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1990 Minnesota gubernatorial election

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FieldValue
election_name1990 Minnesota gubernatorial election
countryMinnesota
flag_year1983
typepresidential
ongoingno
previous_election1986 Minnesota gubernatorial election
previous_year1986
next_election1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election
next_year1994
election_dateNovember 6, 1990
image1File:Arne Carlson - Photograph by Dave Saville taken on 04-08-1997 (cropped).jpg
image_size150x150px
nominee1**Arne Carlson** (replacing Jon Grunseth)
running_mate1**Joanell Dyrstad** (replacing Sharon Clark)
party1Independent-Republican Party
popular_vote1**895,988**
percentage1**50.11%**
image2File:Rudy Perpich (cropped).jpg
nominee2Rudy Perpich
running_mate2Marlene Johnson
party2Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
popular_vote2836,218
percentage246.76%
map_image
map_size280px
map_caption**Carlson:**
**Perpich:**
titleGovernor
before_electionRudy Perpich
before_partyMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
after_electionArne Carlson
after_partyIndependent-Republican Party

Perpich:
The 1990 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990. Independent-Republican Party Auditor Arne Carlson defeated incumbent Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Governor Rudy Perpich. This was the most recent gubernatorial election in Minnesota in which an incumbent governor ran for reelection to a third consecutive term until Tim Walz announced his candidacy for a third term in 2026, though he later withdrew.

Primary elections were held on September 11. Perpich defeated a challenge from Mike Hatch for the DFL nomination. The Independent-Republicans initially nominated businessman Jon Grunseth over Carlson, but Grunseth withdrew in late October following a series of allegations of sexual misconduct against children and extramarital affairs. Carlson, who had launched a write-in campaign against both Perpich and Grunseth, was named the replacement nominee by default as the runner-up in the primary.

Carlson won the election by winning the heavily populated Ramsey and Hennepin counties. However, the race was kept close by Perpich's domination of the counties in Northern Minnesota, allowing for a margin of defeat of only 3.35%. As of , this is the last time that an incumbent Governor of Minnesota lost re-election. This election was the first Minnesota gubernatorial election since 1962 that the winner of the gubernatorial election was of the same party as the incumbent president.

DFL primary

Candidates

  • Mike Hatch, former commissioner of Securities and Real Estate (198389) and DFL chairman
    • Running mate: Emily Anne Staples, former State Senator from Plymouth
  • Kent S. Herschbach, Mendota Heights truck driver, Lyndon LaRouche supporter and perennial candidate
    • Running mate: Andrew Olson, farmer and Lyndon LaRouche supporter
  • Rudy Perpich, incumbent Governor since 1983
    • Running mate: Marlene Johnson, incumbent Lieutenant Governor since 1983

Results

Independent-Republican primary

Candidates

  • Arne Carlson, Minnesota State Auditor
    • Running mate: Joanell Dyrstad, mayor of Red Wing
  • Samuel A. Faulk, editor of Chance Magazine and perennial candidate
    • Running mate: James E. Eddleston Sr., Shoreview resident
  • John Grunseth, businessman
    • Running mate: Sharon Clark, Madison farmer
  • Doug A. Kelley, former federal prosecutor and chief of staff to U.S. Senator David Durenberger
    • Running mate: Jean L. Harris, Eden Prairie councilwoman
  • Beatrice Mooney, Lake St. Croix Beach registered nurse and perennial candidate
    • Running mate: August Berkshire
  • Mary Jane Rachner, retired schoolteacher and perennial candidate
    • Running mate: Cathy Ouyang, director of the Asian American Art Center and Chinese Language Village at Concordia College

Withdrew

  • David Printy

Declined

  • Bill Frenzel, U.S. Representative from Golden Valley

Results

General election

Candidates

  • Arne Carlson, Auditor of Minnesota (Republican) (entered as write-in candidate October 22)
    • Running mate: Joanell Dyrstad, mayor of Red Wing since 1983
  • Heart Warrior Chosa, member of the Ojibwe tribe (EarthRIGHT)
    • Running mate: Steven Hesch-Bruggemann, St. Cloud resident
  • Ross S. Culverhouse, White Bear Lake computer programmer (Grassroots)
    • Running mate: Oliver Steinberg, White Bear Lake resident
  • Wendy Lyons, South St. Paul resident and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1988 (Socialist Workers)
    • Running mate: Craig Honts, South St. Paul resident
  • Rudy Perpich, incumbent Governor since 1983 (Democratic)
    • Running mate: Marlene Johnson, incumbent Lieutenant Governor since 1983

Withdrew

  • Jon Grunseth, businessman (Republican) (withdrew October 28)
    • Running mate: Sharon Clark, Madison farmer

Campaign

On October 14, with just over three weeks before the election, two women made public allegations of sexual misconduct against Grunseth. The women alleged that, in 1981, when they were 12 and 13 years old and friends of Grunseth's stepdaughter, Grunseth had requested they swim nude during an Independence Day party at his home and, when they refused, he attempted to forcibly remove their swimsuits. Two other women corroborated their allegations, and nine other attendees submitted sworn affidavits stating that they had witnessed nude swimming at the party. Grunseth and his stepdaughter denied the allegations.

In response to the allegations, Arne Carlson re-entered the race as a write-in candidate on October 22, backed by U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz, who was running for re-election and had suffered in the polls since the Grunseth scandal began. On October 26, Perpich, Grunseth, and Carlson participated in a three-way debate on Twin Cities Public Television. Polls at the time suggested that Perpich would easily win the three-way race but lose to Carlson if Grunseth dropped out.

On October 28, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune published new allegations, with Tamara Jacobsen Taylor claiming that she had engaged in sexual relations with Grunseth when he visited Washington as a lobbyist for Ecolab, as late as 1989; though Grunseth admitted to the affair, he claimed it had ended in the early 1980s. Grunseth dropped out of the race the same day, just over a week before election day, facing certain defeat and claiming the pressure was "more than [he] could bear". However, Grunseth's withdrawal came after absentee ballots had been prepared, so he and Clark still went onto receive a number of votes.

The Independent-Republicans held a special meeting on October 30, with some supporting 1986 nominee Cal Ludeman as a replacement over Carlson. However, the Independent-Republicans determined that they lacked the explicit power to choose a new candidate, and Carlson was automatically awarded the nomination by virtue of finishing second in the primary. He selected Joanell Dyrstad as his running mate. Sharon Clark, who had been Grunseth's running mate, filed a lawsuit challenging her removal from the ticket. On November 1, 1990, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 5 to 2 against her, affirming Carlson and Dyrstad as the Republican candidates.

Results

Notes

References

References

  1. (21 May 1991). "Minnesota Election Results 1990: Primary Election and General Election". Election Division, Secretary of State.
  2. Libraries, University of Minnesota. "Minnesota Historical Election Archive".
  3. Libraries, University of Minnesota. "Minnesota Historical Election Archive".
  4. Libraries, University of Minnesota. "Minnesota Historical Election Archive".
  5. {{USCongRec. 1990. S6195
  6. (October 29, 1990). "Taylor says Grunseth tried to deceive voters". [[Star Tribune]].
  7. Ison, Chris. (October 18, 1990). "Grunseth stands firm; IR leaders talk". Star Tribune.
  8. Short, Allen. (October 15, 1990). "Allegations rock governor's race; 2 women claim improper behavior by Grunseth at '81 party; he denies it". Star Tribune.
  9. (October 28, 1990). "When did Grunseth 'wild years' end?". Star Tribune.
  10. Gilbert, Curtis. (November 5, 2010). "20 years ago: A three-week political roller coaster". Minnesota Public Radio.
  11. (October 29, 1990). "Taylor says Grunseth tried to deceive voters". Star Tribune.
  12. (October 29, 1990). "Republican Quits Minnesota Governor's Race". Los Angeles Times.
  13. Brama, Elizabeth M.. (2003). "Erlandson v. Kiffmeyer: Minnesota’s Absentee Voting Laws Following the Sudden Death of Incumbent Candidate Paul Wellstone". [[William Mitchell College of Law.
  14. Wilson, Betty. (October 31, 1990). "Carlson's name will be on ballot". [[Minnesota Star Tribune.
  15. Wheratt, Robert. (November 2, 1990). "IR team is Carlson-Dyrstad". [[Minnesota Star Tribune.
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