1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election


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The 1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994, in the midst of that year's Republican Revolution. Incumbent Republican Arne Carlson easily won re-election over Democrat–Farmer–Labor state senator John Marty.

1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election
← 1990 November 8, 1994 1998 →
 
Nominee Arne Carlson John Marty
Party Ind.-Republican Democratic (DFL)
Running mate Joanne Benson Nancy Larson
Popular vote 1,094,165 589,344
Percentage 63.34% 34.12%

Carlson:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Marty:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes

Governor before election

Arne Carlson
Republican

Elected Governor

Arne Carlson
Republican

Republican primary results by county

  Carlson

  •   50–60%

  •   60–70%

  •   70–80%

  Quist

  •   50–60%

  •   60–70%

  •   70–80%

Democratic primary results by county

  Marty

  •   30–40%

  •   40–50%

  Hatch

  •   30–40%

  •   40–50%

  •   50–60%

  •   60–70%

To date, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which Hennepin and Ramsey counties voted for the Republican candidate.

This was the first time since 1950 that an incumbent Republican Governor of Minnesota was re-elected or won re-election. It is also the most recent time that a Republican has been elected with a majority of the votes.

While incumbent Arne Carlson was popular in the state, he was not popular with rank-and-file Republicans, who viewed his victory in 1990 as an accident, as he was chosen as a replacement nominee shortly before the general election. Carlson, who was pro-choice and in favor of extending civil rights to homosexuals, was seen as too moderate by delegates to the GOP state convention, who ultimately chose former state representative Allen Quist, a staunch conservative, as their nominee. Ultimately, though, Carlson easily defeated Quist in the state primary, putting himself on the ballot for November.

At the DFL convention, Marty received the party endorsement, beating back a strong challenge by three opponents, one of whom Mike Freeman, son of a popular former governor withdrew, but Marty still faced a strong challenge from former Minneapolis Chief of Police Tony Bouza. Bouza faded, however, when it was revealed that he supported severe restrictions on handguns. Marty ultimately won a narrow victory in the primary over former Commerce Commissioner Mike Hatch, who lost his second consecutive gubernatorial primary.

The 1994 election nationwide was noted for a GOP wave of election victories.[2] In Minnesota, that wave wasn't as evident as half of the statewide elections went for each party. With the GOP winning the governor and U.S. Senator positions and the DFL winning the State Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor and State Treasurer positions. As well, the Minnesota State House remained in DFL control by a 72–64 margin.[3] The results of the gubernatorial general election were: Arne Carlson 1,094,165, John Marty 589,344, Will Shetterly 20,785, Jon Hillson 3,022, Eric Arthur Olson 15,467, Leslie Davis 4,611.[4]

Source Date Carlson (R) Marty (D)
St. Paul Pioneer Press Oct. 2, 1994 54% 29%
1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election debate
No. Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Arne Carlson John Marty
1 Nov. 1, 1994 League of Women Voters
WCCO (AM)
WCCO-TV 		C-SPAN P P