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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1986/Governor/Illinois
      1986·Governor·Illinois

      Illinois Governor

      Winner
      REP
      James R. Thompson
      52.7%1,655,849 votes
      Runner-up
      OTH
      Other
      40.7%1,279,299 votes
      Margin
      R+46.0
      3,143,978 total votes
      3 candidates3,143,978 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      James R. ThompsonREP✓
      		REP1,655,84952.7%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH1,279,29940.7%
      Mark FairchildDEM
      		DEM208,8306.6%

      Seat History

      Governor in Illinois

      2022
      J.B. PritzkerDEM
      D+12.5
      2018
      J.B. PritzkerDEM
      D+15.7
      2014
      Bruce RaunerREP
      R+3.9
      2010
      Pat QuinnDEM
      D+0.8
      2006
      Rod R BlagojevichDEM
      D+10.5
      2002
      Rod R BlagojevichDEM
      D+7.1
      1998
      George H. RyanREP
      R+3.6
      1994
      Jim EdgarREP
      R+29.4
      1990
      Jim EdgarREP
      R+2.6
      1982
      James R. ThompsonREP
      R+0.1
      1978
      James R. ThompsonREP
      R+18.9
      1976
      James R. ThompsonREP
      R+30.1
      1972
      Daniel WalkerDEM
      D+1.7
      1968
      Richard B. OgilvieREP
      R+2.8
      View all Governor history for Illinois →

      Candidates

      James R. ThompsonREP
      Record4W-0L
      Avg MarginR+23.8
      Career1976-1986
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Mark FairchildDEM
      Record0W-1L
      Avg MarginR+46.0
      Career1986-1986
      Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in Illinois, 1986

      US Senate1 contest →US House22 contests →
      ← All 1986 Governor races1986 overviewIllinois profileAll elections