November 6, 1990 1991 → 29 21 Date 6 November 1990 | 29 governorships 21 governorships 28 20 | |
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United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 6, 1990 in 36 states and two territories. Most elected in these elections would serve for a 4-year term, while those in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont would serve for a 2-year term.
Heading into the elections, there were 20 seats held by Democrats and 16 held by Republicans. By the end of the elections, 19 seats would be held by a Democrat, 15 would be held by a Republican, and two would be held by other parties.
Notably in these elections, there were two people elected from a third party: Former Alaskan governor and Secretary of the Interior under President Nixon Walter Joseph Hickel was elected governor as a part of the Alaskan Independence Party. Former U.S. Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut won on A Connecticut Party's ticket. Two U.S. senators were elected governors that year, Pete Wilson of California and Lawton Chiles of Florida.
In 1988, Arizona voters approved a runoff-style election following the impeachment of governor Evan Mecham. Because no candidate received a majority (50%) of the vote in the November election, a run-off election occurred on February 26, 1991. Note, this style of voting was later repealed in 1992.
The elections coincided with the mid-term elections for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.