1986 Tennessee gubernatorial election

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The 1986 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Democratic candidate Ned McWherter defeated Republican former governor Winfield Dunn, winning 656,602 votes (54.26%) to 553,449 votes (45.74%). McWherter’s victory returned the governor’s office to the Democrats and also left the state legislature in Democratic control.

Before the election, the sitting governor was Republican Lamar Alexander. Dunn had previously served as Tennessee’s governor from 1971 to 1975, when the constitution barred consecutive terms. He ran again in 1986 and won the Republican primary against Hubert Patty and Charles Vick, but his campaign faced setbacks. Dunn vetoed a bill to create a medical school at East Tennessee State University during his first term, and although the legislature overrode the veto, he angered powerful East Tennessee congressman Jimmy Quillen, who withhold his endorsement in 1986. That hurt Dunn in East Tennessee, contributing to his defeat.

Primary elections were held on August 7, 1986.