1986 Indiana Secretary of State election
November 4, 1986
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County results Bayh: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Bowen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | ||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Indiana |
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The 1986 Indiana secretary of state election was held on November 4, 1986, to elect the secretary of state of Indiana. Republican incumbent Edwin Simcox did not seek a third term. Democratic attorney Evan Bayh defeated Republican attorney Robert O. Bowen by seven percentage points.
Bayh would not serve out a full term as Secretary of State of Indiana as he would go on to resign in 1989 to take office after winning the 1988 Indiana gubernatorial election.
General election
Candidates
- Evan Bayh, attorney (Democratic)
- Robert O. Bowen, attorney (Republican)
- Linda Patterson (American)
- Karen Benson (Libertarian)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Evan Bayh | 828,494 | 53.28% | +5.21 | |
| Republican | Robert O. Bowen | 705,963 | 45.40% | −5.40 | |
| American Party of the United States | Linda Patterson | 10,208 | 0.66% | +0.07 | |
| Libertarian | Karen Benson | 10,174 | 0.65% | +0.11 | |
| Total votes | 1,554,839 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
References
- ^ "1986 Secretary of State General Election Results - Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved December 13, 2025.