 Watkins didn't seek an eighth term in 1990, instead running for the Democratic nomination for governor to succeed Republican Henry Bellmon.He raised $3 million for his campaign, the most ever raised for a gubernatorial bid in Oklahoma at the time.In the Democratic primary, he ran ahead of House Speaker Steve Lewis, yet lost to eventual winner David Walters, who had been the Democratic Gubernatorial nominee 4 years earlier in 1986.