1994 United States gubernatorial elections

Election results

States

Territories and federal district

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

1. Alaska, 0.2%
2. Maryland, 0.4%
3. Alabama, 0.9%

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

1. Florida, 1.5%
2. Maine, 1.5%
3. Georgia, 2.1%
4. South Carolina, 2.5%
5. New York, 3.3%
6. Connecticut, 3.5%
7. Rhode Island, 3.8%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. Pennsylvania, 5.5%
2. Hawaii, 5.9%
3. Texas, 7.6%
4. Arizona, 8.2%
5. Idaho, 8.4%
6. Oregon, 8.5%
7. Tennessee, 9.6%
8. Guam, 9.7%
9. New Mexico, 9.9%

Alabama

Main article: 1994 Alabama gubernatorial election

James:
Folsom:

The 1994 Alabama gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to select the governor of Alabama. The election saw Republican Fob James defeat incumbent Democrat Jim Folsom Jr. in an upset. This was the first of three consecutive Alabama gubernatorial elections where the incumbent was defeated.

Alaska

Main article: 1994 Alaska gubernatorial election

Knowles:
Campbell:

The 1994 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994, for the post of Governor of Alaska, United States. Democratic candidate Tony Knowles narrowly defeated Republican candidate Jim Campbell and Lieutenant Governor Jack Coghill of the Alaskan Independence Party. In the Republican Revolution year of the 1994 elections, Alaska's was the only governor's seat in the country to switch from Republican to Democratic.

Arizona

Main article: 1994 Arizona gubernatorial election

Symington:
Basha:

The 1994 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Fife Symington, the incumbent Republican Governor of Arizona, defeated the Democratic nominee Eddie Basha to win a second term in office. However, Symington resigned in 1997 due to a federal indictment on corruption charges.

Arkansas

Main article: 1994 Arkansas gubernatorial election

Tucker:

Nelson:

The 1994 Arkansas gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994, as a part of the United States gubernatorial elections, 1994.

California

Main article: 1994 California gubernatorial election

Brown:

The 1994 California gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, in the midst of that year's "Republican Revolution". Incumbent Republican Pete Wilson easily won re-election over his main challenger, Democratic State Treasurer Kathleen Brown, the daughter of Pat Brown and younger sister of Jerry Brown, both of whom had previously served as governor. Primaries were held on June 3, 1994.

Colorado

Main article: 1994 Colorado gubernatorial election

Romer:

Benson:

The 1994 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to select the governor of the state of Colorado. Although Colorado voters passed a term limits ballot measure in 1990 limiting the governors to two terms, it included a provision for Roy Romer, the Democratic incumbent, to be able to run for reelection for a third term. The Republican nominee, Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, Bruce D. Benson, lost by a margin of nearly 18 percent.

Connecticut

Main article: 1994 Connecticut gubernatorial election

|County results |220px |Municipality results}}

Curry:
Groark:

The 1994 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994, to elect the governor of Connecticut. Republican John G. Rowland won the open seat following the retirement of A Connecticut Party Governor Lowell Weicker. The election was a four-way race between A Connecticut Party Lieutenant Governor Eunice Groark, Republican U.S. Congressman John G. Rowland, Democratic state comptroller Bill Curry, and independent conservative talk show host Tom Scott. Rowland won the election with just 36% of the vote.

Florida

Main article: 1994 Florida gubernatorial election

Bush:
Tie:

The 1994 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic governor Lawton Chiles won re-election over Republican Jeb Bush, who later won Florida’s governorship in 1998 when Chiles was term-limited. This race was the second-closest gubernatorial election in Florida history since Reconstruction, due to the strong Republican wave of 1994.

Georgia

Main article: 1994 Georgia gubernatorial election

Miller:
Millner:

The 1994 Georgia gubernatorial election occurred on November 8, 1994, to elect the next governor of Georgia from 1995 to 1999. Incumbent Democratic governor Zell Miller, first elected in 1990, ran for a second term. In his party's primary, Miller received three challengers, but easily prevailed with just over 70% of the vote. The contest for the Republican nomination, however, was a competitive race. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, John Knox and Guy Millner advanced to a run-off election. Millner was victorious and received the Republican nomination after garnering 59.41% of the vote.

The general election was a competitive race between Zell Miller and Guy Millner. Issues such as welfare reform, education, and the removal of the Confederate battle flag from Georgia's state flag dominated the election. On election day, Miller defeated Millner 51.05%-48.95% in the third-closest gubernatorial election in Georgian history – behind only the 2018 and 1966 elections – since Reconstruction due to the strong Republican wave of 1994.

Hawaii

Main article: 1994 Hawaii gubernatorial election

Cayetano:

The 1994 Hawaii gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1994. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Hawaii John D. Waihee III was prevented from seeking a third term as Governor due to term limits, creating an open seat. Lieutenant Governor Ben Cayetano emerged from a crowded primary to become the Democratic nominee, facing off against former Administrator of the Small Business Administration Pat Saiki, the Republican nominee and Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, who ran as the Best Party of Hawaii's nominee. In a very close election, Cayetano beat Fasi, who placed second, by six percentage points and Saiki, who placed third, winning only a plurality of the vote. Fasi's performance was notable in that it was the best performance by a third party gubernatorial candidate in Hawaii's history.

Idaho

Main article: 1994 Idaho gubernatorial election

Batt:
Echo Hawk:

The 1994 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 8 to select the governor of the U.S. state of Idaho. Democratic incumbent Cecil Andrus chose not to seek reelection after a total of fourteen years in office. Former state senator and Republican Party chair Phil Batt rallied to defeat Democratic attorney general Larry Echo Hawk; the victory was the first by a Republican in 28 years.

Illinois

Main article: 1994 Illinois gubernatorial election

Edgar:
Netsch:

The 1994 Illinois gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Republican Governor Jim Edgar won reelection in the largest landslide in over a century, after the elections of 1818 and 1848.

Iowa

Main article: 1994 Iowa gubernatorial election

Branstad:
Campbell:

The 1994 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 8, 1994. Incumbent Republican Governor of Iowa Terry Branstad ran for re-election to a fourth term as governor. Branstad narrowly defeated a tough challenger in his primary election, emerging victorious by 11,419 votes. On the Democratic side, Attorney General of Iowa Bonnie Campbell won her party's nomination and both Branstad and Campbell moved on to the general election. Branstad ultimately won re-election to a fourth term as governor, defeating Campbell in a landslide.

Kansas

Main article: 1994 Kansas gubernatorial election

Graves:
Slattery:

The 1994 Kansas gubernatorial election included Republican Bill Graves who won the open seat vacated by the pending retirement of Governor Joan Finney. He defeated Jim Slattery.

Maine

Main article: 1994 Maine gubernatorial election

|[[File:1994 Maine gubernatorial election results map by county.svg|280px]]|County results |[[File:1994 Maine gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg|280px]]|Municipality results}}

Brennan:
Collins:
Tie:

The 1994 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994 to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Republican governor John McKernan was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term. Independent Angus King won the election.

King defeated Democratic nominee, former governor and congressman Joseph Brennan, Republican nominee Susan Collins, a regional coordinator of the Small Business Administration, and Green nominee Jonathan Carter, an environmentalist activist. Ed Finks, as a write-in candidate, received in 1.29% of the vote. This was the first election since 1974 that Maine elected an independent governor.

Maryland

Main article: 1994 Maryland gubernatorial election

Glendening:
Sauerbrey:

The 1994 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic governor William Donald Schaefer was ineligible for re-election. Prince George's County Executive Parris Glendening emerged victorious from the Democratic primary after defeating several candidates. Maryland House minority leader Ellen Sauerbrey, who would also be the 1998 Republican nominee for governor, won her party's nomination.

In the general election, Glendening narrowly defeated Sauerbrey by a margin of 50.21 percent to 49.78 percent, or by 5,993 votes, the closest gubernatorial election in Maryland since 1919 and the first gubernatorial election in Maryland history to be decided by an absentee runoff.

Massachusetts

Main article: 1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

|[[File:1994_Massachusetts_gubernatorial_election_results_map_by_county.svg|300px]] |County results |[[File:1994 Massachusetts Gubernatorial Election by Municipality.svg|300px|]] |Municipality results Roosevelt:

The 1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Republican governor Bill Weld won reelection as Governor of Massachusetts by the largest margin in state history, winning every single county and all but 6 of the state's 351 municipalities. As of 2024, this is the most recent election in which Boston, Somerville, Lawrence, Chelsea, Brookline, Northampton, Provincetown, Monterey, Great Barrington, Ashfield, Williamstown, Williamsburg, Shelburne, Sunderland, and Pelham voted for the Republican candidate for governor.

Michigan

Main article: 1994 Michigan gubernatorial election

Engler:
Wolpe:

The 1994 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the state of Michigan. Incumbent Governor John Engler, a member of the Republican Party, was re-elected over Democratic Party nominee and Congressman Howard Wolpe. The voter turnout was 45.5%.

Minnesota

Main article: 1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election

Marty:
Tie:

The 1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994, in the midst of that year's Republican Revolution. Incumbent Republican Arne Carlson easily won re-election over Democrat–Farmer–Labor state senator John Marty.

Nebraska

Main article: 1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election

Nelson:
Spence:

The 1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent governor Ben Nelson won a re-election to a second term in a landslide, defeating Republican businessman Gene Spence by 47.4 percentage points and sweeping all but two counties in the state. As of , this is the last time that a Democrat was elected governor of Nebraska.

Nevada

Main article: 1994 Nevada gubernatorial election

Miller:
Gibbons:

The 1994 Nevada gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democrat Bob Miller won re-election to a second term as Governor of Nevada, defeating Republican nominee Jim Gibbons (who would later go on to narrowly win the governorship in 2006, twelve years later). This would be the last victory by a Democrat in a governors race in Nevada until Steve Sisolak's victory in the 2018 election twenty-four years later, and remains the last time that a Democratic governor has won re-election. As of 2023, this is the last time that a gubernatorial nominee and a lieutenant gubernatorial nominee of different political parties were elected governor and lieutenant governor of Nevada respectively. This election was the first Nevada gubernatorial election since 1962 in which the winner of the gubernatorial election was of the same party as the incumbent president.

New Hampshire

Main article: 1994 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

|x240px |County results |x240px |Municipality results}} King:

The 1994 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Governor Steve Merrill won re-election.

New Mexico

Main article: 1994 New Mexico gubernatorial election

Johnson:
King:

The 1994 New Mexico gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, for the four-year term beginning on January 1, 1995. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor ran on a ticket as running mates.

Incumbent Democrat Bruce King ran for a fourth term with Patricia Madrid as a running mate, losing to Republican nominees Gary Johnson, a businessman, and Walter Bradley, a former state senator. Former Lieutenant Governor Roberto Mondragón ran with Steven Schmidt as the nominees of the Green Party, receiving 10.4 percent of the vote.

New York

Main article: 1994 New York gubernatorial election

| Conservative | Tax Cut Now

Pataki:
Cuomo:

The 1994 New York gubernatorial election was an election for the state governorship held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic governor Mario Cuomo ran for a fourth term, but was defeated by Republican George Pataki in an upset victory. Pataki had previously been described by the New York Daily News as "a little-known Republican state senator."{{cite news

Pataki's victory was one of the most notable of the 1994 "Republican Revolution" midterm elections, which also ousted governors in Alabama, New Mexico, and Texas. This is the last time a governor of New York lost re-election. This would be the last gubernatorial race until 2022 that was decided by a single-digit margin.

Ohio

Main article: 1994 Ohio gubernatorial election

| [[File:1994 Ohio gubernatorial election results map by county.svg|210px]] | County results | [[File:Ohio 1994 Governor Election By Township.svg|210px]] | Township results Burch:

The 1994 Ohio gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Republican Governor of Ohio George Voinovich ran for re-election to a second and final term as governor. Voinovich won his party's nomination uncontested and was opposed by State Senator Rob Burch, who won a competitive Democratic primary. Ultimately, Voinovich capitalized on his massive popularity with Ohio and won re-election in an overwhelming landslide, defeating Burch and winning over 70% of the vote. , this was the last time Athens County voted for the Republican candidate.

Oklahoma

Main article: 1994 Oklahoma gubernatorial election

Keating:
Mildren:
Watkins:

The 1994 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, and was a race for Governor of Oklahoma. Former United States Associate Attorney General Frank Keating pulled an upset in the three-way race to become only the third Republican governor in Oklahoma history.

The Democratic vote was split between Lieutenant Governor Jack Mildren, an Oklahoma Sooners star quarterback from 1969 to 1971, and former Democratic congressman Wes Watkins, who ran as an independent. Watkins won 24% of the vote and carried numerous counties (by wide margins in some cases); his 233,000 votes far exceeded Keating's 171,000-vote winning margin over Mildren.

This was the first time since Oklahoma statehood that Jackson County, Stephens County, and Grady County voted Republican in a gubernatorial election, and the first time since 1914 that Comanche County voted Republican.

Oregon

Main article: 1994 Oregon gubernatorial election

Kitzhaber:
Smith:

The 1994 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1994. Democratic nominee John Kitzhaber won the election, defeating Republican Denny Smith.

Pennsylvania

Main article: 1994 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

Singel:
Luksik:
Tie:

The 1994 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. The incumbent governor, Bob Casey, Sr. (Democrat), was barred from seeking a third term by the state constitution. The Republican Party nominated Congressman Tom Ridge, while the Democrats nominated Mark Singel, Casey's lieutenant governor. Ridge went on to win the race with 45% of the vote. Singel finished with 39%, and Constitution Party candidate Peg Luksik finished third, garnering 12% of the vote.

Rhode Island

Main article: 1994 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

|County results |[[File:1994 Rhode Island gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg|250px]] |Municipality results}} York:
Healey:

The 1994 Rhode Island gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994. Republican Lincoln Almond defeated Democrat Myrth York. Almond was the first governor elected to a four-year term, as opposed to two years.

South Carolina

Main article: 1994 South Carolina gubernatorial election

Beasley:
Theodore:

The 1994 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. The contest featured two politicians from the Upstate and David Beasley narrowly defeated Nick Theodore to become the 113th governor of South Carolina.

South Dakota

Main article: 1994 South Dakota gubernatorial election

Janklow:

Beddow:

The 1994 South Dakota gubernatorial election, took place on November 8, 1994, to elect a Governor of South Dakota. Republican former Governor Bill Janklow was elected, defeating Democratic nominee Jim Beddow.

Tennessee

Main article: 1994 Tennessee gubernatorial election

Sundquist:
Bredesen:

The 1994 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994 to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic governor Ned McWherter was term-limited, leaving the governorship an open seat. Republican congressman Don Sundquist was elected Governor of Tennessee, defeating Democratic nominee Phil Bredesen, the mayor of Nashville, who later won Tennessee's governorship in 2002 & 2006.

David Y. Copeland III unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination, while Bill Morris and Steve Cohen unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination.

Texas

Main article: 1994 Texas gubernatorial election

Bush:
Richards:

The 1994 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Democratic governor Ann Richards was defeated in her bid for re-election by Republican nominee and future president George W. Bush, the son of former president George H. W. Bush.

Before the election, Richards had a high approval rating due to the strength of the state economy. However, Bush's campaigning on cultural and religious issues resonated with many Texan voters, and the race was considered a tossup on election day.

Vermont

Main article: 1994 Vermont gubernatorial election

|x220px |County results |x220px |Municipality results}}

Kelley:

The 1994 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1994. Incumbent Governor Howard Dean won re-election.

Wisconsin

Main article: 1994 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Chvala:
Tie:

The 1994 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. In the midst of the Republican Revolution, incumbent Republican governor Tommy Thompson won the election with a landslide 67% of the vote, winning a third term as Governor of Wisconsin.

Thompson's share of the popular vote was the highest received by any gubernatorial candidate in Wisconsin since 1920. Thompson also won 71 of Wisconsin's 72 counties, losing only Menominee County by 20 votes. This is the most recent gubernatorial election in which Dane County (containing Wisconsin's capital of Madison), as well as Ashland, Bayfield, and Douglas counties, have voted for the Republican candidate.

Wyoming

Main article: 1994 Wyoming gubernatorial election

44.31% of Total Population 9.01% Geringer:
Karpan:

The 1994 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic Governor Mike Sullivan was unable to seek a third term because of newly imposed term limits, and instead ran for the U.S. Senate. State Senate President Jim Geringer won the Republican primary and faced Secretary of State Kathy Karpan, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Aided by the nationwide Republican wave, Geringer defeated Karpan in a landslide, marking the first time since Governor Stanley Hathaway's re-election in 1970 that a Republican won a gubernatorial election in Wyoming.

Territories and federal district

District of Columbia

Main article: 1994 Washington, D.C., mayoral election

Barry:
Schwartz:

On November 8, 1994, Washington, D.C., held an election for its mayor. It featured the return of Marion Barry, who served as mayor from 1979 until 1991.

Barry served six months in prison on a cocaine conviction. After his release from prison, Barry ran successfully for the Ward 8 city council seat in 1992, running under the slogan "He May Not Be Perfect, But He's Perfect for D.C." Upon this victory, Barry said he was "not interested in being mayor" again.

This was by far the smallest Democratic victory margin in a regularly scheduled partisan citywide election since the city was granted home rule.

Guam

Main article: 1994 Guamanian gubernatorial election

The 1994 Guam gubernatorial election was held on 8 November 1994, in order to elect the Governor of Guam. Democratic nominee and incumbent member of the Guam Legislature Carl Gutierrez defeated Republican nominee Francisco Blas Aguon Sr.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Main article: 1994 United States Virgin Islands general election

November 22, 1994 (runoff)

General elections were held in the United States Virgin Islands on November 8, 1994, to elect a new governor and lieutenant governor, 15 members of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands and the Delegate to the United States House of Representatives.

Notes

References

References

1. (April 15, 1994). "Alaska's Gov. Hickel Rejoins Gop Amid Speculation Over Another Term". [[The Seattle Times]].
2. Brownstein, Ronald. (September 16, 2024). "Why these three states are the most consistent tipping point in American politics". CNN.
3. (July 3, 2015). "Guam Governor Race - Nov 08, 1994". Our Campaigns.
4. (January 19, 2006). "USVI Governor Race - Nov 08, 1994". Our Campaigns.
5. "CHILL WIND BLOWING FOR DEMOCRATS IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATES - The Washington Post". [[The Washington Post]].
6. (November 13, 1994). "Summary of Vote for Governor and Lieutenant Governor". Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State.
7. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
8. "1994 Gubernatorial Election". [[Maryland State Board of Elections]].
9. (November 10, 1994). "Maryland's last cliffhanger was 1919 governor's race". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
10. (November 9, 1994). "Republicans anticipated absentee role". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
11. "Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1994".
12. "General Election Voter Registration/Turnout Statistics". State of Michigan official website.
13. (November 8, 1994). "Tennessee Voter Turnout in 1994". Tennessee Secretary of State.
14. (1992-09-17). "Former Mayor's Victory Worries Many in Capital". The New York Times.
15. (5 January 2015). "Gov. Carl T. C. Gutierrez". National Governors Association.