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/1986/Governor/Iowa
      1986·Governor·Iowa

      Iowa Governor

      Winner
      REP
      Terry Edward Branstad
      51.9%472,712 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Lowell Lee Junkins
      48.0%436,987 votes
      Margin
      R+3.9
      910,623 total votes
      3 candidates910,623 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Terry Edward BranstadREP✓
      		REP472,71251.9%
      Lowell Lee JunkinsDEM
      		DEM436,98748.0%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH9240.1%

      Seat History

      Governor in Iowa

      2022
      Kim ReynoldsREP
      R+18.5
      2018
      Kim ReynoldsREP
      R+2.7
      2014
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+21.7
      2010
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+9.6
      2006
      Chet CulverDEM
      D+9.7
      2002
      Tom VilsackDEM
      D+8.2
      1998
      Tom VilsackDEM
      D+5.8
      1994
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+15.2
      1990
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+21.8
      1982
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+6.3
      1978
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+17.3
      1974
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+17.1
      1972
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+18.2
      1970
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+4.4
      View all Governor history for Iowa →

      Candidates

      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      Record9W-0L
      Avg MarginR+19.4
      Career1972-2014
      Governor / State House
      Full profile →
      Lowell Lee JunkinsDEM
      Record4W-2L
      Avg MarginD+23.9
      Career1970-1986
      Governor / State Senate / State House
      Full profile →

      Also in Iowa, 1986

      US Senate1 contest →US House6 contests →
      ← All 1986 Governor races1986 overviewIowa profileAll elections