The 1990 Illinois gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Governor James R. Thompson chose to retire instead of seeking reelection to a fifth term. Republican candidate Jim Edgar won his first of two terms in office, defeating Democrat Neil Hartigan by a narrow margin of about 80,000 votes. This election was the first open-seat gubernatorial election in Illinois since 1952.
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Turnout | 54.00% 1.63 pp | |||||||||||||||||||
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County results Edgar: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Hartigan: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal elections (Senate and House), as well as those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1990 Illinois elections.
For the primaries, turnout for the gubernatorial primaries was 26.11%, with 1,570,596 votes cast and turnout for the lieutenant gubernatorial primaries was 21.67% with 1,303,250 votes cast.[1] For the general election, turnout was 54.00%, with 3,257,410 votes cast.[2]
Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, running unopposed.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Neil F. Hartigan | 802,901 | 100 | |
Total votes | 802,901 | 100 |
James B. Burns, future attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, won the Democratic nomination, running unopposed.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | James B. Burns | 719,091 | 100 | |
Total votes | 719,091 | 100 |
Illinois Secretary of State Jim Edgar defeated investor and political activist Steve Baer, as well as perennial candidate Robert Marshall.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jim Edgar | 482,441 | 62.84 | |
Republican | Steve Baer | 256,889 | 33.46 | |
Republican | Robert Marshall | 28,365 | 3.69 | |
Total votes | 767,695 | 100 |
Illinois State Senator Bob Kustra won the Republican primary for lieutenant governor.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bob Kustra | 584,121 | 100 | |
Republican | Henry Gillman | 38 | 0.00 | |
Total votes | 584,159 | 100 |
Only 13 votes were cast in the primary, all write in votes for Jeff W. Smith. The party, nevertheless, ultimately nominated Jessie Fields.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Write-in | Jeff W. Smith | 13 | 100 | |
Total votes | 13 | 100 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jim Edgar | 1,653,126 | 50.75 | -1.92 | |
Democratic | Neil Hartigan | 1,569,217 | 48.17 | +41.53 | |
Illinois Solidarity | Jessie Fields | 35,067 | 1.08 | -38.89 | |
Majority | 83,909 | 2.58 | -10.12 | ||
Turnout | 3,257,410 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing |