1990 Massachusetts general election

November 6, 1990

Part of the
1990 United States elections

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

The election included:

Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 19, 1990.[1]

Governor & Lieutenant Governor

Republicans William Weld and Paul Cellucci were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, over Democratic candidates John Silber and Marjorie Clapprood.[2] Weld's victory was the first for a Republican since 1970.

Attorney general

1990 Massachusetts Attorney General election
 
Nominee Scott Harshbarger William C. Sawyer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,442,359 808,398
Percentage 64.1% 35.9%

Attorney General before election

James Shannon
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Scott Harshbarger
Democratic

Democrat Scott Harshbarger was elected Attorney General. He defeated incumbent James Shannon in the Democratic primary and Republican William C. Sawyer in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Attorney General Democratic Primary, 1990 [3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Scott Harshbarger 533,481 53.56%
Democratic James Shannon (incumbent) 462,296 46.41%
Write-in 253 0.03%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Attorney General Republican Primary, 1990 [4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William C. Sawyer 199,567 52.73%
Republican Guy Carbone 178,669 47.21%
Write-in 231 0.00%

General election

Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 1990 [5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Scott Harshbarger 1,442,359 64.06% Increase 9.41
Republican William C. Sawyer 808,398 35.90% Decrease 9.44
Write-in 783 0.04% Increase 0.03
Total votes 2,251,540 100.00%

Secretary of the Commonwealth

1990 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election
 
Nominee Michael J. Connolly Paul McCarthy Barbara Ahearn
Party Democratic Republican Ind. High Tech
Popular vote 1,011,303 844,085 143,324
Percentage 45.9% 38.3% 15.8%

Secretary of the Commonwealth before election

Michael J. Connolly
Democratic

Elected Secretary of the Commonwealth

Michael J. Connolly
Democratic

Incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth Michael J. Connolly defeated Republican Paul McCarthy and Independent Barbara F. Ahearn in the general election.

Former Celtics star Dave Cowens entered the race as a Republican, but because he did not register by June 5, 1989, he was unable to appear on the primary ballot and dropped out.[6][7]

General election

Candidates

  • Barbara F. Ahearn (Independent High Tech)
  • Michael J. Connolly, incumbent Secretary since 1979 (Democratic)
  • Paul McCarthy (Republican)

Results

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1990 [8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Michael J. Connolly (incumbent) 1,011,303 45.88% Decrease22.13
Republican Paul McCarthy 844,085 38.29% Increase 6.30
Ind. High Tech Barbara F. Ahearn 347,703 15.77% N/A
Write-in 1,129 0.05% Increase 0.05
Total votes 2,244,220 100.00%

Treasurer and Receiver-General

1990 Massachusetts Treasurer election
 
Nominee Joe Malone William F. Galvin C. David Nash
Party Republican Democratic Ind. High Tech
Popular vote 1,298,521 825,808 143,324
Percentage 57.2% 36.4% 6.3%

Treasurer and Receiver-General before election

Robert Q. Crane
Democratic

Elected Treasurer and Receiver-General

Joe Malone
Republican

Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane did not run for re-election. Republican Joe Malone defeated Democrat State Representative William F. Galvin and Independent C. David Nash in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Democratic Primary, 1990 [9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William F. Galvin 489,512 50.98%
Democratic George Keverian 287,626 29.95%
Democratic Dick Kraus 182,715 19.03%
Write-in 436 0.05%
Total votes 960,289 100.00%

General election

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1990 [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joe Malone 1,298,521 57.24% Increase15.57
Democratic William F. Galvin 825,808 36.41% Decrease19.90
Ind. High Tech C. David Nash 143,324 6.32% N/A
Write-in 753 0.03% Steady
Total votes 2,268,406 100.00%

Auditor

1990 Massachusetts Auditor election
 
Nominee A. Joseph DeNucci Douglas J. Murray Steven K. Sherman
Party Democratic Republican Ind. High Tech
Popular vote 1,298,521 801,116 183,136
Percentage 57.2% 36.9% 8.4%

Auditor before election

A. Joseph DeNucci
Democratic

Elected Auditor

A. Joseph DeNucci
Democratic

Democrat A. Joseph DeNucci was re-elected Auditor. He defeated Republican Douglas J. Murray and Independent candidate Steven K. Sherman.

Massachusetts Auditor Election, 1990 [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic A. Joseph DeNucci (incumbent) 1,187,241 54.66% Decrease8.53
Republican Douglas J. Murray 801,116 36.88% Increase0.07
Ind. High Tech Steven K. Sherman 183,136 8.43% N/A
Write-in 607 0.03% Increase0.02
Total votes 2,268,406 100.00%

United States Senator

Democratic incumbent John Kerry was re-elected over Republican Jim Rappaport.

Ballot questions

Question 1

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution – The proposed constitutional amendment would repeal the constitutional provision that a state census be taken and used as the basis for determining state representative, senatorial, and councilor districts. The proposed constitutional amendment would provide that the federal census shall be the basis for determining such districts.[12]

Proposed Legislative Amendment to the Constitution [12]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 1,731,341 78.29%
No 479,999 21.71%

Question 2

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition - The proposed law sought to place restrictions on the State’s use of consultants. It sought various limits on the amount of profit, overhead charges and expenses that the State could pay consultants. The duration of consultant contracts was for two years and any extension to one year, and such contracts could be changed only if payments exceeded the original contract. The proposed initiative sought to limit to $100,000 the amount the State could pay on a consultant contract with an individual and would require all other consultant contracts in excess of $25,000 to be awarded through competitive bidding. It sought to prohibit consultants from supervising State employees, and it would limit the use of consultants as substitutes for State employee positions.[13]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [13]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 1,038,174 45.64%
No 1,236,739 54.36%

Question 3

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition – The proposed initiative would have changed the state income tax rate, affected language contained in certain tax provisions, and regulated the setting of fees by state agencies and authorities.[14]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [14]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 935,337 40.09%
No 1,397,542 59.91%

Question 4

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition – This proposed initiative sought to change the state election laws governing the establishment of political parties and the nomination of candidates.[15]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [15]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 1,134,535 52.46%
No 1,027,966 47.54%

Question 5

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition – This proposed initiative sought to regulate the distribution to cities and towns of the Local Aid Fund, which consists of at least 40% of the revenue generated by the state income, sales, and corporate taxes, as well as the balance of the State Lottery Fund.[16]

Law Proposed by Initiative Petition [16]
Candidate Votes  % ±
Yes 1,242,270 56.68%
No 949,561 43.32%

References

  1. Butterfield, Fox; Times, Special To the New York (September 20, 1990). "THE 1990 CAMPAIGN; STUNNING PRIMARY IN MASSACHUSETTS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  2. Butterfield, Fox; Times, Special To the New York (November 8, 1990). "THE 1990 ELECTIONS: Massachusetts; Weld Reaffirms Pledge To Shrink Government". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  3. "Our Campaigns - MA Attorney General - D Primary Race - Sep 19, 1990". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  4. Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990.
  5. "Our Campaigns - MA Attorney General Race - Nov 08, 1994". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  6. "Sports Extra: People". Daily News of Los Angeles. January 14, 1990.
  7. Lehigh, Scot (February 23, 1990). "Ex-Celtic Cowens Bows Out of GOP Race for Secretary of State". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  8. "Our Campaigns - MA Secretary of State Race - Nov 06, 1990". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  9. "Our Campaigns - MA Treasurer - D Primary Race - Sep 18, 1990". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  10. "Our Campaigns - MA Treasurer Race - Nov 06, 1990". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  11. "Our Campaigns - MA Auditor Race - Nov 06, 1990". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  12. 1 2 Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990.
  13. 1 2 Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990.
  14. 1 2 Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990.
  15. 1 2 Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990.
  16. 1 2 Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990.
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