1994 Texas gubernatorial election

none related races 1994 United States gubernatorial electionsJanuary 2025 September 2023 1994 Texas gubernatorial election Presidential no Texas 1990 Texas gubernatorial election 1990 1998 Texas gubernatorial election 1998 November 8, 1994 50.87% File:George Bush 99 (cropped).jpg George W. Bush Republican Party (United States) 2,350,994 53.48% File:Texas Governor Ann Richards 1993 (cropped).jpg 150x150px Ann Richards Democratic Party (United States) 2,016,928 45.88% File:1994 Texas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 310px County resultsBush: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90%Richards: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% Governor Ann Richards Democratic Party (United States) George W. Bush Republican Party (United States) The 1994 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to elect the governor of the U.S. state of Texas. Incumbent Democratic Governor Ann Richards was defeated in her bid for re-election by Republican nominee and future president George W. Bush, the son of former President George H. W. Bush. Before the election, Richards had a high approval rating due to the strength of the state economy. However, Bush's campaigning on cultural and religious issues resonated with many Texan voters, and the race was considered a tossup on election day. On election day, Bush carried 188 of the state's 254 counties, while Richards carried 66. This marks the most recent time a Democratic candidate for governor has carried Briscoe, Hall, Cottle, Hardeman, Knox, Baylor, Dickens, Jones, Nolan, Mitchell, Clay, Palo Pinto, Comanche, Menard, Fannin, Delta, Rains, Camp, San Augustine, Sabine, Tyler, Orange, Caldwell, Galveston, Robertson, Milam, Limestone, and San Patricio counties. Exit polls revealed that Bush won overwhelmingly among white voters (69% to 31%) while Richards performed well among African Americans (83% to 15%) and Latinos (75% to 25%). The 1994 election marked the last time that a Democrat won more than 45% of the vote in a Texas gubernatorial election, though the party was more successful in other statewide offices: Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, Attorney General Dan Morales, Land Commissioner Garry Mauro and Comptroller John Sharp all won reelection. This is also the last time a Democrat won statewide in Texas; it is the state with the longest drought of electing Democrats to statewide office. Bush's victory was one of the most notable in the 1994 Republican Revolution, as he was one of four candidates to defeat an incumbent governor that cycle. This is to date the last time an incumbent governor of Texas has lost re-election. Primaries Republican Republican primary Republican Party (United States) George W. Bush 520,130 93.32% +93.32% Republican Party (United States) Ray Hollis 37,210 6.68% +6.68% 557,340 100.00% Democratic Democratic primary Democratic Party (United States) Ann Richards (incumbent) 806,607 77.79% +20.70% Democratic Party (United States) Gary Espinosa 230,337 22.21% +22.21% 1,036,944 100.00% Campaign On June 11, 1994, 54 delegates met at the Libertarian state convention to statewide nominees. Keary Ehlers was given the gubernatorial nomination, and the other statewide nominees were selected on June 12.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46378055/el-paso-times/ Libertarians pick gubernatorial candidate June 12, 1994 El Paso Times live https://archive.today/20200309014637/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46378055/el-paso-times/ March 9, 2020 26 Newspapers.com March 9, 2020 Tom Pauken, the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, stated that Keary Ehlers should withdraw to help Bush win the election. Jay Manifold, the chairman of the Libertarian Party of Texas, stated that Bush should withdraw to help Ehlers win the election in response.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46378803/austin-american-statesman/ Libertarian leader asks Bush to quit September 30, 1994 Austin American-Statesman live https://archive.today/20200309015408/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46378803/austin-american-statesman/ March 9, 2020 20 Newspapers.com March 9, 2020 Polling Source Date George W.Bush (R) AnnRichards (D) KPRC-TV November 4, 1994 48% 44% Dallas Morning News/Houston Chronicle October 30 – November 3, 1994 47% 44% Houston Post/KHOU-TV November 2, 1994 44% 47% KPRC-TV October 23, 1994 47% 44% Houston Post/KHOU-TV October 7, 1994 43% 41% Endorsements Bush endorsements Organizations Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas Coalition for a Safer Society Concerned Insurance Texas Agents Justice for All Texas Association of Business Texas Association of Dairymen Texas Cattle Feeders Association Texas Cotton Ginners Association Texas Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture Texas Forestry Association Newspapers The Bryan-College Station Eagle The Dallas Morning News Denton Record-Chroniclehttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/46380178/ Hutchison wins endorsements; governor's race still tight November 1, 1994 The Monitor live https://archive.today/20200309022031/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46380178/the-monitor/ March 9, 2020 36 Newspapers.com March 9, 2020 Gainesville Daily Register Houston Chronicle Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Midland Reporter-Telegram Times Record News The Victoria Advocate Notable individuals Billy Joe DuPree, former Dallas Cowboys receiver Nolan Ryan, former Texas Rangers pitcher Richards endorsements Organizations Austin Progressive Coalition Combined Law Associations of Texas Sierra Club Texas AFL–CIO Texas National Organization for Women Texas State Teachers Association Newspapers Amarillo Globe-News Austin American-Statesman Corpus Christi Caller-Times Fort Worth Star-Telegram Galveston Daily News Houston Post Killeen Daily Herald Longview News-Journal The Marshall News Messenger San Angelo Standard-Times San Antonio Express-News Temple Daily Telegram Waco Tribune-Herald Notable individuals Ross Perot, independent presidential candidate in the 1992 presidential electionhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/46379819/austin-american-statesman/ Richards, Bush keep frantic paces as Election Day quickly appearances November 5, 1994 Austin American-Statesman live https://archive.today/20200309021226/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46379819/austin-american-statesman/ March 9, 2020 8 Newspapers.com March 9, 2020 Ehlers endorsements Organizations North Texas Arms Rights Coalitionhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/46378594/austin-american-statesman/ Endorsements October 16, 1994 Austin American-Statesman live https://archive.today/20200309015538/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46378594/austin-american-statesman/ March 9, 2020 113 Newspapers.com March 9, 2020 Debate + 1994 Texas gubernatorial election debate No. Number Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey:black #90ff90  P  Participant  black #FFFFDD  A  Absent  black #ff9090  N  Not invited  black #CCFFCC  I  Invited #f0e68c W Withdrawn Ann Richards George W. Bush1 Oct. 21, 1994 KERA-TV C-SPAN P P Results General election results1994 General Election, Office of the Secretary of State Republican Party (United States) George W. Bush 2,350,994 53.48% 6.56 Democratic Party (United States) Ann Richards (incumbent) 2,016,928 45.88% 3.59 Libertarian Party (United States) Keary Ehlers 28,320 0.64% 2.68 4,396,242 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) References 1994 Gubernatorial Texas Category:George W. Bush Category:November 1994 in the United States