| Elections in Texas |
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 Government |
The 1994 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to elect the governor 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. As of 2022, this is the last time the 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 as 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. As of 2023, this is the last time an incumbent governor of Texas lost re-election.
Primaries
Republican
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George W. Bush | 520,130 | 93.32% | +93.32% | |
| Republican | Ray Hollis | 37,210 | 6.68% | +6.68% | |
| Total votes | 557,340 | 100.00% | |||
Democratic
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ann Richards (incumbent) | 806,607 | 77.79% | +20.70% | |
| Democratic | Gary Espinosa | 230,337 | 22.21% | +22.21% | |
| Total votes | 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.[1] 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.[2]
Polling
| Source | Date | George W. Bush (R) |
Ann Richards (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
- Organizations
- Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas[3]
- Coalition for a Safer Society[3]
- Concerned Insurance Texas Agents[3]
- Justice for All[3]
- Texas Association of Business[3]
- Texas Association of Dairymen[3]
- Texas Cattle Feeders Association[3]
- Texas Cotton Ginners Association[3]
- Texas Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture[3]
- Texas Forestry Association[3]
- Newspapers
- Denton Record-Chronicle[4]
- Gainesville Daily Register[4]
- Houston Chronicle[4]
- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal[4]
- Midland Reporter-Telegram[4]
- The Bryan-College Station Eagle[4]
- The Dallas Morning News[4]
- The Victoria Advocate[4]
- Times Record News[4]
- Notable individuals
- Billy Joe DuPree, former Dallas Cowboys receiver[5]
- Nolan Ryan, former Texas Rangers pitcher[5]
- Organizations
- Austin Progressive Coalition[3]
- Texas AFL–CIO[3]
- Combined Law Associations of Texas[3]
- Sierra Club[3]
- Texas National Organization for Women[3]
- Texas State Teachers Association[3]
- Newspapers
- Amarillo Globe-News[4]
- Austin American-Statesman[4]
- Corpus Christi Caller-Times[4]
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram[4]
- Houston Post[4]
- Galveston Daily News[4]
- Killeen Daily Herald[4]
- Longview News-Journal[4]
- San Angelo Standard-Times[4]
- San Antonio Express-News[4]
- Temple Daily Telegram[4]
- The Marshall News Messenger[4]
- Waco Tribune-Herald[4]
- Notable individuals
- Ross Perot, independent presidential candidate in the 1992 presidential election[5]
- Organizations
- North Texas Arms Rights Coalition[3]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George W. Bush | 2,350,994 | 53.48% | +6.56% | |
| Democratic | Ann Richards (incumbent) | 2,016,928 | 45.88% | −3.59% | |
| Libertarian | Keary Ehlers | 28,320 | 0.64% | −2.68% | |
| Total votes | 4,396,242 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
References
- ^ "Libertarians pick gubernatorial candidate". El Paso Times. June 12, 1994. p. 26. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Libertarian leader asks Bush to quit". Austin American-Statesman. September 30, 1994. p. 20. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Endorsements". Austin American-Statesman. October 16, 1994. p. 113. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Hutchison wins endorsements; governor's race still tight". The Monitor. November 1, 1994. p. 36. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Richards, Bush keep frantic paces as Election Day quickly appearances". Austin American-Statesman. November 5, 1994. p. 8. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 1994 General Election, Office of the Secretary of State
