Governor, 1994 Election

General

Date: November 8, 1994
Cycle: 1994
Office: Governor
State: Minnesota
District: Statewide
Candidate Gender Running mate Party Votes Percent Margin
Arne Carlson Incumbent Man Joanne Benson (Woman) Independent-Republican 1,094,165 61.97 +28.59
John Marty Man Nancy A. Larson (Woman) Democratic-Farmer-Labor 589,344 33.38
Will Shetterly Man Timothy A. (Tim) Davis (Man) Grassroots 20,785 1.18
Eric Olson Man Michael Strand (Man) Libertarian 15,467 0.88
Leslie Davis Man Phil Ratté (Man) Nutritional Rights Alliance 4,611 0.26
Jon Hillson Man Leah Finger (Woman) Socialist Workers 3,022 0.17

The 33.38 percent won by Marty was the lowest support for a Democratic-Farmer-Labor gubernatorial nominee since the merger in 1944. Governor Carlson was reelected with his new running mate, Joanne Benson.

Marty was a state Senator (SD 63, 1987-1993; SD 54, 1993-2013; SD 66, 2013-present) from Roseville; Larson was a resident of Dassel and Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of Small Cities (1988-98).

Shetterly was a writer from Minneapolis; Davis was a forklift operator from Minneapolis, Grassroots nominee for HD 59B in 1990, Grassroots nominee for U.S. Senate in 1996 and 2012, and Green Party nominee for the 5th CD in 2002. They were nominated by petition.

Olson was an insurance agent from Minneapolis; Strand was a resident of Minneapolis. They were nominated by petition.

Leslie Davis was an environmental activist from Minneapolis; Ratté was a perennial candidate and DFL candidate for governor in 1986. They were nominated by petition.

Hillson was a railroad switchman from St. Paul.

Sources

  • Report of the State Canvassing Board, Office of Secretary of State, State of Minnesota, November 22, 1994 (p. 29-32).