1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

Last updated

1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Flag of Massachusetts.svg
←  1986 November 6, 1990 1994  →
Turnout75.85% Increase2.svg 18.44 [1]
  William F. Weld (MA) (cropped).jpg John Silber (6789866467).jpg
Nominee Bill Weld John Silber
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Paul Cellucci Marjorie Clapprood
Popular vote1,175,8171,099,878
Percentage50.19%46.94%
1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1990 Massachusetts Gubernatorial Election by Town.svg
Weld:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Silber:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Governor before election

Michael Dukakis
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bill Weld
Republican

The 1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic governor Michael Dukakis, his party's nominee for president in 1988, opted to not seek a fourth term. Republican Bill Weld won the open seat, beating Democrat John Silber to become the first Republican governor of Massachusetts elected since 1970. This election was the first open-seat gubernatorial election in Massachusetts since 1960.

Contents

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

Eliminated at convention
Withdrew
Declined

Campaign

After Flynn's decision not to run, Murphy was the early frontrunner due to her strong name recognition and a solid base of liberal support. In July 1989, she led Bellotti 42% to 18% in a Boston Globe poll. That November, Bellotti had come within 2% of Murphy in another Boston Globe poll. [4]

In January, Silber entered the race and Bellotti ran his first wave of television ads. By this point, Bellotti had taken the lead in the race, polling 38% to Murphy's 20% and Silber's 16%. [4]

The Democratic Convention was held on June 2, 1990, at the Springfield Civic Center. On the first ballot, Bellotti received 42.9% of the vote, Murphy received 37%, Silber received 15.5%, and Flood received 4.5%. Silber's 15.5% gave him enough votes to remain on the ballot. On the second ballot, Bellotti won the convention with 51%, Murphy received 40%, and Flood received 8.5%. Flood was not able to stay on the ballot as he did not receive the necessary 15%. [5]

Murphy's campaign appeared to be badly hurt by the public perception that she was close to the unpopular Dukakis and therefore tried to make a break with the Dukakis Administration. [4] [6] Dukakis twice postponed a trade mission to Europe because Murphy hinted at a news conference that she would execute her own economic plan while serving as acting governor. [6] After the incident, Murphy's unfavorable rating rose to 49% in a Boston Globe/WBZ-TV poll, compared to 38% a month earlier. [4]

A week before the primary, Evelyn Murphy dropped out of the race and threw her support to Bellotti. [7]

Results

Despite having Murphy's support and as high as a 15-point lead in the polls at one point during the campaign, Bellotti was upset by Silber, a political outsider who had run a provocative campaign filled with controversial statements known as "Silber Shockers". [8]

Primary results by municipality Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 1990.svg
Primary results by municipality
Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1990
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Silber 562,222 53.47%
Democratic Francis X. Bellotti 459,12843.67%
Democratic Evelyn Murphy (withdrawn)30,0542.86%
Total votes1,051,404 100.00%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Declined
  • Evelyn Murphy, incumbent lieutenant governor (to run for governor)

Results

Clapprood easily won the nomination, defeating her nearest opponent by over 22%.

Massachusetts Democratic Lt. gubernatorial primary, 1990
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Marjorie Clapprood 498,241 52.02%
Democratic William B. Golden 283,71929.62%
Democratic Nicholas Paleologos 175,55818.33%
Total votes957,518 100.00%

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Eliminated at convention
Withdrew
Declined

Campaign

At the Republican Convention, Pierce received 2,672 votes (52.6%), Weld received 1,845 (36.3%), and Cronin received 563 (11.1%). [13] Cronin was not able to run in the primary because he did not receive the 15% necessary to make the ballot. [14] Pierce received enough votes to have a "supermajority", which made Pierce the officially endorsed candidate of the Republican Party. [13]

During the campaign, Weld attacked Pierce's anti-abortion stance while Pierce claimed that Weld had changed his position on abortion. [15] Pierce also touted his ability to win a House seat in a Democratic district, while Weld had lost to the Democratic front-runner for governor Francis Bellotti in the 1978 attorney general's race. [15] [16]

Results

Despite losing the convention and trailing Pierce in the polls, Weld was able to come-from-behind and defeated Pierce in the Republican primary.

Primary results by municipality Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 1990.svg
Primary results by municipality
Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary, 1990
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bill Weld 270,319 60.56%
Republican Steven Pierce 176,07039.44%
Total votes446,389 100.00%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Results

State Senator Paul Cellucci, Weld's running mate, defeated State Representative Peter G. Torkildsen, Pierce's running mate, for the Republican nomination.

Massachusetts Republican Lt. gubernatorial election, 1990
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Paul Cellucci 241,354 59.41%
Republican Peter G. Torkildsen 164,73240.55%
Total votes406,086 100.00%

General election

Debates

1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election debates
No.DateHostModeratorLink Republican Democratic
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Bill Weld John Silber
1Oct. 18, 1990 C-SPAN PP
2Oct. 30, 1990 Boston Herald
WCVB-TV
WHDH (TV) 		R.D. Sahl C-SPAN PP

Candidates

Leonard Umina, a 38-year old computer executive, ran under the Independent High Tech Party banner. The Independent High Tech Party, of which Umina was a founding member, campaigned on a platform of establishing an independent state agency that would store all government documents on a publicly-accessible mainframe to ensure government accountability and transparency. On economic issues, the High Tech Party refuted the economic policies of the Reagan years and advocated the funneling of money to the poor. Four other candidates ran under the Independent High Tech label for statewide offices in 1990. [17] [18]

At least two other candidates ran for governor. Dorothy L. Stevens was a single mother that ran as a write-in candidate after withdrawing from a campaign for the Democratic nomination. Her platform included a $10 minimum wage and an expansion of welfare benefits. Mark A. Emanation was the candidate of the Socialist Workers Party. [18]

Campaign

Silber's lead in the polls vanished after his outburst in an interview with WCVB-TV's Natalie Jacobson. [19] [20] [21] [22] His blunt personality and controversial comments led many Democrats to vote for Weld. [23]

Weld campaigns with President George Bush in Mashpee. Bush Contact Sheet P17091 (cropped).jpg
Weld campaigns with President George Bush in Mashpee.

Results

Bill Weld defeated John Silber to become the state's first Republican governor since Francis W. Sargent.

As of 2018, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which Amherst, Cambridge, Leverett, Shutesbury and Wendell each voted for the Republican candidate.

1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Bill Weld 1,175,817 50.19% Increase2.svg20.63
Democratic John Silber 1,099,87846.94%Decrease2.svg18.21
Ind. High TechLeonard Umina62,7032.68%N/A
Independent Dorothy Stevens (write-in)8720.04%N/A
Total votes2,339,270 100.00%

Results by county

1990 United States gubernatorial election in Massachusetts (by county) [25]
CountyWeld - R %Weld - R #Silber - D %Silber - D #Others %Others #Total #
Barnstable 54.3%50,91140.0%37,4745.8%5,39893,783
Berkshire 43.9%23,56246.5%24,9539.7%5,19953,714
Bristol 39.1%71,42053.1%97,0467.7%14,136182,602
Dukes 42.7%2,55945.4%2,72011.9%7155,994
Essex 50.6%144,58344.0%125,7345.4%15,342285,659
Franklin 50.5%15,10139.5%11,82210.0%2,99529,918
Hampden 44.2%67,36048.1%73,3567.7%11,691152,407
Hampshire 46.5%26,62641.1%23,49512.4%7,11357,234
Middlesex 52.1%320,18842.2%259,0595.7%34,901614,148
Nantucket 52.1%1,46641.4%1,1666.5%1842,816
Norfolk 50.4%149,52144.5%132,1415.0%14,953296,615
Plymouth 51.7%94,13743.4%79,0394.9%8,952182,128
Suffolk 39.7%77,11952.7%102,3927.6%14,810194,321
Worcester 47.9%130,26447.6%129,4814.5%12,342272,087

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Weld</span> American attorney and politician (born 1945)

William Floyd Weld is an American attorney, businessman, author, and politician who served as the 68th Governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997. A Harvard graduate, Weld began his career as legal counsel to the United States House Committee on the Judiciary before becoming the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and later, the United States Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division. He worked on a series of high-profile public corruption cases and later resigned in protest of an ethics scandal and associated investigations into Attorney General Edwin Meese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward J. King</span> American politician (1925–2006)

Edward Joseph King was an American politician who served as the 66th Governor of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983. A member of the Democratic Party until 1985, he then became a member of the Republican Party. Elected in the 1978 Massachusetts gubernatorial election, he lost the Democratic primary of the 1982 election to his predecessor Michael Dukakis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Silber</span> President of Boston University

John Robert Silber was an American academician and candidate for public office. From 1971 to 1996, he was President of Boston University (BU) and, from 1996 to 2002, Chancellor. From 2002 to 2003, he again served as President ; and, from 2003 until his death, he held the title of President Emeritus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election</span>

The 2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. The incumbent Republican governor, Mitt Romney, chose not to seek a second term. Polls had been mixed prior to Romney's announcement, with one poll showing Romney slightly leading Democrat Attorney General Tom Reilly and other polls showing Reilly, who was then the Democratic frontrunner, in the lead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evelyn Murphy</span> American politician

Evelyn Murphy is an American businesswoman and politician who was the 67th lieutenant governor of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1991, being the first woman in the history of the state to hold a constitutional office. She is now the president of The WAGE Project, a United States nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating wage discrimination against women; a resident scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University, and a corporate director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election</span>

The 1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Republican governor Bill Weld won reelection as Governor of Massachusetts by the largest margin in state history, winning every single county and all but 6 of the state's 351 municipalities. As of 2024, this is the most recent election in which Boston, Somerville, Lawrence, Chelsea, Brookline, Northampton, Provincetown, Monterey, Great Barrington, Ashfield, Williamstown, Williamsburg, Shelburne, Sunderland, and Pelham voted for the Republican candidate for governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election</span>

The 1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Acting Governor Paul Cellucci was elected to his first term as Governor of Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 United States Senate election in Massachusetts</span>

The 1984 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held on November 6, to elect a member of the U.S. Senate from the State of Massachusetts. The election was won by Democrat John Kerry, the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, who remained Senator until 2013, when he resigned to become United States Secretary of State. One-term incumbent Democratic Senator Paul Tsongas declined to seek re-election after developing cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Bellotti</span> American lawyer and politician (born 1923)

Francis Xavier Bellotti is an American lawyer and politician who served as both the 39th attorney general and the 61st lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election</span>

The 1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Michael Dukakis was elected Governor of Massachusetts for a third term. He defeated Republican George Kariotis by a 69–31% margin. This was the last time a Democrat was elected governor of Massachusetts until 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 Massachusetts gubernatorial election</span>

The 1978 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Former Massachusetts Port Authority executive director Edward J. King was elected to a four-year term, from January 4, 1979, until January 6, 1983. King won the Democratic nomination by defeating incumbent governor of Massachusetts Michael Dukakis in the Democratic primary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 Massachusetts gubernatorial election</span>

The 1970 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Acting Governor Francis W. Sargent was elected to a four-year term. He defeated incumbent Boston Mayor Kevin H. White in the general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Pierce</span> American politician

Steven D. Pierce is a retired Massachusetts jurist and politician who most recently served as chief justice of the Massachusetts Housing Court. He retired from the Housing Court September 2015.

A Massachusetts general election was held on November 6, 1990 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John H. Flood</span> American politician (1939–2016)

John H. "Jack" Flood was an American politician who was Sheriff of Norfolk County, Massachusetts from 1996 to 1999 and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1981 to 1991.

A Massachusetts general election was held on November 7, 1978 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The 1974 Massachusetts general election was held on November 5, 1974, throughout Massachusetts. Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 10, 1974.

A Massachusetts general election was held on November 3, 1964, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Republican governor Charlie Baker and lieutenant governor Karyn Polito sought reelection to a second term in office, facing Democratic challengers Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey, respectively. Candidates were selected in the primary election held on September 4, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Massachusetts. Republican former state representative Geoff Diehl, Democratic state attorney general Maura Healey, and Libertarian Kevin Reed sought to succeed incumbent governor Charlie Baker, who did not seek re-election after two terms. The race was one of six Republican-held governorships up for election in 2022 in a state carried by Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election and the only race in which the incumbent was retiring despite being eligible for re-election.

References

  1. ↑ "Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 06, 1990". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  2. ↑ Howe, Peter J. (January 7, 1989). "Flynn's Move to Skip Governor's Race Creates a Political Logjam in Boston". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Dukakis won't seek re-election in 1990". Transcript-Telegram. Associated Press. January 3, 1989. p. 1. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Wilkie, Curtis (September 11, 1990). "Murphy Quits Race, Backs Bellotti". The Boston Globe.
  5. ↑ "Massachusetts Dems pick Bellotti for governor at picketed session". Associated Press. June 3, 1990. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  6. 1 2 Butterfield, Fox (September 7, 1990). "Dukakis Accuses No. 2 of Plotting a Coup". The New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  7. ↑ Fox Butterfield (September 11, 1990). "Dukakis Antagonist Abandons Primary Race". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  8. ↑ Fox Butterfield (September 19, 1990). "Silber Wins Democratic Contest in Massachusetts". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  9. ↑ Phillips, Frank (September 30, 1989). "Cellucci, Weld Join Forces". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  10. ↑ Lehigh, Scot (October 13, 1989). "War Chest is Started and 'King '90' Buttons Ordered". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  11. ↑ Lehigh, Scot (September 30, 1989). "Some Say Sununu's Push for a King Candidacy Could Backfire". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  12. ↑ Lehigh, Scot (October 17, 1989). "King Announces He Will Not Run for Governor". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  13. 1 2 Weitzman, Erik M. (March 13, 1990). "GOP Takes Center Ring at Convention Circus". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  14. ↑ Wilson, David B. (March 25, 1990). "Something is Awry in 15-Percent Rule". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  15. 1 2 Lehigh, Scot (December 16, 1989). "Weld, Pierce Trade Barbs Over Abortion Positions". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  16. ↑ Turner, Robert L. (March 8, 1990). "An L-Word That Worries Some Republicans". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  17. ↑ Anzovin, Steven (April 1991). "Online freedom". Compute!. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  18. 1 2 Mann, Michael P. (November 5, 1990). "The Ones With the Vision". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  19. ↑ Lehr, Dick (January 28, 2001). "Split screen". Boston Globe.
  20. ↑ Kimmel, Daniel M (June 28, 1996). "Natalie Jacobson wears many hats". Telegram & Gazette.
  21. ↑ Diaz, Johnny (July 11, 2007). "After 35 years, Jacobson set to retire". Boston Globe.
  22. ↑ Diaz, Johnny (November 11, 2008). "Refocused: A year after leaving Channel 5, Natalie Jacobson talks candidly about her life - and about the state of television news". The Boston Globe.
  23. ↑ "THE 1990 ELECTIONS: STATE BY STATE; Northeast". The New York Times. November 8, 1990. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  24. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State. "1990 Gubernatorial Election Results". Massachusetts Secretary of State. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  25. ↑ "PD43+ » Search Elections". PD43+. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.