Kansas gubernatorial election, 1990

Kansas gubernatorial election, 1990

Nominee Joan Finney Mike Hayden Christina Campbell-Cline Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 380,609 333,589 69,127 Percentage 48.6% 42.6% 8.8%

Governor before election Mike Hayden Republican Elected Governor Joan Finney Democratic

Elections in Kansas
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State government Gubernatorial elections 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 State elections by year 2012 2014
Ballot measures 2005 Amendment 1

The Kansas gubernatorial election of 1990 included incumbent Republican Governor Mike Hayden lost re-election to Democratic nominee Joan Finney.^[1]

Background

Hayden was chosen as chair of the Republican Governors Association. Hayden's term saw tax cuts and programs to combat substance abuse. Unfortunately for the governor, a split in the Kansas Republican Party between moderates and conservatives considerably reduced other accomplishments. Hayden himself was perceived as a moderate; on abortion, for instance, he took a pro-choice position. Because of the legislative gridlock, Hayden was not able to reinstate the death penalty. Hayden lost his re-election bid primarily because of voter passage of a property reclassification amendment in Kansas which resulted in property reappraisals – the first in some cases in 20 years – and the resulting property tax increases when market values were applied to properties for tax purposes.

Candidates

Republican

• Mike Hayden, incumbent Governor

Democratic

• Joan Finney, State Treasurer

Independent

• Christina Campbell-Cline, CPA^[2]

Results

Distinctions

State Treasurer Finney was elected governor over Hayden in 1990, giving Hayden the distinction of being the first incumbent governor of any state to lose to a woman. In addition to being Kansas's first female governor, she was Kansas' oldest governor (65), Kansas' first Roman Catholic Governor, and one of the few pro-life Democratic Governors at the time .

References