1990 Wyoming gubernatorial election
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| Turnout | 71.99% Registered  2.00% 35.30% of Total Population 0.22% | ||||||||||||||||
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 County results Sullivan: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Mead: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Wyoming |
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The 1990 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic Governor Mike Sullivan ran for re-election. In the general election, he faced Republican nominee Mary Mead, a businesswoman and the daughter of former U.S. Senator and Governor Clifford Hansen. Owing to Sullivan's personal popularity, he won re-election over Mead in a landslide, marking the fifth straight Democratic victory in Wyoming's gubernatorial races, a streak that has yet to be broken by either party.
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Mike Sullivan, incumbent Governor
- Ron Clingman, mechanic[1]
Sullivan's campaign was managed by Rich Lindsey.[2]
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike Sullivan (inc.) | 38,447 | 88.44% | |
| Democratic | Ron Clingman | 5,026 | 11.56% | |
| Total votes | 43,473 | 100.00% | ||
Republican
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Won
- Mary Mead, businesswoman and daughter of former Governor Clifford Hansen[4]
Lost
Withdrew
- Hugh Duncan, Stanley K. Hathaway's campaign manager in 1966 and 1970 and adviser to Pete Simpson in 1986[6][7][8]
- Mike Lindsey, newspaper publisher[9]
Declined
- Kelly Mader, member of the Wyoming Senate (1985–1991)[7][10]
- Carroll Miller, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives[7]
- John R. Perry, member of the Wyoming Senate[7][11]
- Charles Scott, member of the Wyoming Senate (1983–present)[7][12]
- Diemer True, member of the Wyoming Senate (1977–1993)[7]
Speculated
- Bill Budd, member of the Wyoming legislature and candidate in 1986 gubernatorial election[7][13]
- Doug Chamberlain, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives[7]
- Russ Donley, Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives (1983–1984)[7]
- Boyd L. Eddins, member of the Wyoming Senate[7]
- James Hageman, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives (1983–2006)[7]
- Eddie D. Moore, member of the Wyoming Senate (1975–1986)[7]
- Jack Sidi, 16th Wyoming State Auditor (1987–1991)[7]
The central committee of the Wyoming Republican Party interviewed Hugh Duncan, Jack Sidi, Charles Scott, and Carroll Miller and scored them as possible gubernatorial nominees. Duncan received a rating of 83%, Sidi received 79%, Scott received 66%, and Miller received 23%.[6] Duncan withdrew from the election on March 2, 1990, stating that he was unable to convince people of the differences between him and Sullivan.[8]
Tom Thorson, a Republican committeeman from Natrona County, announced Mary Mead's candidacy at the Natrona County Republican Convention on March 6, as Mead was unable to attend due to snow.[14] Mead formally announced her campaign on March 9, after Duncan and Mike Lindsey both dropped out and announced their support of her.[15] Stanley K. Hathaway, a former governor, served as her campaign manager.[16] Cynthia Lummis later served as her campaign manager.[17] Nyla Murphy, a member of the state house who lost her committee leadership positions due to policy disagreement with Republican leaders, announced that she would run for one of five statewide offices in Wyoming.[18] She launched her gubernatorial campaign on June 8, with Charles Huff and Linda Burkhart as her campaign managers.[19] Mead spent over $280,000 during the primary, twenty times greater than Murphy's expenditure of $7,200.[20]
Endorsements
[edit]State legislators
- Carroll Miller, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives[21]
Notable individuals
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Mead | 51,560 | 67.25% | |
| Republican | Nyla Murphy | 24,916 | 32.75% | |
| Total votes | 76,476 | 100 | ||
General election
[edit]Sullivan recorded a message for a test of Wyoming's Emergency Broadcast System, but it was replaced as some radio stations would not air it due to the equal-time rule.[22] The National Organization for Women declined to endorse either of the candidates and instead supported a write-in candidacy for Murphy.[23] Mead and Sullivan participated in a debate hosted by KTWO-TV on October 23, 1990, and KTWO-TV stated that Mead violated the rules by using notes.[24]
Mark Hughes, the chair of the Wyoming Republican Party, criticized Mead as being unprepared after she lost the election, but also criticized the media for giving Sullivan front-page coverage while "Mead was on the B-section".[25] Hughes later apologized for criticizing Mead.[26] He did not seek reelection as chair, but stated that he made that decision months before his criticism of Mead.[27]
Mead received $158,798 and Sullivan received $154,562 from individual contributions. Mead paid $183,104 to consultant Sandler-Innocenzi and $12,441 to Tony Payton, accounting for around half of her expenditure.[28] Sullivan received almost $57,900 from political action committees compared to $21,600 for Mead. The Republican Party of Wyoming contributed $43,200 to Mead while the Democratic Party of Wyoming contributed $8,763 to Sullivan. Mead received $157,000 in loans from her father and brother while Sullivan borrowed nothing. During the campaign Sullivan raised $225,681 and spent $196,733 for an ending surplus of $28,948. Mead raised $395,532 and spent $416,313 for an ending deficit of $20.[29][30]
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Michael Sullivan Democratic |
Mary Mead Republican |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrance and Associates (Republican internal)[31] | September 14–16, 1990 | 500 | ±4.5% | 53% | 37% | 10% |
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike Sullivan (inc.) | 104,638 | 65.35% | +11.40% | |
| Republican | Mary Mead | 55,471 | 34.65% | −11.40% | |
| Majority | 49,167 | 30.71% | +22.79% | ||
| Turnout | 160,109 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Endorsements
[edit]Statewide officials
- Thyra Thomson, 16th Secretary of State of Wyoming (1963–1987)[32]
Statewide officials
- Wyoming Education Association[33]
References
[edit]- ^ "Cheyenne Democrat will run for governor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 17, 1990. p. A1.
- ^ "Flurry of political ads on way from candidate camps". Casper Star-Tribune. October 13, 1990. p. A3. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Karpan, Kathy (1991). 1991 Wyoming Official Directory and 1990 Election Returns. pp. 184, 263.
- ^ Moulton, Candy; Barron, Joan (March 7, 1990). "Mead to be candidate, county GOP told". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. p. A1, A16.
- ^ Rea, Tom (June 8, 1990). "Murphy to challenge Mead for GOP gubernatorial nomination". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. p. A1, A10.
- ^ a b "Duncan isn't afraid of being unknown". Casper Star-Tribune. November 26, 1989. p. B1. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "3 wishes: GOP contributors survey 17 as gov". Casper Star-Tribune. October 29, 1989. p. A8. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Duncan says he couldn't shake perception he was too much like Sullivan". Casper Star-Tribune. March 4, 1990. p. A3. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lindsey says he won't run for governor". Casper Star-Tribune. March 6, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mader says he won't run for governor". Casper Star-Tribune. April 3, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Perry won't run for governor". Casper Star-Tribune. April 19, 1990. p. B1. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Scott again runs for state Senate". Casper Star-Tribune. April 12, 1990. p. A3. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Budd, William (Bill)". Wyoming Tribune Eagle. January 4, 2023. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024.
- ^ "Mead to be candidate, county GOP told". Casper Star-Tribune. March 7, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Mead to announce formally for governor". Casper Star-Tribune. March 10, 1990. p. B1. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mary Mead will run for governor". Jackson Hole News&Guide. March 7, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "S-T reporter hired by Mead campaign". Casper Star-Tribune. May 12, 1990. p. 3. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Race stays mystery, and Murphy is in it". Casper Star-Tribune. June 3, 1990. p. A3. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mead sees 'no change' in gov's race". Jackson Hole News&Guide. June 13, 1990. p. A3. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mead campaign has spent $280,000". Casper Star-Tribune. June 13, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Message to GOP: Get behind Mead". Casper Star-Tribune. September 12, 1990. p. A8. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sullivan message taken off air by several major radio stations". Casper Star-Tribune. September 23, 1990. p. B1. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "NOW: No candidate endorsements in Wyo races for governor, senator". Casper Star-Tribune. September 29, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mead broke debate rules, KTWO says". Casper Star-Tribune. October 25, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mead campaign: What went wrong?". Casper Star-Tribune. November 8, 1990. p. A3. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hughes apologizes for Mead criticism". Casper Star-Tribune. November 15, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Republicans geared to elect new officers". Casper Star-Tribune. April 13, 1991. p. A3. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gubernatorial campaign enriched state businesses/Supporters coughed up lots of bucks". Jackson Hole News&Guide. December 12, 1990. p. A3. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "PAC soup feeds political campaigns". Casper Star-Tribune. December 2, 1990. p. A10. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Campaign". Jackson Hole News&Guide. December 12, 1990. p. A23. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mead poll finds her 16 points behind". Casper Star-Tribune. October 3, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Thyra Thomson endorses Mead". Casper Star-Tribune. September 19, 1990. p. B1. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Schools chief endorsement splits WEA". Casper Star-Tribune. September 20, 1990. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.