United States gubernatorial elections were held on October 22 and November 8, 1983, in three states. Following the elections, the Democratic Party won all three seats.
Election results State Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Kentucky John Y. Brown Jr. 1979 Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. Louisiana Dave Treen 1979 Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Democratic gain. Mississippi William Winter 1979 Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold.
Kentucky
The 1983 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1983. Democratic nominee Martha Layne Collins defeated Republican nominee Jim Bunning with 54.5% of the vote, replacing outgoing governor John Y. Brown Jr., and becoming the first female governor of Kentucky.
Louisiana
The 1983 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held to elect the governor of Louisiana. Incumbent Republican governor Dave Treen lost re-election to a second term, defeated by former Democratic governor Edwin Edwards. Edwards, who had previously served two consecutive terms from 1972 to 1980, became the first Louisiana governor since Earl Long to win non-consecutive terms. He went on to win a fourth term in 1991, becoming the first Louisiana governor elected to four terms.
Under Louisiana's jungle primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party, and voters may choose any candidate. A runoff is held if no candidate receives an absolute majority of the vote during the primary election. On October 22, 1983, Edwards and Treen took the two highest popular vote counts, but a runoff election was not held as Edwards won over 50% of the vote in the primary.
Mississippi
The 1983 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1983, to elect the Governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Democrat William Winter was term-limited, and could not run for re-election to a second term. Democratic nominee William Allain defeated Republican Leon Bramlett.
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