1994 Idaho gubernatorial election


The 1994 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994 to select the governor of the U.S. state of Idaho. Cecil D. Andrus, the Democratic incumbent, chose not to seek reelection after a total of 14 years in office. Former state senator and Republican Party chair Phil Batt engineered a come-from-behind victory to defeat Democratic Attorney General Larry Echo Hawk. Batt's victory put the Idaho governorship in Republican hands for the first time since 1970.

Republican Primary

was considered a likely candidate for Governor but decided to run for re-election after being arrested for drink driving 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.

Candidates

Democratic Primary

Candidates

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.

Results