The 1990 Illinois gubernatorial election occurred on November 6, 1990 to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Illinois. Republican Jim Edgar, the Illinois Secretary of State, narrowly defeated Democrat Neil Hartigan, the Illinois Attorney General, by about 80,000 votes out of the over 3.2 million cast.
The incumbent Republican governor, Jim Thompson, chose not to seek a fifth term, making this the first open-seat gubernatorial election in Illinois since 1952. It was among the most competitive gubernatorial races of 1990.
Background The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal elections (Senate and House), as well as those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1990 Illinois elections.
For the primaries, turnout for the gubernatorial primaries was 26.11%, with 1,570,596 votes cast and turnout for the lieutenant gubernatorial primaries was 21.67% with 1,303,250 votes cast. For the general election, turnout was 54.00%, with 3,257,410 votes cast.
Democratic primary Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, running unopposed.
Governor
Lieutenant governor James B. Burns, future attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, won the Democratic nomination, running unopposed.
Republican primary Governor Illinois Secretary of State Jim Edgar defeated investor and conservative political activist Steve Baer, as well as perennial candidate Robert Marshall.
Lieutenant governor Illinois State Senator Bob Kustra won the Republican primary for lieutenant governor.
Solidarity primary Only 13 votes were cast in the primary, all write in votes for Jeff W. Smith. The party, nevertheless, ultimately nominated Jessie Fields.
Governor
General election Debate + 1990 Illinois gubernatorial election debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Jim Edgar Neil Hartigan1 Oct. 19, 1990 League of Women Voters of IllinoisWTTW-TV C-SPAN
Results
References