| Election Name: | 1994 Iowa gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Iowa |
| Flag Image: | Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1990 Iowa gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1990 |
| Next Election: | 1998 Iowa gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1998 |
| Election Date: | November 8, 1994 |
| Image1: | File:Terry Branstad attends recommissioning ceremony for USS Iowa, Apr 28, 1984.JPEG |
| Nominee1: | Terry Branstad |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 566,395 |
| Percentage1: | 56.8% |
| Nominee2: | Bonnie Campbell |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 414,453 |
| Percentage2: | 41.6% |
| Map Size: | 240px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Terry Branstad |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Terry Branstad |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1994 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 8, 1994. Incumbent Republican Governor of Iowa Terry Branstad ran for re-election to a fourth term as governor. Branstad narrowly defeated a tough challenger in his primary election, emerging victorious by fewer than 12,000 votes. On the Democratic side, Attorney General of Iowa Bonnie Campbell won her party's nomination and both Branstad and Campbell moved on to the general election. Branstad ultimately won re-election to a fourth term as governor, defeating Campbell by a comfortable margin.
Governor Terry Branstad made reinstatement of the death penalty a central focus of his 1994 re-election campaign; however, despite successfully being re-elected, he was unable to implement this policy due to opposition from Democrats in the Iowa State Senate.[1]
| Source | Date | Branstad (R) | Campbell (D) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Register | Nov. 7, 1994 | 47% | 34% | |
| KCCI-TV | Nov. 4, 1994 | 47% | 43% | |
| Cedar Rapids Gazette | Oct. 23, 1994 | 45% | 43% | |
| Des Moines Register | Oct. 7, 1994 | 45% | 41% |