1994 Idaho gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1994 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1994 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 8 to select the governor of the U.S. state of Idaho. Democratic incumbent Cecil Andrus chose not to seek reelection after a total of fourteen years in office. Former state senator and Republican Party chair Phil Batt rallied to defeat Democratic attorney general Larry Echo Hawk; the victory was the first by a Republican in 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

Lieutenant governor Butch Otter was considered a likely candidate for governor, but decided to run for re-election in 1994 after being arrested for driving under the influence in August 1992. Otter went on to be elected governor in 2006, though he publicly admitted that the incident could have ended his political career.^[1][2] Batt was the Republican nominee twelve years earlier, but narrowly lost to incumbent John Evans.

Candidates

• Phil Batt, former lieutenant governor
• Larry Eastland
• Chuck Winder, naval aviator
• Doug Dorn

Results

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

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

Candidates

County results

• Larry Echo Hawk, Attorney General of Idaho
• Ron Beitelspacher, Idaho State Senator
• David W. Sheperd

Results

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

Campaign

Although at first many thought Echo Hawk would win the election and become the first Native American governor 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

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
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

See also

• Governor of Idaho
• List of governors of Idaho
• Idaho gubernatorial elections