1982 Iowa gubernatorial election

The 1982 Iowa gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Republican nominee Terry Branstad defeated Democratic nominee Roxanne Conlin with 52.81% of the vote.

1982 Iowa gubernatorial election

November 2, 1982

Nominee Terry Branstad Roxanne Conlin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 548,313 483,291 Percentage 52.8% 46.5%

County results Branstad:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Conlin:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election Robert D. Ray Republican Elected Governor Terry Branstad Republican

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 8, 1982.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Roxanne Conlin, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa
• Jerome D. Fitzgerald, former State Representative and nominee for Governor in 1978
• Edward Campbell, former state Democratic Party chairman

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roxanne Conlin	94,481	48.19
	Democratic	Jerome D. Fitzgerald	61,340	31.28
	Democratic	Edward Campbell	40,233	20.52
	Democratic	Write-ins	17	0.01
Total votes			196,071	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Terry Branstad, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Terry Branstad	128,314	99.91
	Republican	Write-ins	120	0.09
Total votes			128,434	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Terry Branstad, Republican
• Roxanne Conlin, Democratic

Other candidates

• Marcia Farrington, Libertarian
• Jim Bittner, Socialist

Results

1982 Iowa gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Terry Branstad	548,313	52.81%	−5.51%
	Democratic	Roxanne Conlin	483,291	46.55%	+5.57%
	Libertarian	Marcia Farrington	3,307	0.32%	−0.15%
	Socialist	Jim Bittner	2,767	0.27%	+0.04%
	Write-ins		551	0.05%
Majority			65,022	6.26%
Turnout			1,038,229
	Republican hold		Swing