| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
38 governorships 36 states; 2 territories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Results of the elections: Democratic gain Republican gain Democratic hold Republican hold Independent gain No election |
On November 8, 1994, gubernatorial elections were held in 36 states and two territories across the United States. Many seats held by Democratic governors switched to the Republicans during the time known as the Republican Revolution. Notably, this marked the first time since 1969 that Republicans secured the majority of governorships in an election cycle.
Before the elections, 21 seats were held by Democrats, 14 held by Republicans, and one seat was held by an independent. After the elections, 11 seats would be held by Democrats, 24 by Republicans, and one seat by an independent.
These elections occurred concurrently with the midterm elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives. To date, it remains the last time that Democrats have won gubernatorial elections in Florida and Nebraska. Conversely, this election cycle began an ongoing pattern in which Rust Belt states Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin would vote for gubernatorial candidates of the same party, with the sole exception of 2014. [2]
State | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Jim Folsom Jr. | Democratic | 1993 [b] | Incumbent lost election to full term. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Alaska | Wally Hickel | Republican | 1966 [c] 1969 (resigned) 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic gain. |
|
Arizona | Fife Symington | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Arkansas | Jim Guy Tucker | Democratic | 1992 [d] | Incumbent elected to full term. |
|
California | Pete Wilson | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Colorado | Roy Romer | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Connecticut | Lowell Weicker | A Connecticut Party | 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Florida | Lawton Chiles | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Georgia | Zell Miller | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Hawaii | John D. Waihe'e III | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
|
Idaho | Cecil D. Andrus | Democratic | 1970 1977 (resigned) 1986 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Illinois | Jim Edgar | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Iowa | Terry Branstad | Republican | 1982 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Kansas | Joan Finney | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Maine | John R. McKernan Jr. | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Independent gain. |
|
Maryland | William D. Schaefer | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
|
Massachusetts | Bill Weld | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Michigan | John Engler | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Minnesota | Arne Carlson | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Nebraska | Ben Nelson | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Nevada | Bob Miller | Democratic | 1989 [e] | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
New Hampshire | Steve Merrill | Republican | 1992 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
New Mexico | Bruce King | Democratic | 1970 1974 (term-limited) 1978 1982 (term-limited) 1990 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
New York | Mario Cuomo | Democratic | 1982 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Ohio | George Voinovich | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Oklahoma | David Walters | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Oregon | Barbara Roberts | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
|
Pennsylvania | Bob Casey Sr. | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Rhode Island | Bruce Sundlun | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent lost renomination. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
South Carolina | Carroll A. Campbell Jr. | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican hold. |
|
South Dakota | Walter Dale Miller | Republican | 1993 [f] | Incumbent lost nomination to full term. New governor elected. Republican hold. |
|
Tennessee | Ned McWherter | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Texas | Ann Richards | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Vermont | Howard Dean | Democratic | 1991 [g] | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Wisconsin | Tommy Thompson | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent re-elected. |
|
Wyoming | Mike Sullivan | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
Territory | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District of Columbia | Sharon Pratt | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent lost renomination. New mayor elected. Democratic hold. |
|
Guam | Joseph Franklin Ada | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. [3] Democratic gain. |
|
U.S. Virgin Islands | Alexander Farrelly | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. [4] Independent gain. |
|
States where the margin of victory was under 1%:
States where the margin of victory was under 5%:
States where the margin of victory was under 10%:
The Alaskan Independence Party (AIP) is an Alaskan nationalist political party in the United States that advocates for an in-state referendum which would include the option of Alaska becoming an independent country. The party also supports gun rights, direct democracy, privatization, abolishing federal land ownership, and limited government.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 2, 2004, in 11 states and two territories. There was no net gain in seats for either party, as Democrats picked up an open seat in Montana while defeating incumbent Craig Benson in New Hampshire, while Republicans defeated incumbent Joe Kernan in Indiana and won Missouri after Bob Holden lost in the primary. These elections coincided with the presidential election.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 7, 2006, in 36 states and two territories. The elections coincided with the midterm elections of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 2005, in the states of New Jersey and Virginia as well as in the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Pennsylvania Republican Party (PAGOP) is the state affiliate of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania. It is headquartered in Harrisburg. Its chair is Lawrence Tabas and is the second largest political party in the state behind the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 2002, in 36 states and two territories. The Republicans won eight seats previously held by the Democrats, as well as the seat previously held by Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, who was elected on the Reform Party ticket but had since renounced his party affiliation. The Democrats won 10 seats previously held by the Republicans, as well as the seat previously held by Maine governor Angus King, an independent. The elections were held concurrently with the other United States elections of 2002.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 1998, in 36 states and two territories. Going into the election cycle, 24 of the seats were held by Republicans, 11 by Democrats, and one by an Independent. The elections changed the national balance of power by the loss of one Republican and the gain of one Independent, although political party dominance was shifted in nine states. Democrats gained open seats in California and Iowa and defeated incumbents Fob James of Alabama and David Beasley of South Carolina, while Republicans won open seats in Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, and Nevada and the Reform Party won an open Republican governorship in Minnesota. By the end of the election, 23 seats were held by Republicans, 11 by Democrats, one by the Reform Party, and one by an Independent.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 7, 2000, in 11 states and two territories. The elections coincided with the presidential election. Democrats gained one seat by defeating an incumbent in West Virginia. As of 2024, this remains the last gubernatorial cycle in which a Democrat won in Indiana.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 6, 2001, in two states and one territory, as well as other statewide offices and members of state legislatures.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 1996, in 11 states and two territories. Going into the elections, seven of the seats were held by Democrats and four by Republicans. Democrats picked up the open seat in New Hampshire, and Republicans picked up the open seat in West Virginia, for no net change in the partisan balance of power. These elections coincided with the presidential election.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 6, 1990, in 36 states and two territories. Most elected in these elections would serve for a 4-year term, while those in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont would serve for a 2-year term. The elections coincided with the mid-term elections for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Heading into the elections, there were 20 seats held by Democrats and 16 held by Republicans. By the end of the elections, 19 seats would be held by a Democrat, 15 would be held by a Republican, and two would be held by other parties.
The following table indicates the parties of elected officials in the U.S. state of Alaska:
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.
The 1990 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990, for the open seat of Governor of Alaska. In 1989, incumbent governor Steve Cowper, a Democrat, had announced that he would not seek re-election for a second term.
The 1990 United States elections were held on November 6 and elected the members of the 102nd United States Congress. The elections occurred in the middle of Republican President George H. W. Bush's term and during the Gulf War. The Democratic Party slightly built on their control of Congress.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 2020, in 11 states and two territories. The previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2016, except in New Hampshire and Vermont where governors only serve two-year terms. These two states elected their current governors in 2018. Nine state governors ran for reelection and all nine won, while Democrat Steve Bullock of Montana could not run again due to term limits and Republican Gary Herbert of Utah decided to retire at the end of his term.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 2022, in 36 states and three territories. As most governors serve four-year terms, the last regular gubernatorial elections for all but two of the seats took place in the 2018 U.S. gubernatorial elections. The gubernatorial elections took place concurrently with several other federal, state, and local elections, as part of the 2022 midterm elections.
The 2020 United States attorney general elections were held on November 3, 2020, in 10 states. The previous attorney general elections for this group of states took place in 2016, except in Vermont where attorneys general only serve two-year terms and elected their current attorney general in 2018. Nine state attorneys general ran for reelection and eight won, while Republican Tim Fox of Montana could not run again due to term limits and Republican Curtis Hill of Indiana was eliminated in the Republican convention.
The 2022 United States attorney general elections were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the attorneys general in thirty states, two territories, and one federal district. The previous elections for this group of states took place in 2018. The attorney general of Vermont serves two-year terms and was last elected in 2020.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 2024, in 11 states and two territories. The previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2020, except in New Hampshire and Vermont, where governors only serve two-year terms and elected their governors in 2022. In addition to state gubernatorial elections, the territories of American Samoa and Puerto Rico held elections for their governors. This was also the first time since 1988 that a republican nominee won the gubernatorial election in American Samoa and also the first time since 1996 that an incubment governor lost re-election.