| Election Name: | 1986 Alaska gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Alaska |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1982 Alaska gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1982 |
| Election Date: | November 6, 1986 |
| Next Election: | 1990 Alaska gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
| Image1: | File:Steve Cowper 1977.jpg |
| Image Upright: | 0.6 |
| Nominee1: | Steve Cowper |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Steve McAlpine |
| Popular Vote1: | 84,943 |
| Percentage1: | 47.31% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Bill Sheffield |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Steve Cowper |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Nominee2: | Arliss Sturgulewski |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate2: | Terry Miller |
| Popular Vote2: | 76,515 |
| Percentage2: | 42.61% |
| Image3: | File:Joe Vogler (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee3: | Joe Vogler |
| Party3: | Alaskan Independence Party |
| Running Mate3: | Al Rowe |
| Popular Vote3: | 10,013 |
| Percentage3: | 5.58% |
| Map Size: | 325px |
The 1986 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986, for the post of Governor of Alaska. Incumbent Governor Bill Sheffield, a Democrat who was seeking re-election, was defeated by Steve Cowper in the Democratic primary election on August 26, 1986.[1] [2]
In the general election, Democratic state Representative Steve Cowper defeated Republican candidate Arliss Sturgulewski and Alaska Independence candidate Joe Vogler. Sturgulewski had defeated former governor Wally Hickel, former Libertarian nominee Dick Randolph, former State House Speaker Joe L. Hayes, and former Alaskan Independence nominee Don Wright for the Republican nomination.