Incumbent GovernorJames R. Thompson did not seek reelection to a fifth term. Republican Jim Edgar was elected to succeed him in office, defeating Democrat Neil Hartigan by a narrow margin of about 80,000 votes.
Incumbent Attorney GeneralNeil Hartigan, a Democrat, did not run for a third term, instead opting to run for governor. Democrat Roland Burris was elected to succeed him in office.
Incumbent Secretary of StateJim Edgar, a Republican first appointed in 1981 and subsequently reelected to two full terms, did not seek reelection to another term, instead opting to run for governor. Republican George Ryan was elected to succeed him in office.
Incumbent ComptrollerRoland Burris, a Democrat, did not seek reelection to a fourth term, instead opting to run for Attorney General. Democrat Dawn Clark Netsch was elected to succeed him in office.
Republican Sue Suter, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Aid[7] who previously from 1984 until 1988 had been head of the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services, won the Republican primary unopposed.[1][8] This was Suter's first attempt at elected office.[8]
Incumbent TreasurerJerome Cosentino, a Democrat, did not run for what would have been a third overall (second consecutive) term, instead opting to run for Secretary of State. Democrat Pat Quinn was elected to succeed him in office.
The election saw the reelection of incumbent Democrat Gloria Jackson Bacon to a second term and incumbent Republican Susan Loving Gravenhorst to a third term, as well as the election of new trustee Democrat Thomas R. Lamont.[11]
Fourth-term incumbent Republican Ralph Crane Hahn lost reelection.[11]
Trustees of the University of Illinois election[4][11]
Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 1990.
Ballot measures
Illinois voters voted on a single ballot measure in 1990.[12] In order to be approved, the measure required either 60% support among those specifically voting on the amendment or 50% support among all ballots cast in the elections.[12]
Redemption Periods for Property Sold for Non-Payment of Taxes