Florida gubernatorial election, 1990

Florida gubernatorial election, 1990

1986 ← November 6, 1990 → 1994

Nominee Lawton Chiles Bob Martinez (inc.) Party Democratic Republican Running mate Buddy MacKay J. Allison DeFoor Popular vote 1,995,206 1,535,068 Percentage 56.51% 43.48%

Governor before election Bob Martinez Republican Elected Governor Lawton Chiles Democratic

Elections in Florida
Federal government Presidential elections 1860 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Presidential primaries Democratic 2008 2012 Republican 2008 2012 U.S. Senate elections 1968 1970 1976 1980 1982 1986 1988 1992 1994 1998 2000 2004 2006 2010 2012 U.S. House elections 2006 5th 8th 9th 16th 2008 2010 2012 2014
State government Gubernatorial elections 1966 1970 1974 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 Attorney General elections 2002 2006 2010 2014 Chief Financial Officer elections 2006 2010 Agriculture Commissioner of Florida 1994 2006 2010 Ballot measures Other elections 2006 2010
Jacksonville Mayoral elections 2003 2007 2011
Tampa Mayoral elections 2011
Orlando Mayoral elections 2012

The Florida gubernatorial election of 1990 took place on November 6.

Overview

Republican incumbent Bob Martinez, who was just a second member of his party elected Governor of Florida after Reconstruction, was deeply unpopular. His job approval rating had sunk to around 24% after, in 1989, he called the Florida Legislature into special session in an effort to pass pro-life laws. None of the governor's proposals made it out of committee.

Republican primary

Republican primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Bob Martinez	460,718	69.00%
	Republican	Marlene Woodson Howard	132,565	19.80%
	Republican	John Davis	34,720	5.20%
	Republican	Andy Martin	28,591	4.30%
	Republican	Warren H. Folks	11,587	1.70%
Totals			668,181	100%

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary was a contest between former United States Senator Lawton Chiles and United States Representative Bill Nelson.

The 60-year old Chiles, who retired after three terms from the Senate in 1989 after serious health problems, was challenged by the younger 47-year old Nelson, who questioned his health in the campaign and presented himself as alternative.

This, however, backfired on Nelson and cost him the election; the elderly population in Florida took great offense to Nelson's attacks and, in turn, voted for Chiles.

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Lawton Chiles	746,325	69.5%
	Democratic	Bill Nelson	327,731	30.5%
Totals			1,074,056	100%

Campaign finances

• Chiles/MacKay - $5,244,170.00.
• Martinez/DeFoor - $10,625,793.00.

General election

Florida gubernatorial election, 1990
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Lawton Chiles	1,995,206	56.51	+11.07
	Republican	Bob Martinez	1,535,068	43.48	-11.09
	Write-ins		597	0.0	0
Majority			460,138	13.03	+3.91
Turnout			3,530,871
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing