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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%

County results Precinct resultsCarlson:      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

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v t e

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.

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.

Republican Party

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.

Candidates

• Arne Carlson, incumbent governor since 1991
  • Running mate: Joanne Benson, state senator from St. Cloud
• Allen Quist, St. Peter farmer and former state representative

• Running mate: Doug McFarland, Hamline University law professor

Primary results

Democratic Party

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.

Candidates

• Tony Bouza, former Minneapolis Chief of Police and director of the Minnesota Gaming Commission
  • Running mate: Kim Stokes, Britt resident
• Mike Hatch, former commissioner of Commerce and candidate for governor in 1990
  • Running mate: Robert Schmitz, farmer and former state senator from Jordan
• John Marty, State Senator from Roseville
  • Running mate: Nancy Larson, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Small Cities
• Richard T. Van Bergen, Buffalo resident and Lyndon LaRouche supporter
  • Running mate: Glenn Mesaros, Minneapolis resident and perennial candidate

Withdrew

• Michael O. Freeman, Hennepin County Attorney and son of former Governor Orville Freeman (withdrew after DFL Convention)

Primary results

General election

Campaign

The 1994 election nationwide was noted for a GOP wave of election victories. In Minnesota, that wave wasn't as evident, as half of the statewide elections went for each party. The GOP won the governorship and U.S. Senator positions, and the DFL won the State Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor and State Treasurer positions. Additionally, the Minnesota State House remained in DFL control by a 72–64 margin. 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.

Candidates

• Arne Carlson, incumbent governor since 1991 (Independent-Republican)
  • Running mate: Joanne Benson, state senator
• Leslie Davis, Minneapolis environmental activist and perennial candidate (Nutritional Rights)
  • Running mate: Phil Ratté, perennial candidate
• John Hillson, St. Paul railroad switchman (Socialist Workers)
  • Running mate: Leah Finger
• John Marty, state senator from Roseville (Democratic–Farmer–Labor)
  • Running mate: Nancy Larson, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Small Cities
• Eric Olson, Minneapolis insurance agent (Libertarian)
  • Running mate: Michael Strand, Minneapolis resident
• Will Shetterly, Minneapolis fantasy and comic book writer (Grassroots)
  • Running mate: Minneapolis forklift operator and candidate for state representative in 1990

Polling

Debate

Results

•   Democratic — +20-25%
•   Democratic — +15-20%
•   Democratic — +10-15%
•   Democratic — +5-10%
•   Democratic — +0-5%
•   Republican — +0-5%
•   Republican — +5-10%
•   Republican — +10-15%
•   Republican — +15-20%
•   Republican — +20-25%
•   Republican — +25-30%
•   Republican — +>30%

•   Democratic — +20-25%
•   Democratic — +15-20%
•   Democratic — +10-15%
•   Democratic — +5-10%
•   Democratic — +0-5%
•   Republican — +0-5%
•   Republican — +5-10%
•   Republican — +10-15%
•   Republican — +15-20%
•   Republican — +20-25%
•   Republican — +25-30%
•   Republican — +>30%

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20060425113929/http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/mn_leg_man_06_chapt7.pdf

References

1. ^ Minnesota Election Results 1994, p.5-6 Retrieved Oct 20, 2014
2. Berke, Richard (November 9, 1994). "THE 1994 ELECTIONS: THE OVERVIEW; G.O.P. WINS CONTROL OF SENATE AND MAKES BIG GAINS IN HOUSE; PATAKI DENIES CUOMO 4TH TERM". New York Times. Archived from the original on October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
3. Session Weekly, Minnesota House of Representatives, Published Jan 6, 1995, Vol. 12, Number 1 Retrieved Oct 20, 2014
4. Minnesota Election Results 1994, p.29-30 Retrieved Oct 20, 2014

v t e Elections in Minnesota
General elections 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
State elections Executive elections Gubernatorial elections 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1883 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Lieutenant gubernatorial elections 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1883 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1966 1970 Secretary of State elections 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1883 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 (Sp) 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 State Auditor elections 1857 1860 1863 1866 1869 1872 1875 1878 1881 1886 1890 1894 1898 1902 1906 1910 1914 1918 1922 1926 1930 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Attorney General elections 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1883 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Legislative elections Senate elections 1890 1894 1898 1902 1906 1910 1976 1980 1982 1986 1990 1992 1996 2000 2002 2006 2010 2012 2016 2020 2022 2024 (sp) 2026 House of Representatives elections 1910 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Ballot questions 2012 Amendment 1 Amendment 2 Special elections Senate House of Representatives
Federal elections Presidential elections 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Senate elections Class 1 1858 1863 1869 1875 1881 1886 1892 1899 1901 (sp) 1905 1911 1916 1922 1928 1934 1940 1946 1952 1958 1964 1970 1976 1978 (sp) 1982 1988 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018 2024 Class 2 1858 1865 1871 (sp) 1871 1877 1881 (sp) 1883 1888 1895 1901 1907 1913 1918 1923 (sp) 1924 1930 1936 (sp) 1936 1942 (sp) 1942 1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002 2008 2014 2018 (sp) 2020 House of Representatives elections 1849 (Terr) 1850 (Terr) 1852 (Terr) 1854 (Terr) 1856 (Terr) 1857 1859 1860 1862 1864 1866 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1929, 5th (sp) 1929, 7th (sp) 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1977, 7th (sp) 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2006 (5th) 2006 (6th) 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Municipal elections Minneapolis General elections 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 Mayoral elections 1957 1959 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 City Council elections 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 2023 Saint Paul Mayoral elections 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021

• 1994 United States gubernatorial elections
• 1994 Minnesota elections
• Minnesota gubernatorial elections