1990 Florida gubernatorial election

1990 Florida gubernatorial election

November 6, 1990

Nominee Lawton Chiles Bob Martinez Party Democratic Republican Running mate Buddy MacKay J. Allison DeFoor Popular vote 1,995,206 1,535,068 Percentage 56.5% 43.5%

County results Chiles:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Martinez:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Bob Martinez Republican Elected Governor Lawton Chiles Democratic

The 1990 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Republican Governor Bob Martinez ran for a second term in office, but was defeated by Democratic challenger Lawton Chiles, a former U.S. Senator.

Overview

Incumbent Republican Governor Bob Martinez, who was just the 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	%
	Republican	Bob Martinez (incumbent)	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
Total votes			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	%
	Democratic	Lawton Chiles	746,325	69.5
	Democratic	Bill Nelson	327,731	30.5
Total votes			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 (incumbent)	1,535,068	43.48	−11.09
	Write-in		597	0.0	N/A
Total votes			3,530,871	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic gain from Republican