+14.8
      2018
      Thomas W. WolfDEM
      D+17.1
      2014
      Thomas W. WolfDEM
      D+9.9
      2010
      Tom CorbettREP
      R+9.0
      2006
      Edward G. RendellDEM
      D+20.7
      2002
      Edward G. RendellDEM
      D+9.0
      1998
      Thomas J RidgeREP
      R+26.4
      1994
      Thomas J RidgeREP
      R+5.4
      1990
      Robert CaseyDEM
      D+35.3
      1986
      Robert CaseyDEM
      D+2.3
      1978
      Richard ThornburghREP
      R+6.1
      1974
      Milton J. ShappDEM
      D+8.6
      1970
      Milton J. ShappDEM
      D+13.5
      1966
      Raymond P. ShaferREP
      R+6.0
      View all Governor history for Pennsylvania →

      Candidates

      Richard ThornburghREP
      Record2W-1L
      Avg MarginD+0.4
      Career1978-1991
      US Senate / Governor
      Full profile →
      Allen E ErtelDEM
      Record3W-1L
      Avg MarginR+2.7
      Career1976-1982
      Governor / US House
      Full profile →

      Also in Pennsylvania, 1982

      US Senate1 contest →US House23 contests →
      ← All 1982 Governor races1982 overviewPennsylvania profileAll elections