1994 United States gubernatorial elections

Last updated

1994 United States gubernatorial elections
Flag of the United States.svg
  1993 November 8, 1994 1995  

38 governorships
36 states; 2 territories
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before20 [a] 29
Seats after3019
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 10Decrease2.svg 10
Seats up1421
Seats won2411

 Third partyFourth party
 
Party Independent A Connecticut Party
Seats before01
Seats after10
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 1
Seats up01
Seats won10

1994 United States gubernatorial elections results map.svg
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.

Contents

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]

Election results

States

StateIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Alabama Jim Folsom Jr. Democratic1993 [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 Democratic1992 [d] Incumbent elected to full term.
California Pete Wilson Republican 1990 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Pete Wilson (Republican) 55.2%
  • Kathleen Brown (Democratic) 40.6%
  • Richard Rider (Libertarian) 1.7%
  • Jerome McCready (American Independent) 1.5%
Colorado Roy Romer Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Roy Romer (Democratic) 55.5%
  • Bruce D. Benson (Republican) 38.7%
  • Kevin Swanson (Constitution) 3.6%
  • Philip Hufford (Green) 1.5%
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.
  • Green check.svgY Ben Nelson (Democratic) 73.0%
  • Gene Spence (Republican) 25.6%
Nevada Bob Miller Democratic1989 [e] Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Bob Miller (Democratic) 52.7%
  • Jim Gibbons (Republican) 41.3%
  • Daniel Hansen (Independent American) 2.6%
  • Denis Sholty (Libertarian) 1.0%
New Hampshire Steve Merrill Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Steve Merrill (Republican) 69.9%
  • Wayne King (Democratic) 25.6%
  • Steven Winter (Libertarian) 4.4%
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 Republican1993 [f] Incumbent lost nomination to full term.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green check.svgY Bill Janklow (Republican) 55.4%
  • Jim Beddow (Democratic) 40.5%
  • Nathan A. Barton (Libertarian) 4.1%
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 Democratic1991 [g] Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Howard Dean (Democratic) 68.7%
  • David F. Kelley (Republican) 19.0%
  • Thomas J. Morse (Independent) 7.1%
  • Dennis Lane (Grassroots) 1.0%
Wisconsin Tommy Thompson Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected.
Wyoming Mike Sullivan Democratic 1986 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.

Territories and federal district

TerritoryIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
District of Columbia Sharon Pratt Democratic 1990 Incumbent lost renomination.
New mayor elected.
Democratic hold.
Guam Joseph Franklin Ada Republican1986Incumbent retired.
New governor elected. [3]
Democratic gain.
U.S. Virgin Islands Alexander Farrelly Democratic1986Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected. [4]
Independent gain.
  • Green check.svgY Roy Schneider (Independent) 54.7%
  • Derek Hodge (Democratic) 42.6%

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%

See also

Notes

  1. Alaskan Governor Wally Hickel was elected on the Alaskan Independence Party line in 1990 but switched to the Republican Party in April 1994. [1]
  2. Folsom took office after his predecessor (H. Guy Hunt) was removed from office.
  3. Hickel was elected as a Republican in his first term in 1966. He was elected under the Alaskan Independence Party for his second term in 1990, before switching back to the Republican Party towards the end of his second term in April 1994.
  4. Tucker took office after his predecessor (Bill Clinton) resigned.
  5. Miller took office after his predecessor (Richard Bryan) resigned. He was subsequently elected in the 1990 Nevada gubernatorial election.
  6. Miller took office after his predecessor (George S. Mickelson) died.
  7. Dean took office after his predecessor (Richard Snelling) died. He was subsequently elected in the 1992 Vermont gubernatorial election.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaskan Independence Party</span> Political party in Alaska

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Alaska gubernatorial election</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Alaska gubernatorial election</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 United States elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States attorney general elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States attorney general elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

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.

References

  1. "Alaska's Gov. Hickel Rejoins Gop Amid Speculation Over Another Term". The Seattle Times . Seattle. Associated Press. April 15, 1994. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
  2. Brownstein, Ronald (September 16, 2024). "Why these three states are the most consistent tipping point in American politics". CNN. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  3. "Guam Governor Race - Nov 08, 1994". Our Campaigns. July 3, 2015.
  4. "USVI Governor Race - Nov 08, 1994". Our Campaigns. January 19, 2006.