1990 Massachusetts elections

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

1990 Massachusetts general election

← 1988November 6, 19901992 →

Part of the
1990 United States elections

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
← 1986
1994 →
 
NomineeScott HarshbargerWilliam C. Sawyer
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Popular vote1,442,359808,398
Percentage64.1%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]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticScott Harshbarger 533,481 53.56%
DemocraticJames Shannon (incumbent)462,29646.41%
Write-in2530.03%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Attorney General Republican Primary, 1990 [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanWilliam C. Sawyer 199,567 52.73%
RepublicanGuy Carbone178,66947.21%
Write-in2310.00%

General election

Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 1990 [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticScott Harshbarger 1,442,359 64.06% 9.41
RepublicanWilliam C. Sawyer808,39835.90% 9.44
Write-in7830.04% 0.03
Total votes2,251,540 100.00%

Secretary of the Commonwealth

1990 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election
← 1986
1994 →
 
NomineeMichael J. ConnollyPaul McCarthyBarbara Ahearn
PartyDemocraticRepublicanInd. High Tech
Popular vote1,011,303844,085143,324
Percentage45.9%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]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticMichael J. Connolly (incumbent) 1,011,303 45.88% 22.13
RepublicanPaul McCarthy844,08538.29% 6.30
Ind. High TechBarbara F. Ahearn347,70315.77%N/A
Write-in1,1290.05% 0.05
Total votes2,244,220 100.00%

Treasurer and Receiver-General

1990 Massachusetts Treasurer election
← 1986
1994 →
 
NomineeJoe MaloneWilliam F. GalvinC. David Nash
PartyRepublicanDemocraticInd. High Tech
Popular vote1,298,521825,808143,324
Percentage57.2%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]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticWilliam F. Galvin 489,512 50.98%
DemocraticGeorge Keverian287,62629.95%
DemocraticDick Kraus182,71519.03%
Write-in4360.05%
Total votes960,289 100.00%

General election

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1990 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
RepublicanJoe Malone 1,298,521 57.24% 15.57
DemocraticWilliam F. Galvin825,80836.41% 19.90
Ind. High TechC. David Nash143,3246.32%N/A
Write-in7530.03%
Total votes2,268,406 100.00%

Auditor

1990 Massachusetts Auditor election
← 1986
1994 →
 
NomineeA. Joseph DeNucciDouglas J. MurraySteven K. Sherman
PartyDemocraticRepublicanInd. High Tech
Popular vote1,298,521801,116183,136
Percentage57.2%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]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticA. Joseph DeNucci (incumbent) 1,187,241 54.66% 8.53
RepublicanDouglas J. Murray801,11636.88% 0.07
Ind. High TechSteven K. Sherman183,1368.43%N/A
Write-in6070.03% 0.02
Total votes2,268,406 100.00%

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]
CandidateVotes%±
Yes1,731,34178.29%
No479,99921.71%

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]
CandidateVotes%±
Yes1,038,17445.64%
No1,236,73954.36%

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]
CandidateVotes%±
Yes935,33740.09%
No1,397,54259.91%

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]
CandidateVotes%±
Yes1,134,53552.46%
No1,027,96647.54%

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]
CandidateVotes%±
Yes1,242,27056.68%
No949,56143.32%

References

External links