# 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.
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 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

1994 Republican gubernatorial primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Arne Carlson (incumbent) | 321,084 | 66.5 |
| | Republican | Allen Quist | 161,670 | 33.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 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

1994 Democratic gubernatorial primary :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | 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 | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | 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

* 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%
1994 Gubernatorial Election, Minnesota :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 504,821 | 29.22% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,727,394 | | |
| | Ind.-Republican hold | Ind.-Republican hold | Swing | | |