1994 Arizona gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1994 Arizona gubernatorial election
Country:Arizona
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1990–91 Arizona gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1990–91
Next Election:1998 Arizona gubernatorial election
Next Year:1998
Election Date:November 8, 1994
Image1:File:Bush Contact Sheet P19347 (1).jpg
Nominee1:Fife Symington
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:593,492
Percentage1:52.5%
Nominee2:Eddie Basha
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:500,702
Percentage2:44.3%
Map Size:210px
Governor
Before Election:Fife Symington
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Fife Symington
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 1994 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Fife Symington, the incumbent Republican Governor of Arizona, defeated the Democratic nominee Eddie Basha to win a second term in office. However, Symington resigned in 1997 due to a federal indictment on corruption charges.

Republican primary

In the Republican primary, incumbent Governor Fife Symington was challenged by businesswoman Barbara Barrett, wife of business executive Craig Barrett. Symington announced his primary campaign by stating, "I vowed to get state spending under control, reduce taxes and do my best to promote economic development and restore strength to the economy. I think I am in a strong position because I accomplished my goals."[1] Barrett spent more than $1 million of her own money in the attempt to defeat Symington, who she stated she did not dislike personally, but simply felt that she could do a better job as governor.[1]

On September 13, 1994, Symington defeated Barrett in the primary by a margin of 68% to 32%.[2] Political analysts stated that Barrett had failed to distinguish herself from the incumbent governor, and ran a flawed campaign.[1]

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary

In the Democratic primary, 1990 Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former Phoenix Mayor Terry Goddard attempted to seek the Democratic nomination once again, but was challenged by Paul Johnson, who was also a former Mayor of Phoenix, and Arizona Board of Regents member Eddie Basha, more famous for his involvement with the grocery store chain Bashas'. In the primary held on September 13, Basha defeated Goddard by a very small margin, with Johnson receiving a sizable level of support as well.

Candidates

Results

General election

Following the 1990 election, in which a run-off election was held in order to deter the possibility of a candidate winning with less than a plurality of all of the votes cast, as was the case with the 1986 election in which Evan Mecham was elected with only 39.96% of the vote, the 1994 election did not have a runoff. This was due to a measure that was approved by voters to eliminate the runoff system, which was marred by a longer than usual campaign and issues surrounding the date of when the runoff should be held.[3]

Results by county

CountyFife Symington
Republican
Eddie Basha
Democratic
John A. Buttrick
Libertarian
All Others
Write-in
MarginTotal votes
cast
%%%%%
Apache4,22924.78%12,40972.72%4232.48%20.01%-8,180-47.94%17,063
Cochise15,20357.13%10,64740.01%7592.85%40.02%4,55617.12%26,613
Coconino13,97143.25%17,11052.97%1,2133.76%80.02%-3,139-9.72%32,302
Gila6,97845.70%7,77050.89%5203.41%10.01%-792-5.19%15,269
Graham4,57058.48%3,10139.69%1431.83%00.00%1,46918.80%7,814
Greenlee1,52251.77%1,35846.19%592.01%10.03%1645.58%2,940
La Paz1,85049.47%1,77347.41%1173.13%00.00%772.06%3,740
Maricopa349,47354.31%272,29842.31%21,6233.36%1410.02%77,17511.99%643,535
Mohave19,31558.71%12,65638.47%9222.80%80.02%6,65920.24%32,901
Navajo9,78043.95%11,94953.69%5242.35%20.01%-2,169-9.75%22,255
Pima107,28749.30%104,66948.10%5,6372.59%70.00%2,6181.20%217,600
Pinal13,75544.52%16,33852.88%7942.57%70.02%-2,583-8.36%30,894
Santa Cruz2,85641.12%3,97857.27%1121.61%00.00%-1,122-16.15%6,946
Yavapai29,21360.00%17,58436.11%1,8823.87%100.02%11,62923.88%48,689
Yuma13,49064.10%7,06233.56%4942.35%00.00%6,42830.54%21,046
Totals593,49252.54%500,70244.33%35,2223.12%1910.02%92,7908.21%1,129,607

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Governor race nears first stage . Pittman, David . May 10, 2017 . September 9, 1994 . Tucson Citizen.
  2. Web site: AZ Governor – R Primary Race – Sep 13, 1994 . Our Campaigns . May 10, 2017.
  3. Book: Arizona Politics & Government: The Quest for Autonomy, Democracy, and Development . Berman, David . May 10, 2017 . 1998. 0803212887 .