The 1990 Kansas gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Republican Governor Mike Hayden lost re-election to Democratic nominee Joan Finney.[1]
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 County results Finney: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hayden: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The State Treasurer at the time, Finney was elected governor over Hayden in 1990, giving Hayden the distinction of being the first incumbent governor of any state to lose to a woman. In addition to being Kansas's first female governor, she was Kansas' oldest governor at the age of 65 until Laura Kelly took office at the age of 68 in 2019, Kansas' first Roman Catholic Governor, and one of the few anti-abortion Democratic Governors at the time.[2]
As of 2024, this was the last time in which an incumbent Kansas Governor lost a general election.
Background
editHayden was chosen as chair of the Republican Governors Association. His term saw tax cuts and programs to combat substance abuse. A split in the Kansas Republican Party between moderates and conservatives considerably reduced other accomplishments. He was perceived as a moderate; on abortion, for instance, he took a pro-choice position. Because of the legislative gridlock, he did not reinstate the death penalty.
It is speculated that Hayden lost his re-election bid primarily because of voter passage of a property reclassification amendment in Kansas which resulted in property reappraisals – the first in some cases in 20 years – and the resulting property tax increases when market values were applied to properties for tax purposes.
Candidates
editRepublican
edit- Mike Hayden, incumbent Governor
Democratic
edit- Joan Finney, State Treasurer
- John W. Carlin, former Governor
Independent
edit- Christina Campbell-Cline, CPA[3]
General election
editResults
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joan Finney | 380,609 | 48.59% | +0.49% | |
| Republican | Mike Hayden (incumbent) | 333,589 | 42.59% | −9.31% | |
| Independent | Christina Campbell-Cline | 69,127 | 8.82% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 783,325 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
References
edit- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ^ "Feminists for Life Celebrates Pro-Life Women". S.a.:Feminists for Life
- ^ "Independent Files For Governor's Race". The Belleville Telescope. Belleville, Kansas. August 30, 1990. p. 13. Retrieved June 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Kansas". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
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