1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election

1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election

November 8, 1994

Nominee Ben Nelson Gene Spence Party Democratic Republican Running mate Kim Robak Kate Witek Popular vote 423,270 148,230 Percentage 73.0% 25.6%

County results Nelson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Spence:      50–60%

Governor before election Ben Nelson Democratic Elected Governor Ben Nelson Democratic

The 1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. Incumbent governor Ben Nelson won a re-election to a second term in a landslide, defeating Republican businessman Gene Spence by 47.4 percentage points and sweeping all but two counties in the state. As of 2025, this is the last time that a Democrat was elected governor of Nebraska.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

• Ben Nelson, incumbent governor of Nebraska
• Robb Nimic
• Robert Franklin Winingar

Results

Democratic gubernatorial primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Nelson (incumbent)	101,422	88.10
	Democratic	Robert Franklin Winingar	6,993	6.07
	Democratic	Robb Nimic	6,373	5.54
	Democratic	Write-ins	327	0.28
Total votes			115,115	100.00

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Kim M. Robak ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.^[2] She was the incumbent Nebraska Lieutenant Governor who was appointed in 1993 by Governor Ben Nelson after Maxine Moul resigned.^[3]

Results

Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kim M. Robak (incumbent)	94,936	99.53
	Democratic	Write-ins	447	0.47
Total votes			95,383	100.00

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

• John DeCamp, former Nebraska State Senator
• Alan Jacobsen, roofing company owner
• Ralph Knobel, farmer and former chairman of the Republican Party of Nebraska
• Gene Spence, businessman
• Mort Sullivan, perennial candidate

Results

Republican gubernatorial primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Gene Spence	69,529	38.07
	Republican	Ralph Knobel	57,719	31.60
	Republican	Alan Jacobsen	27,374	14.99
	Republican	John DeCamp	24,414	13.37
	Republican	Mort Sullivan	3,363	1.84
	Republican	Write-ins	234	0.13
Total votes			182,633	100.00

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

• De Carlson, co-owner of the Upper Missouri Trading Company and former member of the board of governors of Northeast Community College from Crofton, Nebraska^[4]
• Willie J. Carr, Jr. from Omaha, Nebraska, who filed as a pauper candidate (meaning he didn't pay the filing fee) and did not conduct an active campaign^[5]
• Horace "Hoss" Dannehl, feed dealer and livestock breeder from Riverdale, Nebraska^[5]
• Kate Witek, member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 31 since 1993 from Omaha, Nebraska.^[6]

Results

Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kate Witek	68,113	44.80
	Republican	De Carlson	47,262	31.09
	Republican	Hoss Dannehl	20,437	13.44
	Republican	Willie J. Carr, Jr.	16,111	10.60
	Republican	Write-ins	114	0.07
Total votes			152,037	100.00

General election

Campaign

Though Nelson ultimately did approve of an action to prevent foster children from living with homosexuals or unmarried couples after he was re-elected, Spence hammered the governor for not supporting restrictions on foster homes.^[7] Ultimately, four weeks before the elections, many prominent Republicans accused Spence of "throwing in the towel" and essentially conceding defeat to Nelson before any ballots were cast.^[8] The divided Republican primary and Gene Spence's inability to unite the party following his plurality victory in the primary eventually led to Nelson's overwhelming re-election.^[9]

Results

Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1994^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Nelson (incumbent)	423,270	73.0%
	Republican	Gene Spence	148,230	25.6%
	Write-in	Ernie Chambers	2,510	0.4%
	Write-in	Others	5,551	1.0%
Total votes			579,561	100.0%
	Democratic hold

References

1. Allen J. Beermann; Ralph Englert (1994). "Official Report of the Board of Canvassers of the State of Nebraska" (PDF). Retrieved June 22, 2023.
2. "Nelson, Spence win respective primaries". Beatrice Daily Sun. May 11, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
3. J. L. Schmidt (September 14, 1993). "Lt. Governor Maxine Moul Resigns To Take DED Job". Alliance Times-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
4. "De Carlson to run for lieutenant governor". Lincoln Journal Star. March 9, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
5. Bob Reeves (May 11, 1994). "Kate Witek nominated as lieutenant governor". Lincoln Star. p. 17. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
6. State of Nebraska, 2020-21 Nebraska Blue Book (PDF), pp. 317–378, retrieved June 22, 2023
7. "Nebraska Moves to Bar Homosexuals From Being Foster Parents". New York Times. January 29, 1995. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
8. Jordan, Joe (June 15, 2010). "History of Omaha Congressional Race Cuts Both Ways". Nebraska.watchdog.org. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
9. Susan (May 7, 2004). "GoBigEd". Gobiged.blogspot.com. Retrieved June 19, 2011.