The 1990 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1990. Democratic nominee Barbara Roberts defeated Republican David B. Frohnmayer and Independent Al Mobley to win the election.

Primary election

Oregon held primary elections on May 15, 1990.

Democratic party

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticBarbara Roberts251,83898.36%
DemocraticScattering4,1941.63%
Total votes256,032100.00%

Republican party

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanDave Frohnmayer227,86779.11%
RepublicanJohn Lim32,39711.25%
RepublicanEd Christie8,2852.88%
RepublicanTerry Hutchison7,4122.57%
RepublicanEdward Thomas Steubs4,8471.68%
RepublicanWilliam Sparks2,9060.86%
RepublicanSanford Blau2,0060.70%
RepublicanScattering2,7600.96%
Total votes288,040100.00%

General election

Candidates

Debates

1990 Oregon gubernatorial election debates
No.DateHostModeratorLinkDemocraticRepublicanIndependentLibertarian
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn
Barbara RobertsDavid FrohnmayerAl MobleyFred Oerther
1PPNN
2League of Women Voters of Oregon Oregon Corrections AssociationPPPP

Polling

SourceDateSample sizeMargin of errorBarbara Roberts (D)Dave Frohnmayer (R)OthersUndecided
The Oregonian600± 4.0%38%45%7%10%

Results

Oregon 1990 gubernatorial election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticBarbara Roberts508,74945.72%−6.14%
RepublicanDave Frohnmayer444,64639.96%−7.89%
IndependentAl Mobley144,06212.95%
LibertarianFred Oerther14,5831.31%
Write-inScattering8070.07%
Total votes1,112,847100.00%
Plurality64,1035.76%
Democratic holdSwing+1.75%

Results by county

Roberts was the first Democrat to be elected governor without carrying Baker County and Linn County.

CountyBarbara Roberts DemocraticDave Frohnmayer RepublicanAl Mobley IndependentFred Oerther LibertarianScattering Write-inMarginTotal votes cast
#%#%#%#%#%#%
Baker2,08034.16%2,94748.40%96815.90%871.43%70.11%-867-14.24%6,089
Benton12,96144.07%12,08441.08%3,83213.03%5291.80%70.02%8772.98%29,413
Clackamas56,67447.93%47,47040.15%12,65010.70%1,4151.20%220.02%9,2047.78%118,231
Clatsop6,44249.96%4,55135.29%1,71713.32%1831.42%20.02%1,89114.66%12,895
Columbia6,14239.65%6,24940.34%2,85418.43%2101.36%340.22%-107-0.69%15,489
Coos10,02344.38%8,79538.95%3,40615.08%3131.39%460.20%1,2285.44%22,583
Crook1,85934.70%2,92454.57%54110.10%340.63%00.00%-1,065-19.88%5,358
Curry3,16838.78%3,94048.23%92611.34%1181.44%170.21%-772-9.45%8,169
Deschutes11,23638.33%14,08248.04%3,55012.11%4371.49%90.03%-2,846-9.71%29,314
Douglas10,57830.69%15,92846.22%7,47621.69%4771.38%30.01%-5,350-15.52%34,462
Gilliam33939.56%36642.71%14416.80%80.93%00.00%-27-3.15%857
Grant89428.07%1,28640.38%93329.29%692.17%30.09%-353-11.09%3,185
Harney86329.35%1,51651.56%53318.13%270.92%10.03%-653-22.21%2,940
Hood River2,54241.94%2,62743.34%81013.36%821.35%00.00%-85-1.40%6,061
Jackson20,38336.39%26,34747.04%8,53415.24%7381.32%100.02%-5,964-10.65%56,012
Jefferson1,71639.24%2,23851.18%3828.74%370.85%00.00%-522-11.94%4,373
Josephine8,24434.44%11,97450.02%3,36314.05%3551.48%30.01%-3,730-15.58%23,939
Klamath6,11830.30%11,18355.39%2,64913.12%2381.18%10.00%-5,065-25.09%20,189
Lake83626.95%1,63352.64%60619.54%270.87%00.00%-797-25.69%3,102
Lane49,81445.18%45,10740.91%13,77312.49%1,5441.40%250.02%4,7074.27%110,263
Lincoln8,50352.28%5,26432.37%2,22013.65%2741.68%30.02%3,23919.92%16,264
Linn11,62633.88%14,31441.71%8,01923.37%3521.03%30.01%-2,688-7.83%34,314
Malheur2,20026.98%3,92548.14%1,91623.50%1111.36%20.02%-1,725-21.16%8,154
Marion33,76539.59%35,49841.62%15,06617.66%8120.95%1500.18%-1,733-2.03%85,291
Morrow1,01339.63%1,06241.55%45017.61%311.21%00.00%-49-1.92%2,556
Multnomah142,80459.38%75,73831.49%18,2127.57%3,3881.41%3670.15%67,06627.89%240,509
Polk7,82438.25%8,12139.70%4,26620.85%2391.17%70.03%-297-1.45%20,457
Sherman39137.81%49247.58%13813.35%131.26%00.00%-101-9.77%1,034
Tillamook4,68349.07%3,50636.74%1,22112.79%1261.32%70.07%1,17712.33%9,543
Umatilla6,43640.41%6,61541.54%2,59616.30%2791.75%00.00%-179-1.12%15,926
Union3,39938.08%3,71441.61%1,69018.94%1171.31%50.06%-315-3.53%8,925
Wallowa98329.70%1,19936.22%1,07532.48%521.57%10.03%-124-3.74%3,310
Wasco3,94844.37%3,48839.20%1,36615.35%961.08%00.00%4605.17%8,898
Washington57,81548.08%49,34041.04%11,6019.65%1,4541.21%270.02%8,4757.05%120,237
Wheeler18928.85%33250.69%12418.93%101.53%00.00%-143-21.83%655
Yamhill10,25843.01%8,79136.86%4,45518.68%3011.26%450.19%1,4676.15%23,850
Total508,74945.72%444,64639.96%144,06212.95%14,5831.31%8070.07%64,1035.76%1,112,847

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Notes