1996 Missouri gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1996 United States gubernatorial elections.

1996 Missouri gubernatorial election

November 5, 1996

Nominee Mel Carnahan Margaret B. Kelly Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,224,801 866,268 Percentage 57.17% 40.43%

County results Carnahan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Kelly:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Mel Carnahan Democratic Elected Governor Mel Carnahan Democratic

The 1996 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1996, and resulted in a victory for the Democratic nominee, incumbent Governor Mel Carnahan, over the Republican candidate, State Auditor Margaret B. Kelly, and Libertarian J. Mark Oglesby.

Governor Carnahan died in a plane crash on October 16, 2000, near the end of this term, and was replaced by Lt. Governor Roger B. Wilson.

Primary results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mel Carnahan (incumbent)	347,488	81.70%
	Democratic	Ruth Redel	33,452	7.87%
	Democratic	Edwin W. Howald	29,890	7.03%
	Democratic	Nicholas Clement	14,490	3.40%
Total votes			425,320	100.0%

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Margaret B. Kelly	219,435	77.73%
	Republican	John M. Swenson	29,675	10.51%
	Republican	David Andrew Brown	18,755	6.64%
	Republican	Lester W. Duggan Jr.	14,448	5.12%
Total votes			282,313	100.0%

Results

1996 gubernatorial election, Missouri

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mel Carnahan (incumbent)	1,224,801	57.17	−1.51
	Republican	Margaret B. Kelly	866,268	40.43	−0.89
	Libertarian	J. Mark Oglesby	51,432	2.40	+2.40
	N/A	V. Marvalene Pankey (write-in)	10	0.00
	N/A	Jock Peacock (write-in)	7	0.00
Majority			358,533	16.73	−0.63
Turnout			2,142,518	41.87	−3.94
	Democratic hold		Swing