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1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election

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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

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

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Governor

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Candidates

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Results

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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

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Candidates

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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

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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

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Governor

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Candidates

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Results

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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

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Candidates

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Results

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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

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Campaign

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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

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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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Nelson, Spence win respective primaries". Beatrice Daily Sun. May 11, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  3. ^ J. L. Schmidt (September 14, 1993). "Lt. Governor Maxine Moul Resigns To Take DED Job". Alliance Times-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  4. ^ "De Carlson to run for lieutenant governor". Lincoln Journal Star. March 9, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Bob Reeves (May 11, 1994). "Kate Witek nominated as lieutenant governor". Lincoln Star. p. 17. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  6. ^ State of Nebraska, 2020-21 Nebraska Blue Book (PDF), pp. 317–378, retrieved June 22, 2023
  7. ^ "Nebraska Moves to Bar Homosexuals From Being Foster Parents". New York Times. January 29, 1995. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Susan (May 7, 2004). "GoBigEd". Gobiged.blogspot.com. Retrieved June 19, 2011.