1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election

1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election

November 8, 1994

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

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

Republican primary results by county

  Carlson

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

  Quist

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

1994 Republican gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arne Carlson (incumbent)	321,084	66.5
	Republican	Allen Quist	161,670	33.5
Total votes			482,754	100.0

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

Democratic primary results by county

  Marty

•   30–40%
•   40–50%

  Hatch

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

1994 Democratic gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Marty	144,462	37.8
	Democratic	Mike Hatch	139,109	36.4
	Democratic	Tony Bouza	98,341	25.7
	Democratic	Richard T. Van Bergen	4,761	1.2
Total votes			382,163	100.0

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

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

Debate

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

Results

1994 Gubernatorial Election, Minnesota

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Ind.-Republican	Arne Carlson (incumbent)	1,094,165	63.34%	+13.24%
	Democratic (DFL)	John Marty	589,344	34.12%	−12.65%
	Grassroots	Will Shetterly	20,785	1.20%	+0.24%
	Libertarian	Eric Olson	15,467	0.90%	n/a
	Natural Rights Alliance	Leslie Davis	4,611	0.27%	n/a
	Socialist Workers	Jon Hillson	3,022	0.17%	n/a
Majority			504,821	29.22%
Turnout			1,727,394
	Ind.-Republican hold		Swing

External links

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