Biggest governor landslides in New York
The biggest landslide in a New York governor’s race was in 2006, a margin of 38.6 points. Eliot Spitzer beat John Faso, 3,086,709 to 1,274,335. Next widest are 1986 (32.9 points) and 1990 (31.8 points).
Every state is ranked together on Biggest governor landslides. For every gubernatorial race New York has held, special elections included, see the New York governor hub.
What is the biggest landslide in a New York governor’s race?
The widest margin in a New York gubernatorial general election came in 2006, 38.6 points. Eliot Spitzer beat John Faso, 3,086,709 to 1,274,335. Next are 1986 (32.9 points) and 1990 (31.8 points).
Why do some huge wins not appear?
A blowout only counts here when somebody real finished second, which means at least 5% of the vote. Without that rule the list fills with uncontested races and with contests where the record is simply missing the major opponent, both of which show the winner near 100%.
Does this include recalls and special elections?
No, only regular general elections for governor. The New York governor hub lists every race including specials and recalls.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006 | Eliot Spitzer D def. John Faso R | 3,086,709 – 1,274,335 | +38.6 points |
| 2 | 1986 | Mario Cuomo D def. Andrew O'Rourke R | 2,775,045 – 1,363,968 | +32.9 points |
| 3 | 1990 | Mario Cuomo D def. Pierre Rinfret R | 2,157,087 – 865,948 | +31.8 points |
| 4 | 2010 | Andrew Cuomo D def. Carl Paladino R | 2,910,876 – 1,547,857 | +29.5 points |
| 5 | 2018 | Andrew Cuomo D def. Marc Molinaro R | 3,635,340 – 2,207,602 | +23.4 points |
| 6 | 1930 | Franklin D. Roosevelt D def. Charles H. Tuttle R | 1,770,342 – 1,045,341 | +23.1 points |
| 7 | 1934 | Herbert H. Lehman D def. Robert Moses R | 2,201,729 – 1,393,638 | +21.3 points |
| 8 | 1998 | George Pataki R def. Peter Vallone Sr. D | 2,571,991 – 1,570,317 | +21.2 points |
| 9 | 1882 | Grover Cleveland D def. Charles J. Folger R | 535,318 – 342,464 | +21.1 points |
| 10 | 1848 | Hamilton Fish W def. John Adams Dix F | 218,776 – 122,889 | +20.9 points |
| 11 | 1932 | Herbert H. Lehman D def. William J. Donovan R | 2,659,519 – 1,812,080 | +18.1 points |
| 12 | 1804 | Morgan Lewis D def. Aaron Burr D | 30,829 – 22,139 | +16.4 points |
| 13 | 2002 | George Pataki R def. H. Carl McCall D | 2,262,255 – 1,534,064 | +15.9 points |
| 14 | 1942 | Thomas E. Dewey R def. John J. Bennett Jr. D | 2,148,546 – 1,501,039 | +15.7 points |
| 15 | 1974 | Hugh Carey D def. Malcolm Wilson R | 3,028,503 – 2,219,667 | +15.3 points |
| 16 | 2014 | Andrew Cuomo D def. Rob Astorino R | 2,069,480 – 1,537,077 | +14.0 points |
| 17 | 1946 | Thomas E. Dewey R def. James M. Mead D | 2,825,633 – 2,138,482 | +13.8 points |
| 18 | 1970 | Nelson Rockefeller R def. Arthur Goldberg D | 3,151,432 – 2,421,426 | +12.1 points |
| 19 | 1856 | John A. King R def. Amasa J Parker D | 264,400 – 198,616 | +11.1 points |
| 20 | 1828 | Martin Van Buren D def. Smith Thompson R | 136,794 – 106,444 | +11.0 points |
| 21 | 1958 | Nelson Rockefeller R def. W. Averell Harriman D | 3,126,929 – 2,553,895 | +10.8 points |
| 22 | 1950 | Thomas E. Dewey R def. Walter A. Lynch D | 2,819,523 – 2,246,855 | +10.8 points |
| 23 | 1836 | William L. Marcy D def. Jesse Buel W | 166,122 – 136,648 | +9.6 points |
| 24 | 1860 | Edwin D. Morgan R def. William Kelly D | 358,272 – 294,812 | +9.4 points |
| 25 | 1936 | Herbert H. Lehman D def. William F. Bleakley R | 2,970,575 – 2,450,104 | +9.4 points |