1990 Massachusetts elections explained

Election Name:1990 Massachusetts general election
Type:parliamentary
Country:Massachusetts
Previous Election:1988 Massachusetts general election
Previous Year:1988
Next Election:1992 Massachusetts general election
Next Year:1992
Election Date:November 6, 1990
Seats For Election: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

See main article: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1990. 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

Election Name:1990 Massachusetts Attorney General election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1986 Massachusetts elections#Attorney General
Previous Year:1986
Next Election:1994 Massachusetts elections#Attorney General
Next Year:1994
Nominee1:Scott Harshbarger
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,442,359
Percentage1:64.1%
Nominee2:William C. Sawyer
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:808,398
Percentage2:35.9%
Map Size:250px
Attorney General
Before Election:James Shannon
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Scott Harshbarger
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Secretary of the Commonwealth

Election Name:1990 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1986 Massachusetts elections#Secretary of the Commonwealth
Previous Year:1986
Next Election:1994 Massachusetts elections#Secretary of the Commonwealth
Next Year:1994
Nominee1:Michael J. Connolly
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,011,303
Percentage1:45.9%
Nominee2:Paul McCarthy
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:844,085
Percentage2:38.3%
Nominee3:Barbara Ahearn
Party3:Ind. High Tech
Color3:E6E6E6
Popular Vote3:143,324
Percentage3:15.8%
Map Size:250px
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Before Election:Michael J. Connolly
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Michael J. Connolly
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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.[3] [4]

General election

Candidates

Results

Treasurer and Receiver-General

Election Name:1990 Massachusetts Treasurer election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1986 Massachusetts elections#Treasurer and Receiver-General
Previous Year:1986
Next Election:1994 Massachusetts elections#Treasurer and Receiver-General
Next Year:1994
Nominee1:Joe Malone
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,298,521
Percentage1:57.2%
Nominee2:William F. Galvin
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:825,808
Percentage2:36.4%
Nominee3:C. David Nash
Party3:Ind. High Tech
Color3:E6E6E6
Popular Vote3:143,324
Percentage3:6.3%
Map Size:250px
Treasurer and Receiver-General
Before Election:Robert Q. Crane
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Joe Malone
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

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

General election

Auditor

Election Name:1990 Massachusetts Auditor election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1986 Massachusetts elections#Auditor
Previous Year:1986
Next Election:1994 Massachusetts elections#Auditor
Next Year:1994
Nominee1:A. Joseph DeNucci
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,298,521
Percentage1:57.2%
Nominee2:Douglas J. Murray
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:801,116
Percentage2:36.9%
Nominee3:Steven K. Sherman
Party3:Ind. High Tech
Color3:E6E6E6
Popular Vote3:183,136
Percentage3:8.4%
Map Size:250px
Auditor
Before Election:A. Joseph DeNucci
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:A. Joseph DeNucci
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

United States Senator

See main article: Massachusetts United States Senate election, 1990. 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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: Butterfield . Fox . Times . Special To the New York . 1990-09-20 . THE 1990 CAMPAIGN; STUNNING PRIMARY IN MASSACHUSETTS . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-05-12 . 0362-4331.
  2. News: Butterfield . Fox . Times . Special To the New York . 1990-11-08 . THE 1990 ELECTIONS: Massachusetts; Weld Reaffirms Pledge To Shrink Government . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-05-12 . 0362-4331.
  3. News: Sports Extra: People. Daily News of Los Angeles. January 14, 1990.
  4. News: Lehigh. Scot. Ex-Celtic Cowens Bows Out of GOP Race for Secretary of State. https://archive.today/20120715063834/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61589566.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. dead. July 15, 2012. 20 April 2011. Boston Globe. February 23, 1990.
  5. Book: Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990 .
  6. Book: Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990 .
  7. Book: Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990 .
  8. Book: Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990 .
  9. Book: Massachusetts Election Statistics 1990 .