South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1994
Encyclopedia
The 1994 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994 to select the governor
of the state of South Carolina
. The contest featured two politicians from the Upstate
and David Beasley
narrowly defeated Nick Theodore
to become the 113th governor of South Carolina.
held their primary
for governor on August 9, 1994. Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore
, from the Upstate
, emerged as the winner of the runoff election on August 23 against popular Charleston
mayor Joseph P. (Joe) Riley, Jr.
.
held their primary
on August 9, 1994 and the contest featured state representative
David Beasley
from the Upstate
against two Lowcountry
politicians. Beasley cruised to victory and benefited from the campaign of popular Charleston
mayor Joe Riley
for the Democratic nomination by drawing Lowcountry voters away from the Republican primary and towards the Democratic primary.
in the closest election percentage wise since the disputed election of 1876
. Turnout
was higher than the previous gubernatorial election because of the competitive nature of the race between the two parties.
| colspan=5 |Republican
hold
|-
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
of the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The contest featured two politicians from the Upstate
The Upstate
The Upstate is the region in northwestern South Carolina, United States, also known as The Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. ...
and David Beasley
David Beasley
David Muldrow Beasley is a Republican who served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999....
narrowly defeated Nick Theodore
Nick Theodore
Nick Andrew Theodore was a State representative from 1963 to 1966 and 1970 to 1978, a South Carolina state senator from 1967 to 1968 and 1981 to 1986, and the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party.Theodore attended the University of Georgia...
to become the 113th governor of South Carolina.
Democratic primary
The South Carolina Democratic PartySouth Carolina Democratic Party
The South Carolina Democratic Party is the South Carolina affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. The Democratic party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 and the mid-1850s and was one of the causes of the collapse of the Whig Party....
held their primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for governor on August 9, 1994. Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore
Nick Theodore
Nick Andrew Theodore was a State representative from 1963 to 1966 and 1970 to 1978, a South Carolina state senator from 1967 to 1968 and 1981 to 1986, and the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party.Theodore attended the University of Georgia...
, from the Upstate
The Upstate
The Upstate is the region in northwestern South Carolina, United States, also known as The Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. ...
, emerged as the winner of the runoff election on August 23 against popular Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
mayor Joseph P. (Joe) Riley, Jr.
Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. is an American politician who is the long-time Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. He is the longest serving mayor in the United States that is still living and in office.-Biography:...
.
| Democratic Primary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic Primary Runoff | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Nick Theodore Nick Theodore Nick Andrew Theodore was a State representative from 1963 to 1966 and 1970 to 1978, a South Carolina state senator from 1967 to 1968 and 1981 to 1986, and the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party.Theodore attended the University of Georgia... |
113,127 | 50.4 | +0.8 |
| Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Joseph P. Riley, Jr. is an American politician who is the long-time Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. He is the longest serving mayor in the United States that is still living and in office.-Biography:... |
111,517 | 49.6 | +11.2 |
Republican primary
The South Carolina Republican PartySouth Carolina Republican Party
The South Carolina Republican Party and the South Carolina Democratic Party are the two major political parties within the U.S. state of South Carolina...
held their primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
on August 9, 1994 and the contest featured state representative
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
David Beasley
David Beasley
David Muldrow Beasley is a Republican who served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999....
from the Upstate
The Upstate
The Upstate is the region in northwestern South Carolina, United States, also known as The Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. ...
against two Lowcountry
South Carolina Low Country
The Lowcountry is a geographic and cultural region located along South Carolina's coast. The region includes the South Carolina Sea Islands...
politicians. Beasley cruised to victory and benefited from the campaign of popular Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
mayor Joe Riley
Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. is an American politician who is the long-time Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. He is the longest serving mayor in the United States that is still living and in office.-Biography:...
for the Democratic nomination by drawing Lowcountry voters away from the Republican primary and towards the Democratic primary.
| Republican Primary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican Primary Runoff | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| David Beasley David Beasley David Muldrow Beasley is a Republican who served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999.... |
134,297 | 57.6 | +10.4 |
| Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Arthur Ravenel, Jr. is a businessman and a Republican politician from Charleston, South Carolina.-Early life:The Charleston-born Ravenel served in the United States Marine Corps from 1945 to 1946. He thereafter received a bachelor of science degree from the College of Charleston in 1950. He is a... |
98,915 | 42.4 | +10.4 |
General election
The general election was held on November 8, 1994 and David Beasley was elected as the next governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
in the closest election percentage wise since the disputed election of 1876
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1876
The 1876 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1876 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. The election campaign was a referendum on the Radical Republican-led state government and their Reconstruction policies...
. Turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
was higher than the previous gubernatorial election because of the competitive nature of the race between the two parties.
| colspan=5 |Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
hold
|-
See also
- Governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South CarolinaThe Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
- List of Governors of South Carolina
- South Carolina gubernatorial elections