Alternate History 🇺🇸 November 2, 1976: President Nelson Rockefeller wins election to full 4-year term and the aftermath

[Sergeant Foley]

Campaign '87: Governorships to Watch
Wednesday, 2 July 1987

*KENTUCKY
Martha Layne Collins
In office: 13 December 1983
*Open Seat: Prevented from succeeding herself due to the one-term rule for Kentucky Governors
*Candidates:
Wallace Wilkinson
State Rep. John Harper
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*LOUISIANA
Edwin Washington Edwards
In office: 12 March 1984
*Previously served: 9 May 1972 to 10 March 1980
Elected in 1971; Reelected in 1975 and again in 1983
*Open Seat: Announced on 16 April 1985 that he wasn't going to be seeking reelection to fourth term in 1987.
*Candidates:
United States Senator Russell Biliu Long (D-LA)
US Rep. Bob Livingston (R-LA 01st)
US Rep. Billy Tauzin (D-LA 03rd)
Louisiana Secretary of State James H. "Jim" Brown
Rating: SOLID DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*MISSSISSIPPI
William Forrest Winter
In office: 22 January 1980
Elected in 1979; Reelected in 1983
Seeking reelection in 1987
*Candidates:
Mississippi Governor William Forrest Winter (Incumbent)
Former Mississippi Board of Education Chairman Jack Reed
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC HOLD
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COMING UP IN CHAPTER 23 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: National and International Headlines (Summer 1987).

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS: PROVIDENCE JOURNAL REPORTING RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR JOHN JOSEPH GARRAHY NOT SEEKING REELECTION TO SEVENTH TWO-YEAR TERM IN 1988, ENDS HISTORIC 12-YEAR RUN

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*Thursday, 3 July 1987: During a press conference inside the conference room of the Governor's Office inside the Rhode Island Statehouse in Providence, Rhode Island, Rhode Islanders watched on statewide television as six-term incumbent Rhode Island Governor John Joseph Garrahy announced he will not be seeking reelection to a seventh two-year term, capping a historic 12-year run leading the Ocean State since 4 January 1977, for the past six two-year terms, having won the Governorship in 1976 and winning reelection in 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984 and again in 1986. He also previously served four two-year terms as Rhode Island's 61st Lieutenant Governor from 7 January 1969 to 4 January 1977: winning the Lieutenant Governorship in 1968 and winning reelection in 1970, 1972, and again in 1974.

Garrahy also served in the Rhode Island State Senate from 1963 to 1969 for three two-year terms. "My fellow Rhode Islanders, it's been the amazing honor of a lifetime of having you for the past 24 years in state government: serving in the Rhode Island State Senate, then as Lieutenant Governor and finally as your Governor. I enjoyed serving the entire Ocean State and all Rhode Islanders. While I will miss this great job, I believe it's time for other generations to come into leadership and making our great State being run efficiently. Please know that I have 18 months left in my term and will be working non-stop all the way until 4 January 1989."

Immediately after learning news of Governor Garrahy's decision of not seeking reelection in 1988, the Republicans united behind former Cranston Mayor Edward D. DiPrete, who was the 1984 Republican Party nominee for the Governorship and lost in a resounding landslide. DiPrete is launching his second attempt at the Governorship and has the endorsements of President George HW Bush and Vice President Howard Baker. Democrats appear to be working to unite behind Bruce Sundlun.