# 1990 Illinois gubernatorial election

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The 1990 Illinois gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990 to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Illinois. The incumbent Governor Jim Thompson chose to retire instead of seeking reelection to a fifth term. The Republican nominee, Secretary of State Jim Edgar, narrowly defeated the Democratic nominee, Attorney General Neil Hartigan, by about 80,000 votes out of the over 3.2 million cast (a margin of 2.58%).
This was the first open-seat gubernatorial election in Illinois since 1952, which was 38 years previously. A competitive race, it had the narrowest margin of victory for a statewide election in Illinois that cycle and was one of the closest gubernatorial races in the nation that year. At the time, it was the costliest campaign in state history.

## Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal elections (Senate and House), as well as those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1990 Illinois elections.
For the primaries, turnout for the gubernatorial primaries was 26.11%, with 1,570,596 votes cast and turnout for the lieutenant gubernatorial primaries was 21.67% with 1,303,250 votes cast. For the general election, turnout was 54.00%, with 3,257,410 votes cast.

## Democratic primary

Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, running unopposed.

### Governor

Democratic gubernatorial primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Neil F. Hartigan | 802,901 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 802,901 | 100 |

### Lieutenant governor

James B. Burns, future attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, won the Democratic nomination, running unopposed.
Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James B. Burns | 719,091 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 719,091 | 100 |

## Republican primary
### Governor

Illinois Secretary of State Jim Edgar defeated investor and conservative political activist Steve Baer, as well as perennial candidate Robert Marshall.
Republican gubernatorial primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Edgar | 482,441 | 62.84 |
| | Republican | Steve Baer | 256,889 | 33.46 |
| | Republican | Robert Marshall | 28,365 | 3.69 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 767,695 | 100 |

### Lieutenant governor

Illinois State Senator Bob Kustra won the Republican primary for lieutenant governor.
Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Kustra | 584,121 | 100 |
| | Republican | Henry Gillman | 38 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 584,159 | 100 |

## Solidarity primary

Only 13 votes were cast in the primary, all write in votes for Jeff W. Smith. The party, nevertheless, ultimately nominated Jessie Fields.

### Governor

Solidarity gubernatorial primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Write-in | Jeff W. Smith | 13 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13 | 100 |

## General election

1990 gubernatorial election, Illinois f :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jim Edgar | 1,653,126 | 50.75 | −1.92 |
| | Democratic | Neil Hartigan | 1,569,217 | 48.17 | +41.53 |
| | Illinois Solidarity | Jessie Fields | 35,067 | 1.08 | −38.89 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 83,909 | 2.58 | −10.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,257,410 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |