Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Nebraska
1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election
|
← 1990 | November 8, 1994 | 1998 → |
|
| | | Nominee | Ben Nelson | Gene Spence | | Party | Democratic | Republican | Running mate | Kim Robak | Kate Witek | Popular vote | 423,270 | 148,230 | Percentage | 73.0% | 25.6% | |
County results Nelson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Spence: 50–60% |
Governor before election Ben Nelson Democratic | Elected Governor Ben Nelson Democratic | |
Elections in Nebraska |
---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Government |
|
The 1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Governor Ben Nelson won a re-election to a second term in a landslide, defeating Republican businessman Gene Spence by 47.4 percentage points and sweeping all but two counties in the state. As of 2024, this is the last time that a Democrat was elected governor of Nebraska.
Democratic primary
Governor
Candidates
Results
Democratic gubernatorial primary results[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Ben Nelson (incumbent) | 101,422 | 88.10 |
| Democratic | Robert Franklin Winingar | 6,993 | 6.07 |
| Democratic | Robb Nimic | 6,373 | 5.54 |
| Democratic | Write-ins | 327 | 0.28 |
Total votes | 115,115 | 100.00 |
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Kim M. Robak ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.[2] She was the incumbent Nebraska Lieutenant Governor who was appointed in 1993 by Governor Ben Nelson after Maxine Moul resigned.[3]
Results
Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Kim M. Robak (incumbent) | 94,936 | 99.53 |
| Democratic | Write-ins | 447 | 0.47 |
Total votes | 95,383 | 100.00 |
Republican primary
Governor
Candidates
Results
Republican gubernatorial primary results[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Gene Spence | 69,529 | 38.07 |
| Republican | Ralph Knobel | 57,719 | 31.60 |
| Republican | Alan Jacobsen | 27,374 | 14.99 |
| Republican | John DeCamp | 24,414 | 13.37 |
| Republican | Mort Sullivan | 3,363 | 1.84 |
| Republican | Write-ins | 234 | 0.13 |
Total votes | 182,633 | 100.00 |
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Results
Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Kate Witek | 68,113 | 44.80 |
| Republican | De Carlson | 47,262 | 31.09 |
| Republican | Hoss Dannehl | 20,437 | 13.44 |
| Republican | Willie J. Carr, Jr. | 16,111 | 10.60 |
| Republican | Write-ins | 114 | 0.07 |
Total votes | 152,037 | 100.00 |
General election
Campaign
Though Nelson ultimately did approve of an action to prevent foster children from living with homosexuals or unmarried couples after he was re-elected, Spence hammered the governor for not supporting restrictions on foster homes.[7] Ultimately, four weeks before the elections, many prominent Republicans accused Spence of "throwing in the towel" and essentially conceding defeat to Nelson before any ballots were cast.[8] The divided Republican primary and Gene Spence's inability to unite the party following his plurality victory in the primary eventually led to Nelson's overwhelming re-election.[9]
Results
Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1994[1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Ben Nelson (incumbent) | 423,270 | 73.0% |
| Republican | Gene Spence | 148,230 | 25.6% |
| Write-in | Ernie Chambers | 2,510 | 0.4% |
| Write-in | Others | 5,551 | 1.0% |
Total votes | 579,561 | 100.0% |
| Democratic hold |
References
- ^ a b c d e Allen J. Beermann; Ralph Englert (1994). "Official Report of the Board of Canvassers of the State of Nebraska" (PDF). Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ "Nelson, Spence win respective primaries". Beatrice Daily Sun. May 11, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ J. L. Schmidt (September 14, 1993). "Lt. Governor Maxine Moul Resigns To Take DED Job". Alliance Times-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ "De Carlson to run for lieutenant governor". Lincoln Journal Star. March 9, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Bob Reeves (May 11, 1994). "Kate Witek nominated as lieutenant governor". Lincoln Star. p. 17. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ State of Nebraska, 2020-21 Nebraska Blue Book (PDF), pp. 317–378, retrieved June 22, 2023
- ^ "Nebraska Moves to Bar Homosexuals From Being Foster Parents". New York Times. January 29, 1995. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- ^ Jordan, Joe (June 15, 2010). "History of Omaha Congressional Race Cuts Both Ways". Nebraska.watchdog.org. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- ^ Susan (May 7, 2004). "GoBigEd". Gobiged.blogspot.com. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
|
---|
U.S. Senate | |
---|
U.S. House | |
---|
Governors | |
---|
State Attorneys General | |
---|
State legislatures | |
---|
Mayors | |
---|
States generally | - Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
|
---|
| This Nebraska elections-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |