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 won re-election. It is also the most recent statewide election in which a Republican won a majority of the vote.

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 LaRouche movement 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 was not as evident, as half of the statewide elections went for each party. The GOP won the governorship, U.S. senator, and state auditor positions, and the DFL won the state attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer positions. Additionally, the Minnesota State House remained in DFL control by a 72–64 margin.Session Weekly, Minnesota House of Representatives, Published Jan 6, 1995, Vol. 12, Number 1 Retrieved Oct 20, 2014 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.Minnesota Election Results 1994, p.29-30 Retrieved Oct 20, 2014

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 Jon 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: Tim Davis, Minneapolis forklift operator and candidate for state representative in 1990

Polling Source Date Carlson (R) Marty (D) St. Paul Pioneer Press Oct. 2, 1994 54% 29%

Debate + 1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Arne Carlson John Marty1 Nov. 1, 1994 League of Women VotersWCCO (AM)WCCO-TV C-SPAN

Results

Results by county County Arne CarlsonRepublican John MartyDFL All Others Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Aitkin 3,590 53.5% 2,749 41.0% 371 5.5% 841 12.5% 6,710 Anoka 60,289 64.0% 28,906 30.7% 4,957 5.3% 31,383 33.3% 94,152 Becker 7,038 63.9% 3,446 31.3% 529 4.8% 3,592 32.6% 11,013 Beltrami 6,138 50.6% 5,215 43.0% 768 6.3% 923 7.6% 12,121 Benton 6,176 59.9% 3,589 34.8% 550 5.3% 2,587 25.1% 10,315 Big Stone 1,441 49.3% 1,375 47.1% 105 3.6% 66 2.2% 2,921 Blue Earth 10,688 54.6% 7,383 37.7% 1,507 7.7% 3,305 16.9% 19,578 Brown 6,557 65.1% 2,976 29.5% 541 5.4% 3,581 35.6% 10,074 Carlton 5,394 45.4% 5,892 49.6% 585 4.9% -498 -4.2% 11,871 Carver 15,262 74.2% 4,309 21.0% 985 4.9% 10,953 53.2% 20,556 Cass 6,152 62.2% 3,342 33.8% 390 3.9% 2,810 28.4% 9,884 Chippewa 3,314 60.1% 1,995 36.2% 208 3.8% 1,319 23.9% 5,517 Chisago 8,689 63.2% 4,351 31.6% 711 5.2% 4,338 31.6% 13,751 Clay 10,722 68.4% 4,437 28.3% 508 3.3% 6,285 40.1% 15,667 Clearwater 1,700 54.5% 1,241 39.8% 176 5.6% 459 14.7% 3,117 Cook 1,334 55.2% 943 39.0% 140 5.9% 391 16.2% 2,417 Cottonwood 2,899 54.7% 1,847 34.9% 549 10.3% 1,052 19.8% 5,295 Crow Wing 12,314 62.3% 6,694 33.9% 758 3.8% 5,620 28.4% 19,766 Dakota 81,475 69.9% 29,969 25.7% 5,103 4.4% 51,506 44.2% 116,547 Dodge 4,203 68.0% 1,693 27.4% 285 4.6% 2,510 40.6% 6,181 Douglas 7,826 64.2% 3,926 32.2% 444 3.6% 3,900 32.0% 12,196 Faribault 4,733 64.2% 2,332 31.7% 302 4.1% 2,401 32.5% 7,367 Fillmore 5,417 69.5% 2,001 25.7% 374 4.8% 3,416 43.8% 7,792 Freeborn 8,473 62.9% 4,592 34.1% 404 3.0% 3,881 28.8% 13,469 Goodhue 11,199 69.1% 4,398 27.1% 621 3.8% 6,801 42.0% 16,218 Grant 1,770 56.4% 1,275 40.6% 96 3.1% 495 15.8% 3,141 Hennepin 272,167 64.6% 131,223 31.1% 18,047 4.3% 140,944 33.5% 421,437 Houston 5,101 64.4% 2,362 29.8% 458 5.8% 2,739 34.8% 7,921 Hubbard 4,396 59.2% 2,627 35.4% 397 5.3% 1,769 23.8% 7,420 Isanti 6,239 59.4% 3,680 35.0% 587 5.5% 2,559 24.4% 10,506 Itasca 9,090 49.4% 8,515 46.3% 805 4.3% 575 3.1% 18,410 Jackson 2,801 55.6% 1,891 37.5% 349 7.0% 910 18.1% 5,041 Kanabec 2,880 60.1% 1,675 35.0% 236 4.9% 1,205 25.1% 4,791 Kandiyohi 8,874 57.6% 5,550 36.0% 993 6.4% 3,324 21.6% 15,417 Kittson 1,445 53.2% 1,174 43.2% 95 3.6% 271 10.0% 2,717 Koochiching 2,756 48.3% 2,672 46.9% 273 4.8% 84 1.4% 5,701 Lac qui Parle 2,165 52.8% 1,826 44.6% 106 2.6% 339 8.2% 4,097 Lake 2,503 45.0% 2,837 51.0% 225 4.1% -334 -6.0% 5,565 Lake of the Woods 1,016 57.8% 653 37.2% 88 5.0% 363 20.6% 1,757 Le Sueur 5,435 57.8% 3,475 36.9% 500 5.4% 1,960 20.9% 9,410 Lincoln 1,713 54.2% 1,275 40.4% 171 5.4% 19,60 13.8% 9,410 Lyon 5,304 61.0% 2,924 33.6% 466 5.3% 2,380 26.4% 8,694 Mahnomen 1,119 57.1% 711 36.3% 131 6.6% 408 20.8% 1,961 Marshall 2,556 51.5% 1,982 39.9% 429 8.7% 574 11.6% 4,967 Martin 6,084 65.8% 2,698 29.2% 463 5.0% 3,386 46.6% 9,245 McLeod 8,157 69.7% 2,908 24.9% 634 5.4% 5,249 44.8% 11,699 Meeker 5,301 62.5% 2,801 33.0% 380 4.4% 2,500 29.5% 8,482 Mille Lacs 4,668 59.7% 2,744 35.1% 405 5.2% 1,924 24.6% 7,817 Morrison 5,793 53.2% 4,494 41.3% 601 5.6% 1,299 11.9% 10,888 Mower 8,879 54.9% 6,871 42.5% 429 2.7% 2,008 12.4% 16,179 Murray 2,256 51.2% 1,745 39.6% 402 9.2% 511 11.6% 4,403 Nicollet 6,337 56.3% 4,044 35.9% 879 7.8% 2,293 23.4% 11,260 Nobles 4,396 55.3% 2,881 36.2% 671 8.4% 1,515 19.1% 7,948 Norman 2,099 60.0% 1,265 36.1% 136 3.8% 834 23.9% 3,500 Olmsted 29,118 73.9% 8,693 22.1% 1,570 3.9% 20,425 51.8% 39,381 Otter Tail 13,295 65.2% 6,269 30.7% 833 4.1% 7,026 34.5% 20,397 Pennington 2,639 55.5% 1,962 41.3% 153 3.3% 677 14.2% 4,754 Pine 4,795 53.1% 3,758 41.6% 473 5.3% 1,037 11.5% 9,026 Pipestone 2,139 53.6% 1,508 37.8% 344 8.6% 631 15.8% 3,991 Polk 6,667 58.5% 4,308 37.8% 417 3.7% 2,359 20.7% 11,392 Pope 3,034 60.0% 1,855 36.7% 167 3.3% 1,179 23.3% 5,056 Ramsey 108,001 58.6% 68,095 36.9% 8,303 4.5% 39,906 21.7% 184,399 Red Lake 992 50.4% 910 46.2% 68 3.5% 82 4.2% 1,970 Redwood 4,983 69.1% 1,927 26.7% 297 4.1% 3,056 42.4% 7,207 Renville 4,669 62.9% 2,508 33.6% 262 3.4% 2,191 29.3% 7,469 Rice 10,280 56.8% 7,072 39.1% 745 4.1% 3,208 17.7% 18,097 Rock 2,114 55.8% 1,317 34.8% 357 9.5% 797 21.0% 3,788 Roseau 3,532 57.1% 2,217 35.9% 435 7.0% 1,315 21.2% 6,184 Saint Louis 36,710 43.7% 43,589 51.9% 3,631 4.3% -6,879 -8.2% 83,930 Scott 17,140 69.3% 6,376 25.8% 1,207 4.9% 10,764 12.5% 24,723 Sherburne 11,172 65.3% 5,002 29.3% 924 5.4% 6,170 36.0% 17,098 Sibley 3,653 65.6% 1,614 29.0% 302 5.4% 2,039 37.6% 5,569 Stearns 27,125 61.6% 14,542 33.0% 2,362 5.4% 12,583 28.6% 44,029 Steele 9,257 68.5% 3,743 27.7% 511 3.8% 5,514 40.8% 13,511 Stevens 2,352 56.9% 1,552 37.5% 233 5.6% 800 19.4% 4,137 Swift 2,151 47.8% 2,130 47.4% 216 4.8% 21 0.4% 4,497 Todd 5,258 56.1% 3,537 37.8% 574 6.0% 1,721 16.3% 9,369 Traverse 983 54.2% 731 40.3% 98 5.4% 252 13.9% 1,812 Wabasha 5,271 65.8% 2,453 30.6% 281 3.5% 2,818 35.2% 8,005 Wadena 3,028 58.9% 1,822 35.4% 295 5.8% 1,206 23.5% 5,145 Waseca 4,550 64.0% 2,261 31.8% 296 4.2% 2,289 32.2% 7,107 Washington 47,805 68.6% 18,979 27.2% 2,901 4.2% 28,826 41.4% 69,685 Watonwan 2,592 56.8% 1,666 36.5% 304 6.7% 926 20.3% 4,562 Wilkin 1,877 70.0% 710 26.5% 96 3.6% 1,167 43.5% 2,683 Winona 10,329 60.4% 5,962 34.9% 809 4.8% 4,367 25.5% 17,100 Wright 17,580 65.6% 7,954 29.7% 1,267 4.7% 9,626 35.9% 26,801 Yellow Medicine 2,721 55.8% 1,943 39.8% 212 4.3% 778 16.0% 4,876Totals1,094,16562.0%589,34433.4%82,2694.7%504,82128.6%1,765,778 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Anoka Aitkin Becker Beltrami Big Stone Benton Cook Clay Clearwater Grant Isanti Houston Itasca Jackson Kanabec Kittson Koochiching Kandiyohi Lac qui Parle Lake of the Woods Le Sueur Marshall Mahnomen Mille Lacs Morrison Mower Murray Norman Pennington Nobles Polk Pine Pipestone Pope Red Lake Roseau Sherburne Stearns Stevens Swift Todd Traverse Wright Wilkin

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

References