1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election Massachusetts presidential no 1986 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 1986 1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 1994 75.85% 18.44https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=8911 Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 06, 1990 www.ourcampaigns.com 6 August 2023 November 6, 1990 File:William F. Weld (MA) (cropped).jpg Bill Weld Republican Party (United States) Paul Cellucci 1,175,817 50.19% File:John Silber (6789866467).jpg John Silber Democratic Party (United States) Marjorie Clapprood 1,099,878 46.94% 300px County results 300px| Municipality results 1 250px Weld: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Silber: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% Governor Michael Dukakis Democratic Party (United States) Bill Weld Republican Party (United States) The 1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic governor Michael Dukakis declined to seek a fourth term. Republican prosecutor Bill Weld won the open seat, beating Democratic university president John Silber to become the first Republican elected governor of Massachusetts since 1970. This was the first open-seat gubernatorial election in Massachusetts since 1960. Primary elections were held on September 18 and were marked by record voter turnout. Both candidates won their respective nominations in major political upsets over more established figures, each of whom held the party's official endorsement and large margins over the eventual victors in most opinion polling. Silber defeated former attorney general and lieutenant governor Francis Bellotti, despite polling behind Bellotti for the entire campaign. Weld defeated Steven Pierce, the Republican leader in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Their victories were immediately labelled a political "revolution" against a major tax increase and the ongoing economic recession.Butterfield Fox Times Special To the New York 1990-09-20 THE 1990 CAMPAIGN; STUNNING PRIMARY IN MASSACHUSETTS https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/20/us/the-1990-campaign-stunning-primary-in-massachusetts.html 2026-07-29 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Democratic primary Governor Candidates Francis Bellotti, former lieutenant governor and attorney general of Massachusetts John Silber, president of Boston University Eliminated at convention John H. Flood, state representative from Canton Withdrew Evelyn Murphy, incumbent lieutenant governor (endorsed Bellotti) Declined Michael Dukakis, incumbent governor since 1983 and Democratic nominee for president of the United States in 19881989-01-03 Dukakis won't seek re-election in 1990 https://www.newspapers.com/article/transcript-telegram-dukakis-wont-seek-r/146146291/ 2024-04-27 Transcript-Telegram 1 Associated Press Raymond Flynn, mayor of BostonHowe Peter J. Flynn's Move to Skip Governor's Race Creates a Political Logjam in Boston https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61386005.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20121106121757/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61386005.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead November 6, 2012 21 April 2011 Boston Globe January 7, 1989 Campaign After Dukakis and Boston mayor Raymond Flynn declined to run, lieutenant governor Evelyn Murphy was the early frontrunner due to strong name recognition and a solid base of support among liberals. In July 1989, she led Francis Bellotti with 42 percent in a Boston Globe poll to 18 percent. However, by November 1989, Bellotti had closed the gap to within 2 percent of Murphy. In January, Boston University president John Silber entered the race. Silber's campaign for the nomination was marked by a series of caustic, politically incorrect statements which came to be called "Silber shockers." For example, in the context of a discussion on healthcare policy, Silber urged prioritizing care for children over the elderly and terminally ill by saying, "Shakespeare was right when he said 'Ripeness is all.' When you've had a long life and you're ripe, then it's time to go."Will George F. 1990-09-23 Opinion THE SILBER SURPRISE. . . A TRIUMPH OVER BLANDNESS https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1990/09/23/the-silber-surprise-a-triumph-over-blandness/a2140d8f-9bd4-4d43-8313-c49c8dd82ef8/ 2026-07-29 The Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 Columnist George Will defended Silber, arguing that he had been misquoted or misrepresented by his opponents and the media, who had equated this statement with "advocacy for genocide." In reaction to his relationship with the media during the primary, Silber remarked, "Typically, I put forward a statement for examination and then develop evidence and argument toward a conclusion. In the context of a political campaign, I've discovered that the first thing one saysand often it is said to attract attentionis taken as the sound bite and the definitive position of the candidate on a subject. If the candidate makes any effort to enlarge upon that sound bite, he is then accused of having changed his position." Bellotti ran his first wave of television ads in January and continued to surge, taking the lead in the race, polling 38 percent to 20 percent and 16 percent for Murphy and Silber, respectively. By May, Silber had surpassed Murphy, and a Boston Herald poll found that Bellotti led with 36 percent to 24 percent for Silber and 19 percent for Murphy. The Murphy campaign downplayed the polling by suggesting it was the result of Silber's advertising campaign, which spent $200,000 in two weeks in April.Weitzman Erik M. May 2, 1990 Silber Moves to Second in Poll https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1990/5/2/silber-moves-to-second-in-poll/ live July 29, 2026 The Harvard Crimson Convention The Democratic Party state convention was held on June 2, 1990, at the Springfield Civic Center. Silber and his supporters made an issue of the 15 percent rule, which requires candidates to receive the support of 15 percent of delegates on the first ballot in order to qualify for the official primary ballot, calling it an "exclusionary" measure. Surveys taken in May suggested that Silber would struggle to reach that threshold despite his popular support, given his heterodox views and support for Bellotti and Murphy from liberals and organized labor, two groups which would dominate the delegate pool. On the first ballot, Bellotti and Murphy easily qualified for the ballot with 42.9 percent and 37 percent of the vote, respectively. Silber narrowly qualified for the ballot with 15.5 percent of the delegates. On the second ballot, Bellotti won the party endorsement with 51 percent of the vote. State representative John H. Flood was eliminated.Massachusetts Dems pick Bellotti for governor at picketed session https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0XUcAAAAIBAJ&pg=6874,392043&dq 21 April 2011 Associated Press June 3, 1990 Post-convention campaign Murphy's campaign continued its decline post-primary, apparently hurt by the public perception that she was close to the unpopular Dukakis.Butterfield Fox Dukakis Accuses No. 2 of Plotting a Coup https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/07/us/dukakis-accuses-no-2-of-plotting-a-coup.html December 20, 2013 The New York Times September 7, 1990 However, efforts to distance herself from Dukakis backfired. Dukakis twice postponed a trade mission to Europe because Murphy had publicly hinted that she would execute her own economic plan while serving as acting governor. After the incident, Murphy's unfavorable rating rose to 49 percent in a Boston Globe poll from 38 percent one month earlier.Wilkie Curtis Murphy Quits Race, Backs Bellotti The Boston Globe September 11, 1990 A week before the primary, Evelyn Murphy dropped out of the race and threw her support to Bellotti.Fox Butterfield Dukakis Antagonist Abandons Primary Race https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/11/us/dukakis-antagonist-abandons-primary-race.html The New York Times September 11, 1990 2010-06-18 Endorsements Silber was endorsed by William Bulger, president of the Massachusetts Senate. Results Despite Murphy's endorsement and a polling lead as high 23 percent in late polls, Bellotti was upset by Silber.Fox Butterfield Silber Wins Democratic Contest in Massachusetts https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/19/us/silber-wins-democratic-contest-in-massachusetts.html The New York Times September 19, 1990 2010-06-18 thumb|Primary results by municipality Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1990 Democratic Party (United States) John Silber 562,222 53.47% Democratic Party (United States) Francis X. Bellotti 459,128 43.67% Democratic Party (United States) Evelyn Murphy (withdrawn) 30,054 2.86% 1,051,404 100.00% The Silber campaign said that exit polling showed that he had fared worst among blacks and women. However, he ran strongly among independents and white men. Polling experts suggested that the major polling miss was the result of participation bias or social-desirability bias, because a large group of voters were reluctant to admit their support for Silber to pollsters after his controversial remarks on blacks, women, and the elderly. Lieutenant governor Candidates Marjorie Clapprood, state representative from Sharon William B. Golden, state senator from Weymouth Nicholas Paleologos, state representative from Woburn Declined Evelyn Murphy, incumbent lieutenant governor (to run for governor) Results Clapprood easily won the nomination, defeating her nearest opponent by over 22%. Massachusetts Democratic lt. gubernatorial primary, 1990 Democratic Party (United States) Marjorie Clapprood 498,241 52.02% Democratic Party (United States) William B. Golden 283,719 29.62% Democratic Party (United States) Nicholas Paleologos 175,558 18.33% 957,518 100.00% Republican primary Governor Candidates Steven Pierce, state representative from Westfield William Weld, former U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts Eliminated at convention Paul W. Cronin, former U.S. representative from Andover Withdrew Guy Carbone, former commissioner of the Metropolitan District Commission (ran for attorney general) Gary Innes, flower shop owner Len Umina, resident of Marlborough (ran as an independent) Declined Paul Cellucci, state senator from Hudson (ran for lieutenant governor)Phillips Frank Cellucci, Weld Join Forces https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61526499.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20121106121846/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61526499.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead November 6, 2012 20 April 2011 Boston Globe September 30, 1989 Edward J. King, former Democratic governorLehigh Scot War Chest is Started and 'King '90' Buttons Ordered https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61530666.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20121106121809/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61530666.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead November 6, 2012 20 April 2011 Boston Globe October 13, 1989Lehigh Scot Some Say Sununu's Push for a King Candidacy Could Backfire https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61526517.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20121106121821/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61526517.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead November 6, 2012 20 April 2011 Boston Globe September 30, 1989Lehigh Scot King Announces He Will Not Run for Governor https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61532357.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20121106121835/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61532357.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead November 6, 2012 21 April 2011 Boston Globe October 17, 1989 Campaign At the Republican convention, Pierce received 2,672 votes (52.6%), Weld received 1,845 (36.3%), and Cronin received 563 (11.1%).Weitzman Erik M. GOP Takes Center Ring at Convention Circus http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1990/3/13/gop-takes-center-ring-at-convention/ 21 April 2011 The Harvard Crimson March 13, 1990 Cronin was not able to run in the primary because he did not receive the 15% necessary to make the ballot.Wilson David B. Something is Awry in 15-Percent Rule https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61606531.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20121106121859/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61606531.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead November 6, 2012 21 April 2011 Boston Globe March 25, 1990 Pierce received enough votes to have a "supermajority", which made Pierce the officially endorsed candidate of the Republican Party. During the campaign, Weld attacked Pierce's anti-abortion stance while Pierce claimed that Weld had changed his position on abortion.Lehigh Scot Weld, Pierce Trade Barbs Over Abortion Positions https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61554382.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20121106121910/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61554382.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead November 6, 2012 20 April 2011 Boston Globe December 16, 1989 Pierce also touted his ability to win a House seat in a Democratic district, while Weld had lost to the Democratic front-runner for governor Francis Bellotti in the 1978 attorney general's race.Turner Robert L. An L-Word That Worries Some Republicans https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61554382.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20121106121910/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61554382.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead November 6, 2012 20 April 2011 Boston Globe March 8, 1990 Results Despite losing the convention and trailing Pierce in the polls, Weld was able to come from behind, and defeated Pierce in the Republican primary. thumb|Primary results by municipality Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary, 1990 Republican Party (United States) Bill Weld 270,319 60.56% Republican Party (United States) Steven Pierce 176,070 39.44% 446,389 100.00% Lieutenant governor Candidates Paul Cellucci, state senator from Hudson (running with Weld) Peter G. Torkildsen, state representative from Danvers (running with Pierce) Results State senator Paul Cellucci, Weld's running mate, defeated state representative Peter G. Torkildsen, Pierce's running mate, for the Republican nomination. Massachusetts Republican lt. gubernatorial election, 1990 Republican Party (United States) Paul Cellucci 241,354 59.41% Republican Party (United States) Peter G. Torkildsen 164,732 40.55% 406,086 100.00% Aftermath Both Cellucci and Torkildsen would go on to higher office; Cellucci succeeded Weld as governor in 1998, and Torkildsen was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. General election Debates + 1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election debates No. Number Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey:black #90ff90  P  Participant  black #FFFFDD  A  Absent  black #ff9090  N  Not invited  black #CCFFCC  I  Invited #f0e68c W Withdrawn Bill Weld John Silber1 Oct. 18, 1990 C-SPAN P P2 Oct. 30, 1990 Boston HeraldWCVB-TVWHDH (TV) R.D. Sahl C-SPAN P P Candidates Mark A. Emanation (Socialist Workers) John Silber, president of Boston University (Democratic) Dorothy Stevens, working mother (Independent; write-in) Leonard Umina, software executive (Independent High Tech) Bill Weld, former U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts and U.S. assistant attorney general (Republican) Leonard Umina, a 38-year old computer executive, ran under the Independent High Tech Party banner, which he co-founded. He campaigned on establishing an independent state agency to store all government documents on a publicly-accessible mainframe to ensure government accountability and transparency, opposition to the economic policies of the Reagan years and support for transfer payments to alleviate poverty. Anzovin, Steven Online freedom https://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue128/46_Online_freedom.php Compute! April 1991 2019-11-18 Mann, Michael P. The Ones With the Vision https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1990/11/5/the-ones-with-the-vision-pbtbwo/ The Harvard Crimson November 5, 1990 2019-11-19 Dorothy L. Stevens, a single mother, ran as a write-in candidate after withdrawing from a campaign for the Democratic nomination. Her platform included a $10 minimum wage and an expansion of welfare benefits. Mark A. Emanation was the candidate of the Socialist Workers Party. Campaign thumb|Weld campaigns in Mashpee with George Bush.|292x292pxIn the fall general election, typical political coalitions were scrambled, with many liberals expressing support for Weld and many conservatives backing Silber.THE 1990 ELECTIONS: STATE BY STATE; Northeast https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/08/us/the-1990-elections-state-by-state-northeast.html?pagewanted=2 The New York Times November 8, 1990 2010-06-18 Boston Oct. 31 Times Special To the New York 1990-11-01 THE 1990 CAMPAIGN; Silber Grabs Attention But Not All the Backing https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/01/us/the-1990-campaign-silber-grabs-attention-but-not-all-the-backing.html 2026-07-29 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 In the final weeks of the campaign, Silber delivered another "shocker," referring Weld as a "back-stabbing son of a bitch" for resigning as United States Attorney to protest the leadership of Edwin Meese. He followed this comment by going on local television and claiming that the proliferation of working mothers had led to an increase in child neglect. One week before election day, Silber's lead in the polls began to vanish after an interview with Natalie Jacobson for WCVB-TV. During the interview, which was held at Silber's home, Silber pushed back on questions about feminism and his earlier remarks on child neglect and abuse, threatening to end the interview, "If I'm into another one of these Silber shocker things, then to hell with this damn program, because I don't need that."https://www.wcvb.com/article/newscenter-5-archives-natalie-jacobson-at-home-with-john-silber/7840177 NewsCenter 5 Archives: Natalie Jacobson at Home with John Silber 2012-09-27 en 2026-07-29 www.wcvb.com When Jacobson asked Silber to reflect on his personal strengths and weaknesses. Silber refused angrily, "You find the weakness. I don't have to go around telling you what's wrong with me. The media have manufactured about 16,000 non-existing qualities that are offensive and attributed them all to me. Let them have their field day." Although the interview was framed to focus on Silber's family and personal life, it has been cited consistently as a decisive moment in the campaign, bringing focus to Silber's anger and interactions with women.Dick Lehr Split screen https://graphics.boston.com/globe/magazine/1-28/featurestory1.shtml Boston Globe 2001-01-28 Kimmel, Daniel M Natalie Jacobson wears many hats Telegram & Gazette June 28, 1996Johnny Diaz After 35 years, Jacobson set to retire http://archive.boston.com/business/articles/2007/07/11/after_35_years_jacobson_set_to_retire/ Boston Globe 2007-07-11 Diaz Johnny Refocused: A year after leaving Channel 5, Natalie Jacobson talks candidly about her life - and about the state of television news The Boston Globe November 11, 2008 Results Bill Weld defeated John Silber to become the state's first Republican governor since Francis W. Sargent in 1975. 1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election Massachusetts Secretary of State 1990 Gubernatorial Election Results https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1990/year_to:1990/office_id:3 Massachusetts Secretary of State 2019-11-19 Republican Party (United States) Bill Weld 1,175,817 50.19% 20.63 Democratic Party (United States) John Silber 1,099,878 46.94% 18.21 Independent High Tech #c0c0c0 Leonard Umina 62,703 2.68% Independent Dorothy Stevens (write-in) 872 0.04% 3,657 0.2% 2,342,927 100.00% As of 2026, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which Amherst, Cambridge, Leverett, Shutesbury and Wendell each voted for the Republican candidate. Results by county Source:https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1972/year_to:2020/office_id:1/stage:General PD43+ » Search Elections PD43+ 6 August 2023 CountyBill WeldRepublicanJohn SilberDemocraticVarious candidatesOther partiesMarginTotal votes cast # % # % # % # %Barnstable 50,911 56.0% 37,474 41.2% 2,491 2.7% 13,437 14.8% 90,876Berkshire 23,562 46.3% 24,953 49.0% 2,415 4.8% -1,391 -2.7% 50,930Bristol 71,420 40.9% 97,046 55.6% 6,050 3.5% -25,626 -14.7% 174,516Dukes 2,559 46.3% 2,720 49.2% 247 4.5% -161 -2.9% 5,526Essex 144,583 52.2% 125,734 45.4% 6,576 2.4% 18,849 6.8% 276,893Franklin 15,101 53.2% 11,822 41.7% 1,449 5.1% 3,279 11.5% 28,372Hampden 67,360 46.1% 73,356 50.2% 5,409 3.7% -5,996 -4.1% 146,125Hampshire 26,626 50.9% 23,495 44.9% 2,237 4.3% 3,131 6.0% 52,358Middlesex 320,188 53.7% 259,059 43.4% 17,435 2.9% 61,129 10.3% 596,682Nantucket 1,466 54.0% 1,166 42.9% 85 3.1% 300 11.1% 2,717Norfolk 149,521 51.8% 132,141 45.8% 7,012 2.4% 17,380 6.0% 288,674Plymouth 94,137 53.2% 79,039 44.2% 4,662 2.6% 15,098 9.0% 178,838Suffolk 77,119 41.8% 102,392 55.5% 4,904 2.7% -25,273 -13.7% 184,415Worcester 130,264 49.0% 129,481 48.7% 6,360 2.3% 783 0.3% 266,005 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Barnstable Essex Franklin Hampshire Middlesex Nantucket Norfolk Plymouth Worcester Aftermath and legacy In 2015, Boston Globe columnist Scot Lehigh compared Silber's bombastic, unfiltered style during the 1990 campaign to that of Donald Trump,Lehigh Scot 2015-08-25 Donald Trump is John Silber redux https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/08/25/donald-trump-john-silber-redux/jfKd9v7DAQo5SgNXzEDrlL/story.html 2026-07-29 The Boston Globe en-US 0743-1791 who went on to win a similarly surprising victory in his party's primary for president of the United States. Unlike Silber, Trump also won the general election. See also 1990 Massachusetts general election, for other races held alongside this one 1989–1990 Massachusetts legislature, for the legislature in office during this election 1991–1992 Massachusetts legislature, for the legislature elected alongside Weld References 2 Category:Massachusetts gubernatorial elections Gubernatorial Massachusetts Category:Bill Weld