Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1990
Encyclopedia
The 1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Republican
William Weld
was elected Governor of Massachusetts
for the first time. He beat Democrat
John Silber
to become the first Republican Governor of Massachusetts since 1975.
did not run for a fourth term. Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Murphy
, Boston University
president John Silber
, former Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General Francis X. Bellotti
, and State Representative John H. Flood
ran for the Democratic nomination.
Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn
was a front-runner for the Democratic nomination, however on January 5, 1989, Flynn announced that he would not run for Governor.
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%.
A week before the primary, Evelyn Murphy dropped out of the race and threw her support to Bellotti. Despite having Murphy's support and a 15 point lead in the polls, Bellotti was upset by Silber, a political outsider who had run a provocative campaign filled with controversial statements known as "Silber Shockers".
, former MDC Commissioner Guy Carbone
, and former Congressman Paul W. Cronin
ran for the Republican nomination.
Many prominate Republicans, including White House Chief of Staff
John Sununu
and 1986 gubernatorial nominee George Kariotis
encouraged former Democratic Governor-turned Republican Edward J. King
to enter the race. In October 1989, King announced that he would not run for Governor.
Before the Republican Convention, Carbone dropped out of the Governor's race to run for Attorney General.
On September 30, 1989, State Senator Paul Cellucci, who had been considering a run for Governor announced that he would instead become William Weld's running mate.
At the Republican Convention, Pierce received 2,672 votes (52.6%), Weld received 1,845 (36.3), and Cronin received 563 (11.1%). Cronin was not able to run in the primary because he did not receive the 15% necessary to make the ballot. Pierce received enough votes to have a "supermajority", which made Pierce the official nominee of the Republican Party.
During the campaign, Weld attacked Pierce's anti-abortion stance while Pierce claimed that Weld had changed his position on abortion. Pierce also touted his ability to win in a House seat Democratic district while Weld had lost to the Democratic front-runner for governor Francis Bellotti in the 1978 Attorney General's race.
Despite losing the convention and trailing Pierce in the polls, Weld was able to come-from-behind and defeated Pierce in the Republican primary.
and State Representatives Marjorie Clapprood
and Nicholas Paleologos
sought to replace her on the Democratic ticket. Clapprood easily won the nomination, defeating her nearest opponent by over 22%.
State Senator Paul Cellucci
defeated State Representative Peter G. Torkildsen
for the Republican nomination.
. Silber's blunt personality and controversial comments led many Democrats to vote for Weld.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
William Weld
William Weld
William Floyd Weld is a former governor of the US state of Massachusetts. He served as that state's 68th governor from 1991 to 1997. From 1981 to 1988, he was a federal prosecutor in the United States Justice Department...
was elected Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
for the first time. He beat Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
John Silber
John Silber
John Robert Silber is an American academician and former candidate for public office. From 1971 to 1996 he was President of Boston University and from 1996 to 2003 Chancellor of the University. Since 2003 he has been its President Emeritus. In 1990, Silber took a leave of absence from the...
to become the first Republican Governor of Massachusetts since 1975.
Democratic
Incumbent Governor Michael DukakisMichael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
did not run for a fourth term. Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Murphy
Evelyn Murphy
Evelyn Murphy was the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1991, being the first woman in the history of the state to hold a constitutional office...
, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
president John Silber
John Silber
John Robert Silber is an American academician and former candidate for public office. From 1971 to 1996 he was President of Boston University and from 1996 to 2003 Chancellor of the University. Since 2003 he has been its President Emeritus. In 1990, Silber took a leave of absence from the...
, former Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General Francis X. Bellotti
Francis X. Bellotti
Francis Xavier Bellotti is an American lawyer and politician. In his first campaign he was the Democratic nominee for District Attorney of Norfolk County in 1958, but was defeated in the general election. In 1962 Bellotti was elected as Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
, and State Representative John H. Flood
John H. Flood
John H. Flood is 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....
ran for the Democratic nomination.
Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn
Raymond Flynn
Raymond Leo Flynn , also known as Ray Flynn, served as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bill Clinton.-Early life:...
was a front-runner for the Democratic nomination, however on January 5, 1989, Flynn announced that he would not run for Governor.
The Democratic Convention was held on June 2, 1990 at the Springfield Civic Center
MassMutual Center
The MassMutual Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center, in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Built in the city's Metro Center across from Court Square, the facility opened in 1972 as the Springfield Civic Center and was at that time considered to be the largest arena in the...
. 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%.
A week before the primary, Evelyn Murphy dropped out of the race and threw her support to Bellotti. Despite having Murphy's support and a 15 point lead in the polls, Bellotti was upset by Silber, a political outsider who had run a provocative campaign filled with controversial statements known as "Silber Shockers".
Republican
Former United States Attorney William Weld, State Representative Steven PierceSteven Pierce
Steven D. Pierce is a Massachusetts jurist and politician who currently serves as Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Housing Court.A graduate of Union College and the Duke University School of Law, Pierce worked as an attorney before being elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1978...
, former MDC Commissioner Guy Carbone
Guy Carbone
Guy A. Carbone is an American attorney and Perennial candidate in Massachusetts who was Metropolitan District Commissioner from 1979–1980.-Electoral history:-Other races:...
, and former Congressman Paul W. Cronin
Paul W. Cronin
Paul William Cronin was a one-term congressman of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts.Cronin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 14, 1938 and graduated from Boston University in 1962 and the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1969...
ran for the Republican nomination.
Many prominate Republicans, including White House Chief of Staff
White House Chief of Staff
The White House Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President.The current White House Chief of Staff is Bill Daley.-History:...
John Sununu
John H. Sununu
John Henry Sununu is a former Governor of New Hampshire and former White House Chief of Staff under President George H. W. Bush. He is the father of John E. Sununu, a former senator from New Hampshire, and formerly a U.S. Representative...
and 1986 gubernatorial nominee George Kariotis
George Kariotis
George S. Kariotis is a businessman who was the Republican Party nominee for Governor of Massachusetts in 1986.Kariotis is the son of Greek immigrants. He graduated from Northeastern University in 1940, and then served in the United States Navy during World War II. In 1962, he founded Alpha...
encouraged former Democratic Governor-turned Republican Edward J. King
Edward J. King
Edward Joseph "Ed" King was the 66th Governor of the U.S. state of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983.Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Boston College and Bentley College, King played professional football as a guard with the All-America Football Conference Buffalo Bisons from 1948 to...
to enter the race. In October 1989, King announced that he would not run for Governor.
Before the Republican Convention, Carbone dropped out of the Governor's race to run for Attorney General.
On September 30, 1989, State Senator Paul Cellucci, who had been considering a run for Governor announced that he would instead become William Weld's running mate.
At the Republican Convention, Pierce received 2,672 votes (52.6%), Weld received 1,845 (36.3), and Cronin received 563 (11.1%). Cronin was not able to run in the primary because he did not receive the 15% necessary to make the ballot. Pierce received enough votes to have a "supermajority", which made Pierce the official nominee of the Republican Party.
During the campaign, Weld attacked Pierce's anti-abortion stance while Pierce claimed that Weld had changed his position on abortion. Pierce also touted his ability to win in a House seat Democratic district while Weld had lost to the Democratic front-runner for governor Francis Bellotti in the 1978 Attorney General's race.
Despite losing the convention and trailing Pierce in the polls, Weld was able to come-from-behind and defeated Pierce in the Republican primary.
Lt. Governor
With incumbent Lt. Governor Evelyn Murphy running for Governor, State Senator William B. GoldenWilliam B. Golden
William Brownell Golden is an American attorney and politician who represented the Norfolk and Plymouth district in the Massachusetts Senate from 1985–1991. He was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1990, but lost in the Democratic primary to Marjorie Clapprood.-References:...
and State Representatives Marjorie Clapprood
Marjorie Clapprood
Marjorie O'Neill Clapprood is a former Massachusetts politician and talk show host who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1985-1991....
and Nicholas Paleologos
Nicholas Paleologos
Nicholas "Nick" A. Paleologos is an American film producer and politician.-Politics:Paleologos was a member of the Woburn School Committee from 1974–1975 and represented the 33rd Middlesex district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1977–1991...
sought to replace her on the Democratic ticket. Clapprood easily won the nomination, defeating her nearest opponent by over 22%.
State Senator Paul Cellucci
Paul Cellucci
Argeo Paul Cellucci is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts and US Ambassador to Canada.-Early life and career:...
defeated State Representative Peter G. Torkildsen
Peter G. Torkildsen
Peter Gerard Torkildsen is the former Massachusetts Republican State Committee Chairman. He is also a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a Republican from Massachusetts. He currently works in the private sector....
for the Republican nomination.
General election
William Weld defeated John Silber to become the state's first Republican Governor since Francis W. SargentFrancis W. Sargent
Francis William Sargent was the 64th Governor of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1975. Born in 1915 in Hamilton, Massachusetts, he was known for his sharp wit and self-deprecating manner...
. Silber's blunt personality and controversial comments led many Democrats to vote for Weld.
Other races
- RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Paul CellucciPaul CellucciArgeo Paul Cellucci is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts and US Ambassador to Canada.-Early life and career:...
was elected Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of MassachusettsThe Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
for the first time. Democratic incumbent Lieutenant Governor Evelyn MurphyEvelyn MurphyEvelyn Murphy was the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1991, being the first woman in the history of the state to hold a constitutional office...
did not run. - Proposition 3, a legislative referendum that would have cut taxes, was defeated.