[3][1] The Progressive Conservative government campaigned on Senate reform during the election in the face of waning popularity with Alberta's financial difficulties relating to the drop in oil prices, collapse of the Principal Group and concerns over Getty's leadership.

[1] The Progressive Conservative government was re-elected with a lower portion of the popular vote, while Premier Don Getty lost in his own riding and was subsequently elected to the legislature in a by-election.

[5] A nomination meeting was scheduled in Red Deer for August 28, 1989 with each of the 26 federal constituency associations of the Reform Party in Alberta eligible to send 10 voting delegates to suggest names of candidates.

[5] Waters won the Reform Party nomination on the first ballot,[5] defeating Edmonton Alderman Robert Matheson and Calgary lawyers Murray Smith and Victor Burstall.

[6] The results of this effort were the Reform Party candidate Waters receiving a majority of the votes in rural Alberta and Calgary, and finishing second in Edmonton.

[7] The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta had three candidates contest the party's nomination, former Solicitor General Marvin Moore, Triple-E Senate campaigner Bert Brown and Brian Heidecker.

[3] Brown's candidacy was undermined by Progressive Conservative Party of Canada Members of Parliament urging Albertans not to participate in the election.

[9] The Liberal Party of Alberta saw Bill Code acclaimed as the candidate in mid-September when sitting MLA Nicholas Taylor declined to contest the nomination, which would have required him to resign from the legislature.

[10] Prime Minister Brian Mulroney had criticized the electoral process, although he nonetheless made a public announcement agreeing to advise Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn to appoint Waters to the Canadian Senate on June 11, 1990.

[18] Alberta Premier Ralph Klein penned an open letter to Chrétien criticizing the appointment and calling for Senate reform.