1985 Quebec general election

December 2, 1985

122 seats in the 33rd National Assembly of Quebec
62 seats were needed for a majority
Turnout75.69% (Decrease6.83%)
  First party Second party
 
Leader Robert Bourassa Pierre-Marc Johnson
Party Liberal Parti Québécois
Leader since October 15, 1983 September 29, 1985
Leader's seat Bertrand (lost re-election) Anjou
Last election 42 seats, 46.07% 80 seats, 49.26%
Seats won 99 23
Seat change Increase57 Decrease57
Popular vote 1,910,307 1,320,008
Percentage 55.99% 38.69%
Swing Increase9.92% Decrease10.57%

Premier before election

Pierre-Marc Johnson
Parti Québécois

Premier after election

Robert Bourassa
Liberal

The 1985 Quebec general election was held on December 2, 1985, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Quebec Liberal Party, led by former premier Robert Bourassa, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Premier Pierre-Marc Johnson.

This election marked the comeback of Robert Bourassa, whose political career had been thought to be over after losing the 1976 general election and resigning as Liberal leader. However, Bourassa personally failed to win his own seat in the Bertrand electoral district, and had to run in a by-election one month later in the safe Saint-Laurent electoral district. The 1985 Quebec general election result produced by far the largest majority of any Canadian legislative election (in terms of the number of seats) by a winning party whose leader failed to win his own seat.

Johnson, son of former Union Nationale premier Daniel Johnson Sr. was unable to revive the PQ's fortune after he succeeded René Lévesque as party leader and premier. Pierre-Marc's brother, Daniel Johnson Jr., later became leader of the Liberal Party and briefly served as premier.

This election was the last contested by the Union Nationale. It only ran candidates in 19 ridings, none of whom came close to being elected. The party would be wound up by election authorities in 1989. It is also the last Quebec general election to date where the largest party won a majority government while also getting over 50% of the popular vote.

Results

[1]

Elections to the National Assembly of Quebec (1985)
Political party Party leader MNAs Votes
Candidates 1981 1985 ± # ± % ± (pp)
Liberal Robert Bourassa 122429957Increase1,910,307251,554Increase55.99%9.91Increase
Parti Québécois Pierre-Marc Johnson 122802357Decrease1,320,008453,229Decrease38.69%10.57Decrease
New Democratic Jean-Paul Harney 9082,58882,588Increase2.42%New
Progressive Conservative André Asselin 4835,21035,210Increase1.03%New
Parti indépendantiste Denis Monière 3915,42315,423Increase0.45%New
Christian Socialist Jacques Paquette 10311,71211,712Increase0.34%New
Independent 287,8553,483Increase0.23%0.11Increase
Union Nationale 197,759136,311Decrease0.23%3.77Decrease
Green 104,6134,613Increase0.14%New
Independent Liberal 14,0014,001Increase0.12%New
Humanist 173,0503,050Increase0.09%New
Commonwealth of Canada 282,2402,240Increase0.07%New
Regroupement autonome des jeunes 32,1612,161Increase0.06%New
Socialist Movement Roger Deslauriers 101,8091,809Increase0.05%New
United Social Credit Jean-Paul Poulin 121,650366Increase0.05%0.01Increase
Communist Sam Walsh 1083466Increase0.02%
Workers 4387640Decrease0.01%0.02Decrease
Total 666122 122 3,411,607 100.00%
Rejected ballots 52,625 14,102Increase
Voter turnout 3,464,232 174,388Decrease 75.69 6.83Decrease
Registered electors 4,576,600 170,324Increase
    Seats and popular vote by party
    PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
     Liberal
    99 / 122
    55.99%
    9.91 9.91
     
     Parti Québécois
    23 / 122
    38.69%
    -10.57
     
     New Democratic
    0 / 122
    2.42%
    2.42 2.42
     
     Progressive Conservative
    0 / 122
    1.03%
    1.03 1.03
     
     Union Nationale
    0 / 122
    0.23%
    -3.77
     
     Independent
    0 / 122
    0.23%
    0.11 0.11
     
     Other
    0 / 122
    1.41%
    0.87 0.87
     


    Synopsis of results

    Results by riding - 1985 Quebec general election[1][2]
    Riding Winning party Turnout
    [a 1]
    Votes
    Name 1981 Party Votes Share Margin
    #
    Margin
    %
    Lib PQ NDP PC PI CS UN I-Lib Ind Oth Total
     
    Abitibi-Est PQ Lib 9,20251.85%1,7429.82%62.85%9,2027,4603726635117,748
    Abitibi-Ouest PQ PQ 10,85954.64%2,34511.80%62.49%8,51410,8594267319,872
    Anjou PQ PQ 16,25848.60%3541.06%77.15%15,90416,25897731733,456
    Argenteuil Lib Lib 17,22065.65%9,47636.13%74.35%17,2207,7441781,08826,230
    Arthabaska PQ Lib 16,60849.83%2,0386.11%79.79%16,60814,5708018581745033,331
    Beauce-Nord PQ Lib 19,41854.06%4,85513.52%79.73%19,41814,5635191671,25035,917
    Beauce-Sud Lib Lib 19,59266.12%9,97433.66%78.80%19,5929,61842229,632
    Beauharnois PQ Lib 16,62150.51%2,6197.96%82.61%16,62114,002879921,20532,907
    Bellechasse PQ Lib 12,75454.82%2,51610.81%79.02%12,75410,23827523,267
    Berthier Lib Lib 17,56163.00%8,23229.53%78.48%17,5619,32937312448927,876
    Bertrand PQ PQ 17,18148.89%2290.65%87.50%16,95217,1815864637435,139
    Bonaventure Lib Lib 13,70165.92%6,87733.09%74.85%13,7016,82425920,784
    Bourassa PQ Lib 15,72759.09%6,46924.30%74.41%15,7279,258651533286659626,616
    Bourget PQ Lib 13,27252.29%2,68710.59%76.41%13,27210,5855542482725339925,383
    Brome-Missisquoi Lib Lib 16,50068.83%10,04441.90%74.47%16,5006,45688013623,972
    Chambly PQ Lib 16,33054.61%4,00513.39%81.61%16,33012,3251,09615129,902
    Champlain PQ Lib 16,65251.80%2,4287.55%80.29%16,65214,2241,26932,145
    Chapleau Lib Lib 16,51460.49%6,70124.55%66.23%16,5149,8136861889927,300
    Charlesbourg PQ Lib 22,18162.82%13,26137.56%81.67%22,1818,9201,7402,0763345935,310
    Charlevoix Lib Lib 14,84761.13%6,03924.86%80.03%14,8478,80863424,289
    Châteauguay PQ Lib 20,20954.25%4,26311.44%79.16%20,20915,94694815137,254
    Chauveau PQ Lib 19,85058.23%8,51324.97%77.14%19,85011,3371,7201491,03134,087
    Chicoutimi PQ PQ 17,47653.11%3,76011.43%76.56%13,71617,4761,42911916732,907
    Chomedey Lib Lib 21,62272.66%14,80049.73%72.26%21,6226,8227993367710329,759
    Crémazie PQ Lib 16,11549.89%1,5554.81%80.03%16,11514,560765233276622117832,300
    D'Arcy-McGee Lib Lib 22,79991.45%21,67286.93%68.58%22,7991,1279376724,930
    Deux-Montagnes PQ Lib 15,89251.95%4,45514.56%77.51%15,89211,4374903942,27410330,590
    Dorion PQ Lib 12,72451.71%2,49810.15%74.58%12,72410,226653290268553635324,605
    Drummond PQ Lib 16,58447.93%1020.29%79.85%16,58416,48258594734,598
    Dubuc PQ PQ 14,14755.32%4,17116.31%78.73%9,97614,1479504208125,574
    Duplessis PQ PQ 12,37749.81%2741.10%69.02%12,10312,37722314524,848
    Fabre PQ Lib 15,13051.38%1,9316.56%80.19%15,13013,1996683718129,449
    Frontenac PQ Lib 14,60651.85%3,22211.44%80.08%14,60611,3842,02715128,168
    Gaspé PQ Lib 13,88057.71%4,00016.63%74.47%13,8809,88029024,050
    Gatineau Lib Lib 13,57165.23%7,61936.62%69.19%13,5715,9525326737820,806
    Gouin PQ PQ 11,21248.46%7223.12%73.79%10,49011,2126651813415119823,138
    Groulx PQ Lib 17,69249.07%6211.72%78.25%17,69217,07149945933536,056
    Hull Lib Lib 16,37561.09%7,43427.73%65.51%16,3758,9411,0166540726,804
    Huntingdon Lib Lib 13,40560.90%6,29928.62%74.66%13,4057,1061,22227922,012
    Iberville PQ Lib 18,35355.02%4,68514.04%80.36%18,35313,66849570713633,359
    Îles-de-la-Madeleine PQ Lib 5,04856.02%1,18413.14%86.61%5,0483,864999,011
    Jacques-Cartier Lib Lib 24,24580.36%20,40467.63%77.41%24,2453,8411,0256246736930,171
    Jean-Talon Lib Lib 18,39658.39%7,65624.30%82.79%18,39610,7401,7272569429131,504
    Jeanne-Mance Lib Lib 20,77270.24%13,28344.92%74.13%20,7727,4894116094015010029,571
    Johnson PQ PQ 13,64451.58%1,6726.32%79.57%11,97213,6449947626226,453
    Joliette PQ PQ 15,28850.53%2,1757.19%79.62%13,11315,288659581,14030,258
    Jonquière PQ PQ 17,74152.51%3,61110.69%79.86%14,13017,7411,78413233,787
    Kamouraska-Témiscouata PQ Lib 14,04357.39%5,19021.21%70.15%14,0438,8537818870424,469
    L'Acadie Lib Lib 22,57274.03%15,95652.33%75.38%22,5726,61694619016530,489
    L'Assomption PQ Lib 15,62741.93%2160.58%77.06%15,62715,4115,429[a 2]42227310337,265
    La Peltrie PQ Lib 19,81955.93%6,35717.94%82.83%19,81913,4621,96818935,438
    Labelle PQ Lib 15,19750.36%2,5078.31%73.89%15,19712,6901,54660314330,179
    Lac-Saint-Jean PQ PQ 17,02854.82%4,26313.72%83.30%12,76517,0281,07219931,064
    LaFontaine PQ Lib 19,57750.46%1,8554.78%76.47%19,57717,7226084608334838,798
    Laporte Lib Lib 18,92563.87%9,95933.61%77.26%18,9258,9661,1373876814929,632
    La Prairie Lib Lib 24,63360.05%9,96824.30%79.55%24,63314,6651,088484847041,024
    Laurier Lib Lib 16,04465.80%10,07841.33%68.86%16,0445,96683039342572424,382
    Laval-des-Rapides PQ Lib 15,22352.06%2,1117.22%76.21%15,22313,1127048312229,244
    Laviolette PQ PQ 15,13456.33%3,40112.66%77.70%11,73315,13426,867
    Lévis PQ PQ 20,52049.09%1,4743.53%79.95%19,04620,5201,1544373238024041,800
    Limoilou PQ Lib 16,82260.54%8,48330.53%74.54%16,8228,33994978310379227,788
    Lotbinière PQ Lib 12,38253.52%1,9458.41%81.09%12,38210,43731723,136
    Louis-Hébert PQ Lib 16,91351.90%4,63414.22%79.64%16,91312,2792,7982872525832,587
    Maisonneuve PQ PQ 12,37351.75%2,0888.73%69.53%10,28512,373495138763224916923,907
    Marguerite-Bourgeoys Lib Lib 19,46973.44%13,35050.36%74.03%19,4696,11979512826,511
    Marie-Victorin PQ PQ 12,56847.75%3351.27%72.56%12,23312,5688843468320526,319
    Marquette Lib Lib 13,35660.51%5,52125.01%72.28%13,3567,835419150551589822,071
    Maskinongé Lib Lib 17,59961.51%7,75527.11%80.63%17,5999,8441,16728,610
    Matane PQ Lib 11,83053.40%2,0559.28%77.09%11,8309,77538116922,155
    Matapédia PQ Lib 11,47353.19%2,0969.72%78.86%11,4739,37759912221,571
    Mégantic-Compton Lib Lib 12,86559.48%4,78722.13%77.39%12,8658,0785949121,628
    Mercier PQ PQ 12,06247.11%1,1024.30%71.12%10,96012,0621,20031912893325,602
    Mille-Îles PQ Lib 16,18954.20%3,54711.88%80.86%16,18912,6425733739129,868
    Mont-Royal Lib Lib 17,86579.17%14,63864.87%69.74%17,8653,227675231126943531222,565
    Montmagny-L'Islet PQ Lib 14,49260.52%6,34926.51%74.18%14,4928,1435641994750023,945
    Montmorency PQ Lib 21,11559.37%9,94227.95%77.75%21,11511,1731,2001,35110162535,565
    Nelligan Lib Lib 24,11275.42%18,17356.84%75.75%24,1125,9391,12379831,972
    Nicolet< PQ Lib 15,81659.01%5,39520.13%84.93%15,81610,42142513926,801
    Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Lib Lib 21,02477.83%17,72665.62%73.02%21,0243,2982,3338227527,012
    Orford Lib Lib 16,67259.43%6,76524.12%74.74%16,6729,90763272911128,051
    Outremont Lib Lib 12,72053.43%3,70215.55%72.11%12,7209,0181,2944613128223,806
    Papineau Lib Lib 12,45258.59%4,38220.62%74.03%12,4528,07073221,254
    Pontiac Lib Lib 13,88872.08%10,26553.28%62.80%13,8883,6238967837719,267
    Portneuf Lib Lib 18,40669.10%11,21942.12%81.34%18,4067,1877265226426,635
    Prévost PQ Lib 15,61853.09%2,6599.04%74.95%15,61812,95970114129,419
    Richelieu PQ Lib 16,37353.14%3,0479.89%81.90%16,37313,3265871053477230,810
    Richmond Lib Lib 12,35663.81%5,53228.57%80.96%12,3566,82418419,364
    Rimouski PQ Lib 15,11648.78%2840.92%75.06%15,11614,83218585330,986
    Rivière-du-Loup PQ Lib 11,69053.32%2,30410.51%75.10%11,6909,38671113621,923
    Robert-Baldwin Lib Lib 27,04180.54%22,36866.62%73.18%27,0414,6731,06846716416133,574
    Roberval PQ PQ 16,68452.64%2,0356.42%77.87%14,64916,68436431,697
    Rosemont PQ Lib 14,81052.65%3,06510.90%75.11%14,81011,7457423942741328,131
    Rousseau PQ Lib 17,31455.14%4,11513.11%73.82%17,31413,19963225531,400
    Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue PQ Lib 11,82649.56%1,3855.80%62.53%11,82610,4411,2025733523,861
    Saguenay PQ Lib 11,27048.36%1610.69%66.48%11,27011,10951627713423,306
    Saint-François PQ Lib 15,57153.85%3,61112.49%74.25%15,57111,9601,22016228,913
    Saint-Henri Lib Lib 14,64756.73%4,73618.34%69.85%14,6479,9116024565315125,820
    Saint-Hyacinthe PQ Lib 15,38248.74%5231.66%78.16%15,38214,85970950110731,558
    Saint-Jacques PQ PQ 10,65948.61%1,8648.50%68.93%8,79510,6591,1154172312978921,927
    Saint-Jean PQ Lib 19,58957.68%7,45121.94%78.97%19,58912,1381,0288636627933,963
    Saint-Laurent Lib Lib 22,47474.22%16,36754.05%72.41%22,4746,1071,0373905621830,282
    Saint-Louis Lib Lib 9,90348.45%5,16225.25%65.68%9,9034,7411,405424,0018226620,440
    Saint-Maurice PQ Lib 14,80254.70%3,54013.08%79.91%14,80211,26299427,058
    Saint-Anne Lib Lib 12,56560.92%5,66627.47%65.89%12,5656,8996332609817020,625
    Sainte-Marie PQ Lib 8,85547.03%4552.42%67.12%8,8558,400711212392137432518,829
    Sauvé PQ Lib 15,67761.12%6,75626.34%70.82%15,6778,921462346134654325,648
    Shefford PQ PQ 16,46049.54%6111.84%79.73%15,84916,4602842611807012133,225
    Sherbrooke PQ Lib 14,16349.31%6482.26%75.67%14,16313,51510494228,724
    Taillon PQ PQ 15,15450.48%1,9636.54%72.82%13,19115,154791418912859130,021
    Taschereau PQ Lib 11,58453.81%3,48916.21%72.54%11,5848,0951,2172368730921,528
    Terrebonne PQ PQ 18,55556.67%5,67817.34%75.37%12,87718,5558107442832,744
    Trois-Rivières PQ Lib 17,25859.18%6,36521.82%74.82%17,25810,89361439929,164
    Ungava PQ PQ 6,41451.83%9177.41%54.74%5,4976,41446312,374
    Vachon PQ Lib 16,01149.47%8422.60%76.30%16,01115,16967351132,364
    Vanier PQ Lib 16,66854.89%4,79715.80%77.04%16,66811,8711,67115530,365
    Vaudreuil-Soulanges Lib Lib 23,44064.36%11,56631.76%77.43%23,44011,87492418136,419
    Verchères PQ PQ 16,67949.06%8462.49%81.32%15,83316,6791,0633616033,996
    Verdun Lib Lib 14,86064.27%7,95434.40%73.80%14,8606,9066592161835011413423,122
    Viau Lib Lib 17,08666.12%9,65837.38%71.05%17,0867,42886411834425,840
    Viger Lib Lib 20,06068.28%12,10641.21%76.92%20,0607,9546172358613129529,378
    Vimont PQ Lib 16,16950.07%1,4094.36%79.56%16,16914,7608544298232,294
    Westmount Lib Lib 18,45876.55%15,08362.55%69.66%18,4583,3751,9166330124,113
    1. including spoilt ballots
    2. André Asselin was the PC leader
      = open seat
      = turnout is above provincial average
      = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
      = incumbent had switched allegiance
      = previously incumbent in another riding
      = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
      = incumbency arose from byelection gain
      = other incumbents renominated
      = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
      = multiple candidates

    Analysis

    Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[1]
    Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
     Liberal 9923
     Parti Québécois 2399
     New Democratic 7911
     Progressive Conservative 18228
     Christian Socialist 82428
     Union Nationale 665
     Parti indépendantiste 42211
     Independent 276
     Green 252
     Regroupement autonome des jeunes 11
     Independent Liberal 1
     Humanist 36
     United Social Credit 32
     Socialist Movement 32
     Commonwealth of Canada 5
     Communist 2
     Workers 2
    Resulting composition of the 31st Quebec Legislative Assembly[2]
    SourceParty
    Lib PQ Total
    Seats retainedIncumbents returned 361652
    Open seats held 538
    Byelection loss reversed 44
    Ouster of incumbent changing allegiance 11
    Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated 3737
    Open seats gained 1313
    Byelection gains held 7
    Total 9923122


    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 3 Drouilly, Pierre (December 4, 2017). "Élections québécoises de 1981". donneesquebec.ca. Atlas des élections au Québec.
    2. 1 2 "Les membres de l'Assemblée nationale par circonscription" [National Assembly members by riding] (in French). National Assembly of Quebec. Retrieved September 13, 2023.

    Further reading

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