1990 California gubernatorial election


The 1990 California gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Though incumbent Republican Governor George Deukmejian was eligible for a third term, he announced in January 1989 that he would not pursue reelection. Republicans instead nominated Senator Pete Wilson, who defeated Democratic former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein in a close race.
Feinstein won the Democratic nomination against opponents including California Attorney General John Van de Kamp, while Wilson faced minimal opposition in his bid for the Republican nomination. Feinstein was elected to Wilson's former Senate seat in 1992, and served in the Senate until her death in September 2023.

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Donald L. Bullock
  • Jeffrey T. Greene
  • David M. Williams
  • Pete Wilson, incumbent U.S. senator and former mayor of San Diego

Democratic primary

Candidates

General election results

Candidates

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Pete Wilson won 25 of California's 45 congressional districts, including eight districts that were won by Democrats. Dianne Feinstein won 20 of California's 45 congressional districts, including two districts that were won by Republicans.
DistrictWilsonFeinsteinRepresentative
42.3%51.6%Frank Riggs
56.3%37.4%Wally Herger
49.3%46.1%Bob Matsui
48.7%45.5%Vic Fazio
26.7%69.7%Nancy Pelosi
32.0%63.7%Barbara Boxer
41.3%54.3%George Miller
29.0%67.7%Ron Dellums
37.2%58.4%Pete Stark
37.2%57.2%Don Edwards
38.2%57.4%Tom Lantos
45.2%50.1%Tom Campbell
43.7%50.9%Norman Mineta
56.6%38.4%John Doolittle
53.0%42.3%Gary Condit
39.6%54.6%Leon Panetta
59.7%35.9%Cal Dooley
48.3%46.8%Richard Lehman
52.4%42.5%Bob Lagomarsino
61.2%33.3%Bill Thomas
59.8%35.6%Elton Gallegly
62.9%32.7%Carlos Moorhead
41.0%55.7%Anthony Beilenson
33.7%62.5%Henry Waxman
34.5%60.0%Edward Roybal
42.4%53.4%Howard Berman
42.9%52.8%Mel Levine
27.4%69.2%Julian Dixon
22.2%74.3%Maxine Waters
46.7%48.0%Matthew Martinez
34.8%60.6%Mervyn Dymally
50.3%44.4%Glenn Anderson
59.4%35.5%David Dreier
47.0%46.8%Ed Torres
60.5%33.2%Jerry Lewis
48.3%46.1%George Brown
58.4%36.5%Al McCandless
57.4%36.6%Bob Dornan
66.6%28.2%William Dannemeyer
63.6%32.0%Christopher Cox
54.9%39.5%Bill Lowery
62.0%33.8%Dana Rohrabacher
64.0%30.0%Ron Packard
46.6%46.1%Duke Cunningham
60.5%32.3%Duncan Hunter