1994 Connecticut gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1994 United States gubernatorial elections.

1994 Connecticut gubernatorial election

←  1990 November 8, 1994 1998  →
Turnout	65.1% [1]
Nominee John G. Rowland Bill Curry Party Republican Democratic Running mate Jodi Rell Joe Ganim Popular vote 415,201 375,133 Percentage 36.2% 32.7%   Nominee Eunice Groark Tom Scott Party A Connecticut Party Independent Running mate Audrey Rowe Glen O'Keefe Popular vote 216,585 130,128 Percentage 18.9% 11.3%
County results Municipality results Congressional district results Rowland:     20–30%     30–40%     40–50%      50–60%     60–70% Curry:     20–30%     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Groark:     30–40%
Governor before election Lowell Weicker A Connecticut Party Elected Governor John G. Rowland Republican

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. ^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bill Curry, Connecticut State Comptroller
• John B. Larson, Member of the Connecticut Senate

Results

1994 Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bill Curry	93,241	54.72%
	Democratic	John B. Larson	77,165	45.28%
Total votes			170,406	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• John G. Rowland, former U.S. Representative for CT-05
• Pauline R. Kezer, Secretary of the State of Connecticut

Results

1994 Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John G. Rowland	78,051	67.83%
	Republican	Pauline R. Kezer	37,010	32.17%
Total votes			115,061	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Bill Curry (D), Connecticut State Comptroller
  • Running mate: Joe Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport
• John G. Rowland (R), former U.S. Representative for CT-05
  • Running mate: Jodi Rell, Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
• Eunice Groark (ACP), incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
  • Running mate: Audrey Rowe
• Tom Scott (I), radio talk show host, and realtor
  • Running mate: Glen O'Keefe

Polling

Source	Date	John G. Rowland (R)	Bill Curry (D)	Eunice Groark (ACP)	Tom Scott (I)
Hartford Courant	November 7, 1994	30%	25%	18%	11%
New London Day	November 6, 1994	28%	31%	13%	12%
Manchester Journal	October 23, 1994	37%	22%	—	—

Results

1994 Connecticut gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John G. Rowland	415,201	36.20%
	Democratic	Bill Curry	375,133	32.70%
	A Connecticut Party	Eunice Groark	216,585	18.88%
	Independent Party	Tom Scott	130,128	11.35%
	Concerned Citizens	Joseph A. Zdonczyk	10,007	0.87%
Total votes			1,147,054	100.00%
	Republican gain from A Connecticut Party (1990)

By congressional district

Rowland won four of six congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat. ^[3]

District	Groark	Rowland	Curry	Scott	Representative
1st	24%	22%	36%	16%	Barbara Kennelly
2nd	27%	28%	32%	13%	Sam Gejdenson
3rd	16%	38%	37%	9%	Rosa DeLauro
4th	14%	49%	33%	3%	Chris Shays
5th	11%	51%	28%	9%	Gary Franks
6th	20%	32%	30%	17%	Nancy Johnson

References

1. "Connecticut State Register and Manual, 1995". CT State Library.
2. "Summary of Vote for Governor and Lieutenant Governor" (PDF). Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State. November 13, 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
3. "Statement of Vote" (PDF). Secretary of the State of Connecticut . Archived (PDF) from the original on March 17, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.