1994 Idaho gubernatorial election

The1994 Idaho gubernatorial electionwas held on November 8 to select thegovernorof the U.S. state ofIdaho.DemocraticincumbentCecil Andruschose not to seek reelection after a total of fourteen years in office. Former state senator andRepublican PartychairPhil Battrallied to defeat Democraticattorney generalLarry Echo Hawk;the victory was the first by a Republicanin 28 years.

1994 Idaho gubernatorial election

1990 November 8, 1994 1998
Nominee Phil Batt Larry Echo Hawk
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 216,123 181,363
Percentage 52.3% 43.9%

County results
Batt:40–50%50–60%60–70%70–80%
Echo Hawk:50–60%60–70%

Governor before election

Cecil Andrus
Democratic

Elected Governor

Phil Batt
Republican

Republican primary

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Lieutenant governorButch Otterwas considered a likely candidate for governor, but decided to run for re-election in 1994 after being arrested fordriving under the influencein August 1992. Otter went on to be elected governor in2006,though he publicly admitted that the incident could have ended his political career.[1][2]Batt was the Republican nomineetwelve years earlier,but narrowly lost to incumbentJohn Evans.

Candidates

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Results

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County results
Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phil Batt 57,066 48.00
Republican Larry Eastland 38,664 32.52
Republican Chuck Winder 16,063 13.51
Republican Doug Dorn 7,098 5.97
Total votes 118,891 100.00

Democratic primary

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The statewide primary was held on May 24, 1994.[4]

Candidates

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County results

Results

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Democratic Primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Larry Echo Hawk 42,661 73.81
Democratic Ron Beitelspacher 12,377 21.41
Democratic David W. Sheperd 2,759 4.77
Total votes 57,797 100.00

General election

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Campaign

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Although at first many thought Echo Hawk would win the election and become the firstNative Americangovernor in the United States, Batt prevailed with an aggressive campaign and with the help of a Republican tide that was especially powerful in Idaho in 1994, snapping a streak of 28 years of Democratic victories.

Results

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Idaho gubernatorial election, 1994[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Phil Batt 216,123 52.29 +20.49
Democratic Larry Echo Hawk 181,363 43.88 −24.33
Independent Ronald D. Rankin 15,793 3.82
Write-ins 67 0.02
Majority 34,760 8.41 −28.00
Turnout 419,330
RepublicangainfromDemocratic Swing

See also

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References

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  1. ^Kenyon, Quane (April 20, 1993)."Butch Otter fined, loses license".Spokesman-Review.(Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. B3.
  2. ^"A second chance for Lieutenant Governor".Moscow-Pullman Daily News.(Idaho-Washington). March 11, 1993. p. 10A.
  3. ^"98 Primary - Governor Race".Archived fromthe originalon November 3, 2010.RetrievedApril 25,2011.
  4. ^Fick, Bob (May 25, 1994)."Favorites cruise in gubernatorial primary".Moscow-Pullman Daily News.(Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 1A.
  5. ^http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/abstract/94prgov.htm[dead link]
  6. ^http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/abstract/94gngov.htm[dead link]
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Preceded by
1990
Idaho gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
1998