1994 New York gubernatorial election

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Mario Cuomo, incumbent governor

Lost nomination

• Lenora Fulani, activist and perennial candidate{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Daily News

Withdrawn

• Roy Innis, National Chairman of CORE and candidate for Mayor of New York City in 1993

Campaign

Only two candidates announced their intention to challenge incumbent governor Mario Cuomo in the Democratic primary: Lenora Fulani, who had been the 1990 gubernatorial nominee of the New Alliance Party and its 1988 and 1992 presidential nominee; and Roy Innis, the National Chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality. Ultimately, Innis did not submit petitions. Fulani, however, submitted petitions and made it onto the Democratic primary ballot.{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times

Results

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Republican primary

Nominee

• George Pataki, State Senator

Lost Nomination

• Evan G. Galbraith, former Ambassador to France
• Herbert London, college professor, Conservative candidate for Mayor of New York City in 1989 and Conservative nominee for governor in 1990
• Richard M. Rosenbaum, former chairman of the Republican Party of New York

Withdrawn

• J. Patrick Barrett, businessman
• Bill Green, former U.S. representative (Withdrew – July 31, 1994 – Endorsed Richard Rosenbaum)

Declined

• Al D'Amato, U.S. senator

Campaign

Initially, most expected U.S. senator Al D'Amato to be the Republican and Conservative nominee for governor in 1994. D'Amato began what looked like the beginnings of a campaign in September 1993 when he attacked Cuomo's record as governor, claiming that New York had become "the taxasaurus and spendasaurus capital of the nation." However, less than a month later, D'Amato decided not to run; he, correctly, predicted that his party might take control of the U.S. Senate in the 1994 elections, which would make him chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.

After considering other potential candidates, D'Amato—in conjunction with state GOP chairman William Powers—endorsed the candidacy of State Senator George Pataki. Pataki was perceived as a candidate who could garner the support of the party's moderate and conservative factions. Lewis Lehrman, the 1982 gubernatorial nominee who narrowly lost to Cuomo, publicly flirted with a run, but ultimately didn't mount a candidacy.

Former gubernatorial candidate Herbert London declared his candidacy on October 5, 1993. Running on a platform of tax cuts, reductions in state Medicaid and welfare payments and social conservatism, London was critical of both Cuomo and D'Amato. However, London's social conservatism and poor fundraising caused many party leaders to believe that he had no chance of defeating Cuomo.

On January 4, 1994, Evan Galbraith, a businessman from Manhattan and former ambassador to France under the Reagan Administration, decided to explore a potential gubernatorial bid. (Galbraith had also previously been a candidate for governor in 1990, but a court declared him eligible due to residency issues.) He quickly received endorsements from several notable figures, among them Henry Kissinger and William F. Buckley, Jr. Galbraith was considered by some as an alternative to London, holding similar positions but able to appeal to a larger base of voters. Galbraith formally declared his candidacy on April 29; by this time, however, most conservatives had coalesced around either London or Pataki.

Pataki formally declared his candidacy on March 14, but had been actively preparing for a campaign since the previous fall with the support of D'Amato and Powers. Senate Majority Leader Ralph Marino refused to support his nomination, angry over Pataki's association with Change – New York which had worked to prevent Marino's reelection. There was also concern over Pataki's position on the abortion issue, with organizations on both sides of the issue not being satisfied with his "middle-ground" approach.

Former U.S. representative Bill Green declared his candidacy on March 18, hoping to become the moderate alternative to Pataki and London. Green claimed that he was conservative on fiscal issues while "sensibly compassionate" on social issues. His bid was badly damaged when Michael Long, Chairman of the Conservative Party, indicated that he did not believe that Green could receive Conservative support.

Former State Party Chairman Richard Rosenbaum declared his candidacy on March 23. His platform was very similar to that of Bill Green but went even further, supporting Medicaid-financed abortions and tighter restrictions on guns. He also managed to create a much larger campaign chest of about $1.2 million. Rosenbaum decided against trying for an automatic ballot spot through the convention process; a Republican of the Rockefeller mold, he did not believe he could attain the required 25% of the vote. Instead, Rosenbaum opted to petition his way onto the ballot.

J. Patrick Barrett, a businessman from Syracuse who was expected to join the race, dropped out on May 20 when he came to the conclusion that he could not obtain the necessary support at the state convention.

At the Republican convention, Pataki won the overwhelming support of the delegates present. Herbert London, the runner-up, fell short of the 25% showing that he needed to obtain a place on the party's primary ballot.

Primary

London, Galbraith and Green were all initially determined to petition to be on the primary ballot on September 13, but efforts were made to dissuade them from doing so. In return for his support for Pataki, London was nominated for the position of Comptroller. This move allowed Pataki to secure much of London's support within both the Republican and Conservative parties. On May 31, Green withdrew from the race and endorsed Rosenbaum.

On September 13, Pataki defeated Rosenbaum in the Republican primary by a margin of 75.6–24.4%. Rosenbaum endorsed Pataki the next day.

Endorsements

Herbert London

• Westchester County Party Chairman, Anthony J. Colavita (R) – (March 10, 1994) George Pataki
• Senator, Al D'Amato (R) – (November 9, 1993)
• State Party Chairman, William Powers (R) – (November 9, 1993)
• Suffolk County Party Chairman, Howard C. DeMartini (R) – (May 20, 1994)
• Nassau County Party Chairman, Joseph Mondello (R) – (May 20, 1994) Evan G. Galbraith
• Former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger (R) – (January 5, 1994)
• Political Commentator, William F. Buckley, Jr. (R) – (January 5, 1994) --

Results

Conservative primary

Independence Party

Independence candidate:

• Richard M. Rosenbaum, former Chairman of the Republican Party of New York (Initial Nominee – Withdrew September 14 – Endorsed George Pataki)
• Tom Golisano, businessman (Nominated – Added to Ballot September 28)

Libertarian Party

The original Libertarian candidate was New York City radio personality Howard Stern, who announced his candidacy for governor on his nationally syndicated radio show on March 22, 1994. Stern ran on a platform of reinstating the death penalty, letting road crews work only at night, staggering highway tolls to prevent traffic jams, and vowing to resign from office as soon as these goals were accomplished. Stern won the party's nomination by a two-thirds majority on the first ballot at their state convention on April 23, 1994.

Stern refused to file the financial disclosures required by law of any party seeking to hold public office. He filed suit against the state of New York, arguing that the applicable law violated his right to privacy and freedom of association. When the court denied his petition for an injunction, Stern called a press conference on August 4, 1994, and withdrew from the race. Robert L. Schulz, a political activist from Queensbury, New York, replaced Stern on the statewide ballot. Stern's running mate, Stan Dworkin of Westchester County, remained on the slate as candidate for lieutenant governor.

General campaign

Though early on in the election Cuomo led by as much as ten points, Pataki was eventually able to tie him due to his difficulty in defending his record. Pataki promised to cut income taxes by 25 percent which appealed to voters in an economic downturn.

One key issue in the election was capital punishment. Cuomo had long been a staunch opponent of the death penalty while Pataki supported it. In the 1980s and early 1990s most New Yorkers supported capital punishment due to high crime rates. Republican ads pointed to the case of Arthur Shawcross, a multiple murderer convicted of manslaughter who was paroled by New York in 1987 and committed additional murders while on release (during the time Cuomo was governor). This revelation caused a significant loss of support for Cuomo.

Endorsements

Mario Cuomo

• New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) – (October 24, 1994) George Pataki
• State Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D) – (October 17, 1994) Tom Golisano
• Businessman and former CEO of Electronic Data Systems Ross Perot (I) – (November 2, 1994) --

Polling

Results

While the race was very close overall, Pataki won by running up huge margins outside of New York City. Cuomo won only one county outside of the Five Boroughs, Albany County, while also failing to sweep the Five Boroughs unlike in his previous three successful runs, losing Staten Island.

New York City Results

References

References

1. (14 September 1994). "Pataki Easily Wins the Right to Oppose Cuomo". The New York Times.
2. "Our Campaigns - NY Governor - R Primary Race - Sep 13, 1994".
3. (23 March 1994). "G.O.P. Leader Will Run For Governor as 'Moderate'". The New York Times.
4. (19 March 1994). "Ex-Rep. Green Announces for Governor". The New York Times.
5. (28 September 1993). "D'Amato, Raising Funds, Assails Cuomo's Record as Governor". The New York Times.
6. (20 October 1993). "D'Amato Skips a Race". The New York Times.
7. (10 November 1993). "Peekskill Legislator to Seek Governor Nomination". The New York Times.
8. Staff. (29 July 1991). "LEHRMAN WEIGHS MAKING ANOTHER RUN FOR GOVERNOR".
9. (5 October 1993). "Conservative Is Joining G.O.P. Race for Governor". The New York Times.
10. (31 January 1994). "Candidate Seeks New Armor For Crusade Against Cuomo". The New York Times.
11. (5 January 1994). "New Gubernatorial Entry Gets Financial Backing". The New York Times.
12. (29 April 1994). "Galbraith, a Former Envoy, Enters the Gubernatorial Race". The New York Times.
13. (15 March 1994). "State Senator Pataki Formally Declares Challenge to Cuomo". The New York Times.
14. (26 May 1994). "Republicans and Conservatives Solidify Efforts Against Cuomo". The New York Times.
15. Sack, Kevin. (1994-03-20). "POLITICAL NOTES - Seeking a Nomination Without a Party's Help". The New York Times.
16. Sack, Kevin. (1994-05-21). "G.O.P. Race For Governor Is Narrowed". The New York Times.
17. (24 May 1994). "G.O.P. Backs a Legislator to Oppose Cuomo". The New York Times.
18. (1 June 1994). "Green Dropping Out Of Governor Race; Backing Rosenbaum". The New York Times.
19. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/11/nyregion/westchester-s-top-republican-endorses-london.htmly {{Dead link. (February 2022)
20. "Our Campaigns - NY Governor - D Primary Race - Sep 13, 1994".
21. "Our Campaigns - NY Governor - C Primary Race - Sep 13, 1994".
22. (15 September 1994). "SWIPING AT CUOMO, PATAKI GIVES OUT PLAN ON GOVERNING". The New York Times.
23. (29 September 1994). "Campaign Trail; Cuomo the Ballplayer Helps Cuomo the Candidate". The New York Times.
24. (3 April 1994). "Gov. Howard Stern? Some Fail to See Humor". The New York Times.
25. "Our Campaigns - NY Governor - LBT Convention Race - Apr 23, 1994".
26. (5 August 1994). "For Stern, It's Balk Radio: He Ends Bid for Governor". The New York Times.
27. (25 October 1994). "GIULIANI, DEFYING HIS PARTY, BACKS CUOMO FOR 4TH TERM; SEES PATAKI AS BAD FOR CITY". The New York Times.
28. (18 October 1994). "Pataki Gains Endorsement of a Jewish Assemblyman, Across Party Lines". The New York Times.
29. (3 November 1994). "Perot to Help Golisano's Bid For Governor". The New York Times.
30. (November 2, 1994). "New Poll Gives Cuomo 13-point Lead In New York". Orlando Sentinel.