1984 Indiana gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1984 Indiana gubernatorial election
Country:Indiana
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1980 Indiana gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1980
Next Election:1988 Indiana gubernatorial election
Next Year:1988
Image1:File:Robert D. Orr 1976 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:Robert D. Orr
Running Mate1:John Mutz
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,146,497
Percentage1:52.2%
Nominee2:Wayne Townsend
Running Mate2:Ann DeLaney
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,036,922
Percentage2:47.2%
Map Size:250px
Governor
Before Election:Robert D. Orr
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Robert D. Orr
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 1984 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1984, in all 92 counties of Indiana. Robert D. Orr, the state's incumbent Republican governor, who defeated former State Treasurer John Snyder for the nomination, was comfortably reelected to a second term, defeating State Senator Wayne Townsend and two minor party challengers in the general election.[1] His victory marked the fifth consecutive victory for the Republican Party in Indiana gubernatorial elections, and the last time Republicans would win the governorship in the 20th century.

Despite losing the election, Townsend, who defeated former United States Attorney Virginia Dill McCarty for the nomination, received 195,351 more votes than the Democratic nominee for president, Walter Mondale, who won less than 38% of the vote in Indiana and was handily defeated by Ronald Reagan in the presidential election of 1984.[2] Townsend's running mate, former Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Ann DeLaney, was the first woman ever to run for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana in the history of the state.[3] [4]

, this was the most recent Indiana gubernatorial election in which both major party candidates are now deceased.

Notes and References

  1. News: The 1984 Elections: More Than the Presidency at Stake; G.o.p. Gains Marginal in Governors' Contests. John. Herbers. November 7, 1984. NYTimes.com.
  2. Web site: 1984 Presidential General Election Results - Indiana.
  3. Web site: 1984 Indiana governor candidate Wayne Townsend dies . 2016-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160916090414/http://archive.courierpress.com/news/state/1984-indiana-governor-candidate-wayne-townsend-dies-ep-1171751537-325469171.html . 2016-09-16 . dead .
  4. Web site: LEADING QUESTIONS: Pugnacious DeLaney seeks simpler life. Mason. King. Indianapolis Business Journal.