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Florida gubernatorial election, 1990

Florida gubernatorial election, 1990
Florida
1986 ←
November 6, 1990 → 1994

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

Gov 1990 fl.png

County Results

Governor before election

Bob Martinez
Republican

Elected Governor

Lawton Chiles
Democratic


Gov 1990 fl.png

Bob Martinez
Republican

Lawton Chiles
Democratic

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

Republican incumbent 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.

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.


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