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38 governorships 36 states; 2 territories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
The gubernatorial elections of 1994 occurred concurrently with the midterm elections for the Senate and House of Representatives. To date, it remains the last time that Democrats have won gubernatorial elections in Florida and Nebraska.
State | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
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Alabama | Jim Folsom Jr. | Democratic | 1993 [lower-alpha 2] | Incumbent lost election to full term. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Alaska | Wally Hickel | Republican | 1966 [lower-alpha 3] 1969 (resigned) 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic gain. |
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Arizona | Fife Symington | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Arkansas | Jim Guy Tucker | Democratic | 1992 [lower-alpha 4] | Incumbent elected to full term. |
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California | Pete Wilson | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Colorado | Roy Romer | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Connecticut | Lowell Weicker | A Connecticut Party | 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Florida | Lawton Chiles | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Georgia | Zell Miller | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Hawaii | John D. Waihe'e III | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
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Idaho | Cecil D. Andrus | Democratic | 1970 1977 (resigned) 1986 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Illinois | Jim Edgar | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Iowa | Terry Branstad | Republican | 1982 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Kansas | Joan Finney | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Maine | John R. McKernan Jr. | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Independent gain. |
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Maryland | William D. Schaefer | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
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Massachusetts | Bill Weld | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Michigan | John Engler | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Minnesota | Arne Carlson | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Nebraska | Ben Nelson | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Nevada | Bob Miller | Democratic | 1989 [lower-alpha 5] | Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Hampshire | Steve Merrill | Republican | 1992 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Mexico | Bruce King | Democratic | 1970 1974 (term-limited) 1978 1982 (term-limited) 1990 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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New York | Mario Cuomo | Democratic | 1982 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Ohio | George Voinovich | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Oklahoma | David Walters | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Oregon | Barbara Roberts | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
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Pennsylvania | Bob Casey Sr. | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Rhode Island | Bruce Sundlun | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent lost renomination. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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South Carolina | Carroll A. Campbell Jr. | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican hold. |
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South Dakota | Walter Dale Miller | Republican | 1993 [lower-alpha 6] | Incumbent lost nomination to full term. New governor elected. Republican hold. |
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Tennessee | Ned McWherter | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Texas | Ann Richards | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Vermont | Howard Dean | Democratic | 1991 [lower-alpha 7] | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Wisconsin | Tommy Thompson | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Wyoming | Mike Sullivan | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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Territory | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates |
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District of Columbia | Sharon Pratt | Democratic | 1990 | Incumbent lost renomination. New mayor elected. Democratic hold. |
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Guam | Joseph Franklin Ada | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. [2] Democratic gain. |
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U.S. Virgin Islands | Alexander Farrelly | Democratic | 1986 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. [3] Independent gain. |
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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%:
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