1986 Kansas gubernatorial election

The 1986 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democratic Governor John W. Carlin did not run for re-election. Republican nominee Mike Hayden, then Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, beat the Democratic nominee Thomas Docking, who was then the incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Kansas. This was the last gubernatorial election in Kansas in which the winner was of the same party as the incumbent president until Laura Kelly's victory in 2022.

Democratic

 * Thomas Docking, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Kansas

Republican

 * Mike Hayden, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
 * Jack Brier, Secretary of State of Kansas