1982 Michigan gubernatorial election

The 1982 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Governor William Milliken decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth full term as governor. The primary elections occurred on August 10, 1982. Businessman Richard Headlee narrowly defeated incumbent lieutenant governor James Brickley in a four way race on the Republican side. Congressman James Blanchard defeated Michigan Senate Majority Leader William B. Fitzgerald Jr. by a wide margin a fractured seven way race. Blanchard won the general election by a relatively comfortable 6.31% margin. Blanchard became the first Democrat to win the governor’s mansion in Michigan in 22 years.[1]

1982 Michigan gubernatorial election

← 1978 November 2, 1982 1986 →
 
Nominee James Blanchard Richard Headlee
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,561,291 1,369,582
Percentage 51.4% 45.1%

County results
Blanchard:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Headlee:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

William Milliken
Republican

Elected Governor

James Blanchard
Democratic

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1982 Michigan gubernatorial Republican primary election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Headlee 220,378 34.36
Republican James H. Brickley 194,429 30.31
Republican L. Brooks Patterson 180,065 28.07
Republican Jack Welborn 46,505 7.25
Republican Write-ins 42 0.01
Total votes 641,419 100.00

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • James Blanchard, U.S. Representative from Pleasant Ridge
  • Zolton Ferency, Ingham County Commissioner, law professor, and nominee for governor in 1966
  • William B. Fitzgerald Jr., Michigan Senate Majority Leader and nominee for governor in 1978
  • Kerry Kammer
  • Edward H. Pierce
  • David A. Plaweki
  • John Safran

Results

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1982 Michigan gubernatorial Democratic primary election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Blanchard 406,941 50.23
Democratic William B. Fitzgerald Jr. 138,453 17.09
Democratic David A. Plaweki 95,805 11.82
Democratic Zolton Ferency 85,088 10.50
Democratic Edward H. Pierce 44,894 5.54
Democratic Kerry Kammer 32,221 3.98
Democratic John Safran 6,782 0.84
Democratic Write-ins 60 0.01
Total votes 810,244 100.00

General election

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Results

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1982 Michigan gubernatorial election[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Blanchard 1,561,291 51.36
Republican Richard Headlee 1,369,582 45.05
Tisch Independent Citizens Robert Tisch 80,288 2.64
Libertarian Dick Jacobs 15,603 0.51
American Independent James Phillips 7,356 0.24
Socialist Workers Tim Craine 3,682 0.12
Workers League Martin P. McLaughlin 1,980 0.07
Write-ins 226 0.01
Majority 191,709
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ a b c Michigan (1985). Michigan manual. 1983/1984 – via HathiTrust.
  2. ^ Parker, Randy (June 6, 2010). "Our Campaigns: MI Governor". Our Campaigns.
  3. ^ Dave Leip. "1982 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Michigan". Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas.