John R. McKernan Jr.
Last held office: Governor of Maine (1986–1994). Ran in 6 elections between 1972 and 1990, winning 6.
- Last margin
- +2.6
- Won 1990
- Elections
- 6
- 1972–1990
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative records
Career
Offices held, and every time McKernan was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Every race McKernan has run
Baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year. Running ahead of it means McKernan won voters the party’s presidential nominee did not; primaries have no baseline.
| Year | Office | Stage | Result | Opponents | Share | Margin | Raised | Baseline | Against baseline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Governor of Maine | General | Won | Joseph Brennan (D), Andrew Adam (I) | 46.7% | R+2.6 | — | R+11.5 | |
| 1986 | Governor of Maine | General | Won | James Tierney (D), Sherry Huber (I), John Menario (I) | 39.9% | R+9.7 | — | R+22.1 | |
| 1984 | U.S. House, ME-1 | General | Won | Barry J. Hobbins (D) | 63.5% | R+27.0 | $449.5K | — | |
| 1982 | U.S. House, ME-1 | General | Won | John M. Kerry (D), Gregory J. Flemming (L) | 50.3% | R+2.4 | $338.3K | — | |
| 1974 | Maine House of Representatives, District 83 | General | Won | James S. Henderson (D), Raymond J. Curran (D), Edward C. Kelleher (D) | 14.6% | D+0.3 | — | — | |
| 1972 | Maine House of Representatives, District 66 | General | Won | Raymond J. Curran (D), Frank John Murray (D), Edward C. Kelleher (D) | 11.2% | R+0.2 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Campaign money, 1983–84
- Raised
- $449.5K
- Spent
- $411.9K
- Cash
- $40.1K
Source: FEC filings through Dec 31, 1984Updated Nov 9, 2026, 3:00 AM ET
Seats McKernan has held
- Governor of Maine · 1986–1994
- U.S. House, ME-1 · 1982–1986
- Maine House of Representatives, District 83 · 1974–1976
- Maine House of Representatives, District 66 · 1972–1974
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who McKernan has run against
- Joseph Brennan (D) · 1990 election, won
- James Tierney (D) · 1986 election, won
- Barry J. Hobbins (D) · 1984 election, won
- John M. Kerry (D) · 1982 election, won
- James S. Henderson (D) · 1974 election, won
- Raymond J. Curran (D) · 1972 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know McKernan
One person, matched across every source we use.
- FEC H2ME01032
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FEC