# 1990 Iowa gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 1990 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 8, 1990. Incumbent Republican Governor of Iowa Terry Branstad ran for re-election to a third term as governor. On the Democratic side, state representative Donald Avenson won his party's nomination and both Branstad and Avenson moved on to the general election. Branstad won re-election to a third term as governor, defeating Avenson by a margin of over 20 points.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Donald Avenson, former Iowa State Representative
* Tom Miller, former and subsequent Iowa Attorney General
* Jo Ann Zimmerman, Iowa Lieutenant Governor
* John Crystal
* Darold Powers

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald Avenson | 79,022 | 39.45 |
| | Democratic | Tom Miller | 63,364 | 31.63 |
| | Democratic | John Crystal | 52,170 | 26.05 |
| | Democratic | Jo Ann Zimmerman | 4,475 | 2.23 |
| | Democratic | Darold Powers | 1,167 | 0.58 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 107 | 0.05 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 200,305 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Terry Branstad, incumbent Governor of Iowa

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Terry Branstad (inc.) | 94,253 | 99.52 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 453 | 0.47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 94,706 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

Iowa gubernatorial election, 1990 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Terry Branstad (inc.) | 591,852 | 60.61% | +8.70% |
| | Democratic | Donald Avenson | 379,372 | 38.85% | −9.14% |
| | Socialist Workers | Nan Bailey | 4,263 | 0.44% | |
| | Write-ins | | 996 | 0.10% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 976,483 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |