Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1990

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1990

← 1986 November 5, 1990 1994 →
Nominee William Weld John Silber Party Republican Democratic Running mate Paul Cellucci Marjorie Clapprood Popular vote 1,175,817 1,099,878 Percentage 50.19% 46.94%
Results by town. Red indicates towns carried by William Weld, blue indicates towns carried by John Silber.
Governor before election Michael Dukakis Democratic Elected Governor William Weld Republican

Michael Dukakis
Democratic

William Weld
Republican

The 1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Republican William Weld was elected Governor of Massachusetts for the first time. He beat Democrat John Silber to become the first Republican Governor of Massachusetts since 1975.

Incumbent Governor Michael Dukakis did not run for a fourth term. Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Murphy, Boston University president John Silber, former Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General Francis X. Bellotti, and State Representative John H. Flood ran for the Democratic nomination.

Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn was a front-runner for the Democratic nomination, however on January 5, 1989, Flynn announced that he would not run for Governor.

After Flynn's decision not to run, Murphy was the early frontrunner due to her strong name recognition and a solid base of liberal support. In July 1989, she led Bellotti 42% to 18% in a Boston Globe poll. That November, Bellotti had come within 2% of Murphy in another Boston Globe poll.

In January, Silber entered the race and Bellotti ran his first wave of television ads. By this point, Bellotti had taken the lead in the race, polling 38% to Murphy's 20% and Silber's 16%.