1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

The 1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic governor Robert P. Casey easily defeated Republican Barbara Hafer. Governor Casey defeated Hafer by a margin of 35.29%, and carried 66 out of 67 Pennsylvania counties.

1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

← 1986 November 6, 1990 (1990-11-06) 1994 →

Nominee Bob Casey Barbara Hafer Party Democratic Republican Running mate Mark Singel Harold Mowery Popular vote 2,065,244 987,516 Percentage 67.6% 32.3%

County results Congressional district results Municipality results Casey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90-100% Hafer:      40-50%      50–60%      60-70%      80-90% Tie:      40-50%      50% No Data:

Governor before election Robert P. Casey Democratic Elected Governor Robert P. Casey Democratic

This was the first election since 1974 that a Democrat carried Bucks County, the first since 1906 that a Democrat won Chester County, the first since 1829 that a Democrat won Delaware County, and the last time as of 2023 that a Democrat won York County.

Casey achieved the second-largest gubernatorial landslide in the state in the 20th century (and the largest victory for a Democrat), losing only Montgomery County by just 586 votes.^[1]

Primary elections

Incumbent Bob Casey was challenged by Philip J. Berg, an attorney and perennial candidate from Montgomery County. Endorsed Republican candidate Barbara Hafer, Auditor General and former candidate for Lt. Governor, won a surprisingly close race over Peg Luksik, an outspoken opponent of abortion rights.^{[citation needed]}

Democratic primary results

  Casey

•   50%-60%
•   60%-70%
•   70%-80%
•   80%-90%
•   90%-100%

  Berg

•   50%-60%

Republican primary results

  Hafer

•   50%-60%
•   60%-70%
•   70%-80%

  Luksik

•   50%-60%
•   60%-70%

Pennsylvania gubernatorial Democratic primary election, 1990^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Casey	636,594	77.54
	Democratic	Philip J. Berg	184,365	22.46
Total votes			820,959	100.00

Pennsylvania gubernatorial Republican primary election, 1990^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Barbara Hafer	321,026	54.43
	Republican	Peg Luksik	268,773	45.57
Total votes			589,799	100.00

General Election

Candidates

Democratic

• Bob Casey, incumbent Governor
  • running mate: Mark Singel, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Republican

• Barbara Hafer, State Auditor General
  • running mate: Harold Mowery, State Representative

Campaign

Casey had maintained enormous popularity in the state,^[4] was considered to have a generally positive record from his first term as governor, and was endorsed by major newspapers statewide, including The Philadelphia Inquirer.^[5] In addition, Casey had the traditionally strong backing of urban voters and organized labor, and performed well in many heavily Republican, rural counties, as he was seen as a relatively conservative populist.

The campaign briefly turned ugly when Hafer, a pro-choice Republican who had attempted to position herself as the more liberal candidate, referred to Casey as a "redneck Irishman." Her comment, which was widely reported, helped to alienate both rural voters and those of Irish descent. Unable to gain a funding foothold or to carve out a strong public image, and trailing in the polls by forty percent on election day,^[6] Hafer was subsequently defeated by Casey by a large margin.^[1]

Results

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1990[7][8]
Party		Candidate	Running mate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Bob Casey (incumbent)	Mark Singel (incumbent)	2,065,244	67.63%
	Republican	Barbara Hafer	Harold Mowery	987,463	32.34%
	Write-ins	Write-ins		906	0.03%
Totals				3,053,666	100.00%
Voter turnout (Voting age population)					53.96%

Notes

1. Kennedy, John J. (2006). Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests From 1950-2004. University Press of America. ISBN 9780761832799.
2. "Our Campaigns - PA Governor - D Primary Race - May 15, 1990".
3. "Our Campaigns - PA Governor- R Primary Race - May 15, 1990".
4. Singleton, David. "Gubernatorial candidates now await decision of voters: Casey winds up campaign in home region." Scranton, Pennsylvania: The Tribune, November 6, 1990, p. 3 (subscription required).
5. "Editorials: Endorsements." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 6, 1990, p. 10 (subscription required).
6. Bradley-Steck, Tara. "Gubernatorial candidates now await decision of voters: Underdog Hafer remains optimistic." Scranton, Pennsylvania: The Tribune, November 6, 1990, p. 3 (subscription required).
7. The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 671.
8. The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 633.

References

• DiFlaviana, Kathleen, ed. (1991). The Pennsylvania Manual. Vol. 110. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. ISBN 0-8182-0145-2.