1990 Iowa gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1990 Iowa gubernatorial election
| country = Iowa
| flag_image = Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1986 Iowa gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1986
| next_election = 1994 Iowa gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1994
| election_date = November 8, 1990
| image1 = File:Terry Branstad attends recommissioning ceremony for USS Iowa, Apr 28, 1984.JPEG
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Terry Branstad
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 591,852
| percentage1 = 60.6%
| image2 = File:Donald Avenson.jpg
| nominee2 = Donald Avenson
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 379,372
| percentage2 = 38.9%
| map_image = 1990 Iowa gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 240px
| map_caption = County results
Branstad: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50-60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60-70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70-80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80-90%}}
Avenson: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Terry Branstad
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Terry Branstad
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsIA}}
The 1990 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 8, 1990. Incumbent Republican Governor of Iowa Terry Branstad ran for re-election to a third term as governor. On the Democratic side, state representative Donald Avenson won his party's nomination and both Branstad and Avenson moved on to the general election. Branstad won re-election to a third term as governor, defeating Avenson by a margin of over 20 points.
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
- Donald Avenson, former Iowa State Representative
- Tom Miller, former and subsequent Iowa Attorney General
- Jo Ann Zimmerman, Iowa Lieutenant Governor
- John Crystal
- Darold Powers
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results{{cite web|url=https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/results/90s/1990primcanv.pdf|format=PDF|title=PRIMARY ELECTION : June 5, 1990 : OFFICIAL CANVASS SUMMARY|website=Sos.iowa.gov|access-date=5 July 2018}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Donald Avenson
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 79,022
| percentage = 39.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tom Miller
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 63,364
| percentage = 31.63
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Crystal
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 52,170
| percentage = 26.05
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jo Ann Zimmerman
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 4,475
| percentage = 2.23
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Darold Powers
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 1,167
| percentage = 0.58
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-ins
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 107
| percentage = 0.05
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 200,305
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
=Candidates=
- Terry Branstad, incumbent Governor of Iowa
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Terry Branstad (inc.)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 94,253
| percentage = 99.52
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-ins
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 453
| percentage = 0.47
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 94,706
| percentage= 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
=Results=
{{Election box begin | title=Iowa gubernatorial election, 1990{{Cite web |url=https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/results/90s/1990gencanv.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204021205/https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/results/90s/1990gencanv.pdf |archive-date=2018-12-04 |url-status=dead }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Terry Branstad (inc.)
|votes = 591,852
|percentage = 60.61%
|change = +8.70%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Donald Avenson
|votes = 379,372
|percentage = 38.85%
|change = -9.14%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Socialist Workers Party (United States)
|candidate = Nan Bailey
|votes = 4,263
|percentage = 0.44%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party = Write-ins
|candidate =
|votes = 996
|percentage = 0.10%
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 976,483
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser = Democratic Party (United States)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}