CALIFORNIA
     Nov. 4, 1986 Governor

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+George Deukmejian (R) i 4,505,601
60.54%
Tom Bradley (D)
2,781,714
37.38%
Joseph Fuhrig (L)
52,628
0.71%
M. Elizabeth Muñoz (P&F) 51,995
0.70%
Gary V. Miller (AIP)
50,547
0.68%

7,442,485

Plurality: 1,723,887 votes (23.16 percentage points).



Notes: 
Gov. George Deukmejian (R) won re-election by a wide margin, defeating Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley in a re-match of the 1982 campaign.  In that race Deukmejian eked out a win by less than 100,000 votes (1.19 percentage points), but in 1986, as the incumbent and benefiting from a significant fundraising advantage, he appeared to lead from start to finish.

Among the issues Deukmejian emphasized was his success in eliminating the budget deficit inherited from the Jerry Brown administration.  The question of whether to remove Rose Bird, chief justice of the California Supreme Court and two other justices, all appointed by Brown, was a significant issue in the campaign.  Californians voted overwhelmingly against retaining the three.  Meanwhile, Bradley sought to make a issue of toxic polluters supporting Deukmejian (>). 
The race took on a negative tone, and there were no debates.  
 

Bradley tallied one million fewer votes than he had obtained in his 1982 run.  Deukmejian carried all counties except San Francisco and Alameda. 
Bradley did carry the City of Los Angeles, but fared poorly in the San Fernando Valley, and lost overall in L.A. County by 7.7 percentage points. 


Campaign Managers:
George Deukmejian:  Larry Thomas
Press secretary to Gov. Deukmejian from 1982.  Advisor to San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson.  Journalist, including political writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune; started out at United Press International.  Bachelor's degree in journalism from San Diego State University.  From San Diego.

Tom Bradley:  Tom Quinn
Chairman of City News Service, 1980-85.  Chairman of the California Air Resources Board, and secretary for environmental affairs in the Brown administration, 1975-79.  Campaign manager on Jerry Brown's 1974 run for governor.  Deputy Secretary of State of California for three years after serving as campaign manager on Jerry Brown's successful run for Secretary of State in 1970.  Day editor at City News Service, 1968-70.  Started as a reporter and producer at KXTV in Sacramento.  B.S. from Northwestern University, 1965.  From Los Angeles.



See also:
Richard Simon.  "Bradley Handed Only L.A.-Area Defeat in Valley."  Los Angeles Times, Nov. 6, 1986.

Robert Lindsey.  "California's Hostile Race for Governor."  The New York Times, Oct. 31, 1986.

Jay Mathews.  "With Months to Go, California Candidates Come Out Fighting via Radio."  The Washington Post, May 28, 1986.








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