The 1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic governor Robert P. Casey easily defeated RepublicanBarbara Hafer. Governor Casey defeated Hafer by a margin of 35.29%, and carried 66 out of 67 Pennsylvania counties.
This was the first election since 1974 that a Democrat carried Bucks County, the first since 1906 that a Democrat won Chester County, the first since 1829 that a Democrat won Delaware County, and the last time as of 2023 that a Democrat won York County.
Casey achieved the second-largest gubernatorial landslide in the state in the 20th century (and the largest victory for a Democrat), losing only Montgomery County by just 586 votes.[1]
Incumbent Bob Casey was challenged by Philip J. Berg, an attorney and perennial candidate from Montgomery County. Endorsed Republican candidate Barbara Hafer, Auditor General and former candidate for Lt. Governor, won a surprisingly close race over Peg Luksik, an outspoken opponent of abortion rights.[citation needed]
Casey had maintained enormous popularity in the state,[4] was considered to have a generally positive record from his first term as governor, and was endorsed by major newspapers statewide, including The Philadelphia Inquirer.[5] In addition, Casey had the traditionally strong backing of urban voters and organized labor, and performed well in many heavily Republican, rural counties, as he was seen as a relatively conservative populist.
The campaign briefly turned ugly when Hafer, a pro-choice Republican who had attempted to position herself as the more liberal candidate, referred to Casey as a "redneck Irishman." Her comment, which was widely reported, helped to alienate both rural voters and those of Irish descent. Unable to gain a funding foothold or to carve out a strong public image, and trailing in the polls by forty percent on election day,[6] Hafer was subsequently defeated by Casey by a large margin.[1]
^ abKennedy, John J. (2006). Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests From 1950-2004. University Press of America. ISBN9780761832799.
^"Our Campaigns - PA Governor - D Primary Race - May 15, 1990".
^"Our Campaigns - PA Governor- R Primary Race - May 15, 1990".
^Singleton, David. "Gubernatorial candidates now await decision of voters: Casey winds up campaign in home region." Scranton, Pennsylvania: The Tribune, November 6, 1990, p. 3 (subscription required).
^"Editorials: Endorsements." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 6, 1990, p. 10 (subscription required).
^Bradley-Steck, Tara. "Gubernatorial candidates now await decision of voters: Underdog Hafer remains optimistic." Scranton, Pennsylvania: The Tribune, November 6, 1990, p. 3 (subscription required).
1990, pennsylvania, gubernatorial, election, held, november, 1990, incumbent, democratic, governor, robert, casey, easily, defeated, republican, barbara, hafer, governor, casey, defeated, hafer, margin, carried, pennsylvania, counties, 1986, november, 1990, 19. The 1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 6 1990 Incumbent Democratic governor Robert P Casey easily defeated Republican Barbara Hafer Governor Casey defeated Hafer by a margin of 35 29 and carried 66 out of 67 Pennsylvania counties 1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election 1986 November 6 1990 1990 11 06 1994 Nominee Bob Casey Barbara HaferParty Democratic RepublicanRunning mate Mark Singel Harold MoweryPopular vote 2 065 244 987 516Percentage 67 6 32 3 County resultsCongressional district resultsCasey 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 Hafer 50 60 Governor before electionRobert P CaseyDemocratic Elected Governor Robert P CaseyDemocraticThis was the first election since 1974 that a Democrat carried Bucks County the first since 1906 that a Democrat won Chester County the first since 1829 that a Democrat won Delaware County and the last time as of 2023 that a Democrat won York County Casey achieved the second largest gubernatorial landslide in the state in the 20th century and the largest victory for a Democrat losing only Montgomery County by just 586 votes 1 Contents 1 Primary elections 2 General Election 2 1 Candidates 2 1 1 Democratic 2 1 2 Republican 2 2 Campaign 2 3 Results 3 Notes 4 ReferencesPrimary elections editIncumbent Bob Casey was challenged by Philip J Berg an attorney and perennial candidate from Montgomery County Endorsed Republican candidate Barbara Hafer Auditor General and former candidate for Lt Governor won a surprisingly close race over Peg Luksik an outspoken opponent of abortion rights citation needed Pennsylvania gubernatorial Democratic primary election 1990 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bob Casey 636 594 77 54Democratic Philip J Berg 184 365 22 46Pennsylvania gubernatorial Republican primary election 1990 3 Party Candidate Votes Republican Barbara Hafer 321 026 54 43Republican Peg Luksik 268 773 45 57General Election editCandidates edit Democratic edit Bob Casey incumbent Governor running mate Mark Singel incumbent Lieutenant GovernorRepublican edit Barbara Hafer State Auditor General running mate Harold Mowery State RepresentativeCampaign edit Casey had maintained enormous popularity in the state 4 was considered to have a generally positive record from his first term as governor and was endorsed by major newspapers statewide including The Philadelphia Inquirer 5 In addition Casey had the traditionally strong backing of urban voters and organized labor and performed well in many heavily Republican rural counties as he was seen as a relatively conservative populist The campaign briefly turned ugly when Hafer a pro choice Republican who had attempted to position herself as the more liberal candidate referred to Casey as a redneck Irishman Her comment which was widely reported helped to alienate both rural voters and those of Irish descent Unable to gain a funding foothold or to carve out a strong public image and trailing in the polls by forty percent on election day 6 Hafer was subsequently defeated by Casey by a large margin 1 Results edit Pennsylvania gubernatorial election 1990 7 8 Party Candidate Running mate Votes PercentageDemocratic Bob Casey incumbent Mark Singel incumbent 2 065 244 67 63 Republican Barbara Hafer Harold Mowery 987 463 32 34 Write ins Write ins 906 0 03 Totals 3 053 666 100 00 Voter turnout Voting age population 53 96 Notes edit a b Kennedy John J 2006 Pennsylvania Elections Statewide Contests From 1950 2004 University Press of America ISBN 9780761832799 Our Campaigns PA Governor D Primary Race May 15 1990 Our Campaigns PA Governor R Primary Race May 15 1990 Singleton David Gubernatorial candidates now await decision of voters Casey winds up campaign in home region Scranton Pennsylvania The Tribune November 6 1990 p 3 subscription required Editorials Endorsements Philadelphia Pennsylvania The Philadelphia Inquirer November 6 1990 p 10 subscription required Bradley Steck Tara Gubernatorial candidates now await decision of voters Underdog Hafer remains optimistic Scranton Pennsylvania The Tribune November 6 1990 p 3 subscription required The Pennsylvania Manual p 671 The Pennsylvania Manual p 633 References editDiFlaviana Kathleen ed 1991 The Pennsylvania Manual Vol 110 Harrisburg Pennsylvania Department of General Services ISBN 0 8182 0145 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election amp oldid 1200137164, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
