1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election

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1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election
Flag of Nebraska.svg
  1990 November 8, 1994 1998  
  Ben Nelson official photo.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Ben Nelson Gene Spence
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Kim Robak Kate Witek
Popular vote423,270148,230
Percentage73.0%25.6%

1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Nelson:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Spence:     50–60%

Governor before election

Ben Nelson
Democratic

Elected Governor

Ben Nelson
Democratic

The 1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic 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 2023, this is the last time that a Democrat was elected governor of Nebraska.

Contents

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

Results

Democratic gubernatorial primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ben Nelson (incumbent) 101,422 88.10
Democratic Robert Franklin Winingar6,9936.07
Democratic Robb Nimic6,3735.54
Democratic Write-ins3270.28
Total votes115,115 100.00

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Kim M. Robak ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. [2] She was the incumbent Nebraska Lieutenant Governor who was appointed in 1993 by Governor Ben Nelson after Maxine Moul resigned. [3]

Results

Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Kim M. Robak (incumbent) 94,936 99.53
Democratic Write-ins4470.47
Total votes95,383 100.00

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Results

Republican gubernatorial primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gene Spence 69,529 38.07
Republican Ralph Knobel57,71931.60
Republican Alan Jacobsen27,37414.99
Republican John DeCamp 24,41413.37
Republican Mort Sullivan3,3631.84
Republican Write-ins2340.13
Total votes182,633 100.00

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Results

Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Kate Witek 68,113 44.80
Republican De Carlson47,26231.09
Republican Hoss Dannehl20,43713.44
Republican Willie J. Carr, Jr.16,11110.60
Republican Write-ins1140.07
Total votes152,037 100.00

General election

Campaign

Though Nelson ultimately did approve of an action to prevent foster children from living with homosexuals or unmarried couples after he was re-elected, Spence hammered the governor for not supporting restrictions on foster homes. [7] Ultimately, four weeks before the elections, many prominent Republicans accused Spence of "throwing in the towel" and essentially conceding defeat to Nelson before any ballots were cast. [8] The divided Republican primary and Gene Spence's inability to unite the party following his plurality victory in the primary eventually led to Nelson's overwhelming re-election. [9]

Results

Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1994 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ben Nelson (incumbent) 423,270 73.0%
Republican Gene Spence148,23025.6%
Write-in Ernie Chambers 2,5100.4%
Write-inOthers5,5511.0%
Total votes579,561 100.0%
Democratic hold

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Allen J. Beermann; Ralph Englert (1994). "Official Report of the Board of Canvassers of the State of Nebraska" (PDF). Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  2. "Nelson, Spence win respective primaries". Beatrice Daily Sun. May 11, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  3. J. L. Schmidt (September 14, 1993). "Lt. Governor Maxine Moul Resigns To Take DED Job". Alliance Times-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  4. "De Carlson to run for lieutenant governor". Lincoln Journal Star. March 9, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Bob Reeves (May 11, 1994). "Kate Witek nominated as lieutenant governor". Lincoln Star. p. 17. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  6. State of Nebraska, 2020-21 Nebraska Blue Book (PDF), pp. 317–378, retrieved June 22, 2023
  7. "Nebraska Moves to Bar Homosexuals From Being Foster Parents". New York Times. January 29, 1995. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  8. Jordan, Joe (June 15, 2010). "History of Omaha Congressional Race Cuts Both Ways". Nebraska.watchdog.org. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  9. Susan (May 7, 2004). "GoBigEd". Gobiged.blogspot.com. Retrieved June 19, 2011.