The 1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Michael Dukakis

Michael Dukakis

Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...

 was elected to a second non-consecutive term. He beat Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 John W. Sears

John W. Sears

John Winthrop Sears is an American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1965-1968, Sheriff of Suffolk County, Massachusetts from 1968-1969, Metropolitan District Commissioner from 1970-1975, Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party from...

 in the General election, after defeating Incumbent Governor Edward J. King

Edward J. King

Edward Joseph "Ed" King was the 66th Governor of the U.S. state of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983.Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Boston College and Bentley College, King played professional football as a guard with the All-America Football Conference Buffalo Bisons from 1948 to...

 in the Democratic primary.

Governor

Former Governor Michael Dukakis challenged incumbent Governor Edward J. King in a rematch of the 1978 Democratic primary. This time Dukakis was victorious, defeating King 53%-47%.

Former Suffolk County sheriff and Boston city councilman John Winthrop Sears defeated businessman John Lakian

John Lakian

John Lakian is a wealthy businessman and former candidate for governor of Massachusetts. He has founded several businesses, and served on the board on many others. He had an unsuccessful run for governor that resulted in a high profile lawsuit in 1982, and an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate in 1994...

 and State Representative Andrew Card

Andrew Card

Andrew Hill Card, Jr. is a Republican American politician, former United States Cabinet member, and head of President George W. Bush's White House Iraq Group. Card served as U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President George H. W. Bush and the White House Chief of Staff under George W. Bush...

 for the Republican nomination.

Lt. Governor

Incumbent Lt. Governor Thomas P. O'Neill III

Thomas P. O'Neill III

Thomas Phillip O'Neill III leads a public relations and government affairs firm called O'Neill and Associates in Boston. He is the son of Tip O'Neill, who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987.From 1975 to 1983, O'Neill served as lieutenant governor of...

 did not run for re-election. Former Navy Lieutenant and anti-war activist John Kerry

John Kerry

John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...

 won a five way contest for the Democratic nomination. State Representative Leon Lombardi

Leon Lombardi

Leon J. Lombardi is an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1977–1983 and as the Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party from 1990-1992. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1982.-...

 was the Republican nominee.

Democratic primaries

Republican primaries

General election