1984 Missouri gubernatorial election

The 1984 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984 and resulted in a victory for the Republican nominee, Missouri Attorney General John Ashcroft, over the Democratic candidate, Lt. Governor Ken Rothman, and Independent Bob Allen. Incumbent Republican Governor Kit Bond, who was elected to the Governorship in 1972, but lost re-election in 1976 before regaining the office in 1980, chose not to seek a third non-consecutive term.

1984 Missouri gubernatorial election

← 1980November 6, 19841988 →
 
NomineeJohn AshcroftKen Rothman
PartyRepublicanDemocratic
Popular vote1,194,506913,700
Percentage56.7%43.3%

County results

Ashcroft:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Rothman:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Kit Bond
Republican

Elected Governor

John Ashcroft
Republican

Incidentally, both Bond and Ashcroft would later serve in the United States Senate from 1995 until 2001.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1984 Republican gubernatorial primary[1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJohn Ashcroft 245,308 67.46%
RepublicanGene McNary115,51631.77%
RepublicanPaul Binggeli2,8140.77%
Total votes363,638 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Bob Buck
  • Mel Carnahan, State Treasurer
  • Norman L. Merrell, State Senator from Monticello
  • Don Pine
  • Lavoy Reed
  • Ken Rothman, Lieutenant Governor and former Speaker of the Missouri House
  • Roy Smith

Results

1984 Democratic gubernatorial primary[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticKen Rothman 288,543 56.05%
DemocraticMel Carnahan104,36820.27%
DemocraticNorman L. Merrell97,97319.03%
DemocraticLavoy Reed10,1441.97%
DemocraticBob Buck5,8391.13%
DemocraticRoy Smith5,1411.00%
DemocraticDon Pine2,8320.55%
Total votes514,840 100.00%

General election

Results

1984 gubernatorial election, Missouri[3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
RepublicanJohn Ashcroft 1,194,506 56.66 4.03
DemocraticKen Rothman913,70043.34 3.68
IndependentBob Allen40.00N/A
Majority280,80613.32+7.71
Turnout2,108,21042.88+0.41
Republican holdSwing

References