1990 Connecticut gubernatorial election

1990 Connecticut gubernatorial election
← 1986 November 6, 1990 1994 →
Turnout	68.2%
	Weicker: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%; Rowland: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% ; Morrison: 30–40% 50–60%
Governor before election; Bill O'Neill; Democratic	Elected Governor ; Lowell Weicker; A Connecticut Party

The 1990 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990, to elect the governor of Connecticut. It was a three-way race for a seat left open when Governor William A. O'Neill declined to run for re-election. A Connecticut Party nominee Lowell Weicker narrowly won the election, becoming the first candidate who was not a member of one of the two major parties to win a gubernatorial election since the 1974 election in Maine.^[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

John G. Rowland, U.S. Representative from Connecticut's 5th congressional district.

Withdrew

Reginald J. Smith, Senate minority leader from the 8th Senate district.^[3] (endorsed Weicker)
Joel Schiavone, New Haven businessman (later became Comptroller nominee)

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Bruce A. Morrison, U.S. Representative from the 3rd congressional district.

Eliminated in primary

William J. Cibes, state representative from the 39th district.

Convention

Democratic convention, July 14^[4]
Candidate	Round 1
Candidate	Votes	%
Bruce A. Morrison	992	68.60%
William J. Cibes Jr.	454	31.40%
Inactive Ballots	3 ballots

Results

September 11, 1990 Democratic primary
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bruce Morrison	84,771	64.68%
	Democratic	William J. Cibes Jr.	46,294	35.32%
Total votes			131,065	100.00%

General election

Candidates

Bruce Morrison, U.S. Representative from the 3rd congressional district (Democratic)
John G. Rowland, U.S. Representative from the 5th congressional district (Republican)
Lowell Weicker, former Republican U.S. Senator (A Connecticut Party)
Joseph Zdonczyk (Concerned Citizens)

Results

General election results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	A Connecticut Party	Lowell Weicker	460,576	40.36%
	Republican	John G. Rowland	427,840	37.49%
	Democratic	Bruce Morrison	236,641	20.74%
	Concerned Citizens	Joseph Zdonczyk	16,044	1.41%
	Write-in		21	0.00%
Total votes			1,141,122	100.00%
	A Connecticut Party gain from Democratic

References

↑ "Connecticut State Register and Manual, 1991". CT State Library.
↑ "Understanding the 1990 Connecticut Gubernatorial Election". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
↑ Judd Everhart (May 17, 1990). "Foley dismisses GOP defection". The Norwalk Hour.
↑ Michele Jacklin (July 15, 1990). "Morrison wins Democratic endorsement for governor". Hartford Courant – via Newspapers.com.

[1] "Connecticut State Register and Manual, 1991". CT State Library.

[2] "Understanding the 1990 Connecticut Gubernatorial Election". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved August 29, 2016.

[3] Judd Everhart (May 17, 1990). "Foley dismisses GOP defection". The Norwalk Hour.

[4] Michele Jacklin (July 15, 1990). "Morrison wins Democratic endorsement for governor". Hartford Courant – via Newspapers.com.

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