1996 Utah gubernatorial election

The 1996 Utah gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1996. Republican nominee and incumbent Governor Michael Leavitt won the election.

1996 Utah gubernatorial election

← 1992 November 5, 1996 2000 →
 
Nominee Mike Leavitt Jim Bradley
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Olene Walker Shari Holweg
Popular vote 503,693 156,616
Percentage 74.97% 23.31%

County results
Leavitt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election

Mike Leavitt
Republican

Elected Governor

Mike Leavitt
Republican

Democrat E. James Bradley, who had been elected as a Salt Lake County Commissioner in 1990 and lost re-election in 1994, announced his candidacy on March 18, 1996, the last day for candidates to file. If he had not run, it was likely the Democratic party would not have had a candidate on the ballot.[1] In a poll released in early April 1996, Bradley trailed Leavitt by 63 points.[2] Leavitt, with high popularity ratings as the incumbent Governor, maintained a formidable lead in subsequent polls as well.[3]

Leavitt and Bradley participated in a televised debate on October 26, 1996, at Brigham Young University.[4] Winning by the greatest margin in the state's history, Leavitt won every county.[5][6] Leavitt outspent Bradley four times over in his campaign, and raised over $650,000.[7]

Minor additional candidates in this election included Independent Party candidate Dub Richards, Natural Law Party candidate Robert Lesh, and Ken Larsen of the Independent American Party.[8]

Results

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1996 Utah gubernatorial election[9][10][11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Leavitt (incumbent) 503,693 74.97
Democratic Jim Bradley 156,616 23.31
Independent American Kenneth R. Larsen 4,741 0.71
Independent L. W. "Dub" Richards 3,845 0.57
Natural Law Robert C. Lesh 2,969 0.44
Write-in Linda Metzger-Agin 15 0.00
Majority 347,077 51.66
Turnout 671,879
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ Bernick, Bob, Jr. (19 March 1996). Demos Get Bradley To Step Forward, The Deseret News
  2. ^ Bernick, Bob, Jr. (9 April 1996). Jim who? Bradley trailing Leavitt, The Deseret News
  3. ^ (17 July 1996). Dole, Leavitt and Graham Lead in Utah, The Deseret News
  4. ^ "Utah Gubernatorial Debate - C-SPAN Video Library". C-SPAN. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  5. ^ "1996 Gubernatorial General Election Data Graphs - Utah". Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  6. ^ "Leavitt Hints at 3rd Term After Record-Breaking Win". The Deseret News. November 6, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  7. ^ Rolly, Paul (November 3, 1996). "Leavitt Easily Wins Money-Raising and Spending Title". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  8. ^ (3 November 1996). Candidates Governor/Lt. Governor, The Deseret News
  9. ^ Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. p. 82. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
  10. ^ "UT Governor, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  11. ^ "Official Results: State of Utah General Election November 5, 1996" (PDF). vote.utah.gov. State of Utah. p. 3. Retrieved July 12, 2021.