1994 Georgia gubernatorial election

none related races 1994 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 1994 Georgia gubernatorial election Georgia (U.S. state) presidential no 1990 Georgia gubernatorial election 1990 1998 Georgia gubernatorial election 1998 November 8, 1994 1956 File:Zell B Miller (cropped).jpg 150x150px Zell Miller Democratic Party (United States) 788,926 51.05% 3x4.svg Guy Millner Republican Party (United States) 756,371 48.95% 1994 Georgia gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 250px County resultsMiller: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80%Millner: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Governor Zell Miller Democratic Party (United States) Zell Miller Democratic Party (United States) The 1994 Georgia gubernatorial election occurred on November 8, 1994, to elect the next governor of Georgia from 1995 to 1999. Incumbent Democratic governor Zell Miller, first elected in 1990, ran for a second term. In his party's primary, Miller received three challengers, but easily prevailed with just over 70% of the vote. The contest for the Republican nomination, however, was a competitive race. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, John Knox and Guy Millner advanced to a run-off election. Millner was victorious and received the Republican nomination after garnering 59.41% of the vote. The general election was a competitive race between Zell Miller and Guy Millner. Issues such as welfare reform, education, and the removal of the Confederate battle flag from Georgia's state flag dominated the election. On election day, Miller defeated Millner 51.05%-48.95% in the third-closest gubernatorial election in Georgian history – behind only the 2018 and 1966 elections – since Reconstruction due to the strong Republican wave of 1994. Although the state was becoming increasingly more Republican, Democrats would retain the governor's mansion until 2003. As of 2022, this is the last time Catoosa County voted for the Democratic candidate for governor. Background Incumbent governor Zell Miller (D) chose to run for re-election in 1994. Early in his first term, Miller's approval rating fell significantly after attempting to gain legislative support for removing the Confederate battle flag from Georgia's state flag.http://citation.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/3/0/7/2/5/pages307253/p307253-13.php Policy Context and the Racialization of Welfare Reform Hana E. Brown University of California, Berkeley 13 March 21, 2015 Berkeley, California April 2, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125351/http://citation.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/3/0/7/2/5/pages307253/p307253-13.php dead Miller wanted the Confederate battle flag removed before Atlanta hosted Super Bowl XXVIII and the 1996 Summer Olympics,https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-29-mn-308-story.html Georgia Governor Wants to Lower Confederate Flag: South: Under pressure from civil rights groups, he will push for removal of battle cross from state banner Eric Harrison and Edith Stanley May 29, 1992 Los Angeles Times March 21, 2015 Atlanta, Georgia but backed down in March 1993 after it became apparent that the Georgia House of Representatives would not support this proposal.https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/10/us/south-s-emblem-to-be-retained-on-georgia-flag.html South's Emblem To Be Retained On Georgia Flag March 10, 1993 The New York Times March 21, 2015 However, following the same legislative session, Miller's popularity began to recover after bills were passed that initiated his welfare reform proposals. Miller's disapproval promptly decreased to 29% and fell further to 25% about a year later. A week prior to the scheduled primary elections on July 12, 14 polling locations in the southwestern portion of the state were either underwater or serving as emergency shelters as a result of the disastrous flooding wrought by Tropical Storm Alberto. State officials began discussing delaying the primary elections. However, on July 19, turnout exceeded predictions.http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2014/jun/27/the-flood-of-1994-a-day-by-day-account/ The Flood of 1994, a day-by-day account June 27, 2014 The Albany Herald March 21, 2015 Democratic primary Campaign Despite pledging in 1990 to serve only one term, incumbent governor Zell Miller announced his re-election bid on June 16, 1993.https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/06/18/georgia-governor-breaks-vow-not-to-seek-2nd-term/ Georgia Governor Breaks Vow Not To Seek 2nd Term June 18, 1993 Orlando Sentinel March 21, 2015 Atlanta, Georgia During the next 12 months, three other Democrats entered the primary, they included perennial candidate Jim Boyd, State Representative Charles "Judy" Poag, and Korean War veteran Mark Tate. Boyd and Poag attacked Miller for attempting to change the state flag and increasing fees for driver's licenses, car tags, and sporting licenses. Miller defended other portions of his record, including the establishment of the Georgia Lottery, the passage of a $100 million tax cut, and a bill proposed that would take a tougher stance on violent criminals. In May 1994, Mark Tate was convicted of attempting defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs out of $99,000 by falsely claiming he had no other source of income. His sentencing was scheduled for July 19, the day of the primary. However, Tate's name remained on the ballot.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YXcwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SzoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6914%2C7162347 Lance: Who Will Face Zell? John M. Willis June 22, 1994 Calhoun Times and Gordon County News 7 March 21, 2015 Candidates Zell Miller, incumbent governor of Georgia Jim Boyd, candidate for Georgia's 9th congressional district in 1976 and 1982, 1984 United States Senate election, and Georgia Public Service Commissioner in 1986 and 1988 Mark Tate, Korean War veteran Charles "Judy" Poag, Georgia state representative from Eton Results thumb|Democratic primary results by county: #37c837 Miller #87de87 Miller—40–50% #5fd35f Miller—50–60% #37c837 Miller—60–70% #2ca02c Miller—70–80% #217821 Miller—80–90% #165016 Miller—>90% #6674de Boyd #a5b0ff Boyd—40–50% #d75d5d Poag #ffb2b2 Poag—40–50% #c21b18 Poag—>80% Miller easily prevailed against the other three Democrats, winning just over 70% of the vote, compared to 17.06% for Boyd, 6.69% for Tate, and 6.23% for Poag. Because Miller received a majority of the votes, he immediately advanced to the general election without a run-off.http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=13&year=1994&f=0&off=5&elect=1 1994 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results – Georgia May 16, 2009 uselectionatlas.org March 21, 2015 Democratic primary resultshttp://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/1998_0721/summary.htm 7/21/98 - Summary 2015-03-21 2010-10-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20101022135312/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/1998_0721/summary.htm dead Zell Miller (incumbent) Democratic Party (United States) 321,963 70.03 Jim Boyd Democratic Party (United States) 78,444 17.06 Mark Tate Democratic Party (United States) 30,749 6.69 Charles "Judy" Poag Democratic Party (United States) 28,623 6.23 459,779 100.00 Republican primary Campaign Five Republicans entered to compete for the party nomination, including former State House Minority Leader Paul W. Heard, Jr., former mayor of Waycross John Knox, Atlanta management consultant Nimrod McNair, businessman Guy Millner, and Tift County developer Leonard Morris. Then-State Senator Johnny Isakson, Miller's 1990 general election opponent, announced his intention to run again on June 16, 1993. However, he apparently withdrew from the race well before the primary in July 1994. Bert Lance, a director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Jimmy Carter, predicted a run-off in the Republican primary. He also believed that Miller would face a tougher re-election against Paul Heard, citing his legislative experience and noting that, "Paul knows the state well and has the potential to be a strong candidate." During the primary, Heard pledged to reduce taxes and improve education, while attacking Miller's new prison release program, which, in Heard's opinion, un-incarcerated too many criminals. Similarly, Knox promised to cut income tax by $250 million in his first year in office, reform education, and make prison "hard time". Millner pledged to decrease taxes, make Georgia's education the top-ranking in the Southern United States, reform welfare, and force violent criminals to serve their entire sentence. Candidates Advanced to runoff Guy Millner, businessman John Knox, former mayor of Waycross and candidate for the 1992 United States Senate election Defeated in primary Paul W. Heard, Jr., former State House Minority Leader Nimrod McNair, Atlanta management consultant Leonard Morris, Tift County developer Results thumb|Republican primary results by county: #d75d5d Millner #ffc8cd Millner—30–40% #ffb2b2 Millner—40–50% #e27f7f Millner—50–60% #d75d5d Millner—60–70% #d72f30 Millner—>70% #37c837 Knox #aae5aa Knox—30–40% #87de87 Know—40–50% #5fd35f Knox—50–60% #37c837 Knox—60–70% #2ca02c Knox—70–80% #217821 Knox—80–90% #165016 Knox—>90% #ee8e50 Heard #ffb580 Heard—40–50% #ff9a50 Heard—>50% #2aacac Morris #2aacac Morris—>60% Republican primary resultshttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=382281 Our Campaigns - GA Governor - R Primary Race - Jul 19, 1994 www.ourcampaigns.com Guy Millner Republican Party (United States) 142,263 47.86 John Knox Republican Party (United States) 84,563 28.45 Paul W. Heard, Jr. Republican Party (United States) 46,761 15.73 Nimrod McNair Republican Party (United States) 20,042 6.74 Leonard Morris Republican Party (United States) 3,592 1.21 297,221 100.0 Runoff Results thumb|Republican runoff results by county: #d75d5d Millner #e27f7f Millner—50–60% #d75d5d Millner—60–70% #d72f30 Millner—70–80% #c21b18 Millner—>80% #37c837 Knox #5fd35f Knox—50–60% #37c837 Knox—60–70% #2ca02c Knox—70–80% #217821 Knox—80–90% #165016 Knox—>90% #ae8bb1 Tie #ae8bb1 Tie—50% Republican primary runoff resultshttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=382283 Our Campaigns - GA Governor - R Primary Runoff Race - Aug 9, 1994 www.ourcampaigns.com Guy Millner Republican Party (United States) 131,280 59.41 John Knox Republican Party (United States) 89,709 40.59 220,989 100.0 Polling Source Date Miller (D) Millner (R) WXIA-TV Nov. 6, 1994 48% 41% General election Results Georgia gubernatorial election, 1994http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/1994/gov.htm 1994 Governor 2010-04-18 2010-05-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20100516043719/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/1994/gov.htm dead Democratic Party (United States) Zell Miller (incumbent) 788,926 51.05% -1.83% Republican Party (United States) Guy Millner 756,371 48.95% +4.41% 32,555 2.11% -6.24% 1,545,297 Democratic Party (United States) References 30em External links Current and Past Elections Results https://web.archive.org/web/20150212134109/http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/Elections/current_and_past_elections_results 2015-02-12 1994 Primary candidates 1994 Gubernatorial Georgia Category:November 1994 in the United States Category:July 1994 in the United States Category:August 1994 in the United States