The 1990 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990, to elect the governor of Connecticut. It was a three-way race for a seat left open when Governor William A. O'Neill declined to run for re-election. A Connecticut Party nominee Lowell Weicker narrowly won the election, becoming the first candidate who was not a member of one of the two major parties to win a gubernatorial election since the 1974 election in Maine.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Bruce A. Morrison, U.S. Representative from the 3rd congressional district.
Eliminated in primary
- William J. Cibes, state representative from the 39th district.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- John G. Rowland, U.S. Representative from Connecticut's 5th congressional district.
Withdrew
- Reginald J. Smith, Senate minority leader from the 8th Senate district. (endorsed Weicker)
- Joel Schiavone, New Haven businessman (later became Comptroller nominee)
General election
Candidates
- Bruce Morrison, U.S. Representative from the 3rd congressional district (Democratic)
- John G. Rowland, U.S. Representative from the 5th congressional district (Republican)
- Lowell Weicker, former Republican U.S. Senator (A Connecticut Party)
- Joseph Zdonczyk (Concerned Citizens)
Results
By county
Weicker won five of eight counties, while Rowland won the other three.
By congressional district
Weicker and Rowland each won three out of the six congressional districts. Outgoing Representative Bruce Morrison lost his congressional district to fellow outgoing Representative John Rowland, who won his and Morrison's congressional districts.