 | |||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 56.62%[1] | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 County results Sundquist: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Bredesen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The1994 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994 to elect the nextgovernor of Tennessee. IncumbentDemocratic governorNed McWherter was term-limited, leaving the governorship an open seat.Republican congressmanDon Sundquist was electedGovernor of Tennessee, defeating Democratic nomineePhil Bredesen, the mayor ofNashville, who later won Tennessee's governorship in2002 &2006.
Democratic candidatePhil Bredesen criticized Republican candidateDon Sundquist for voting against aminimum wage increase while voting for a congressional pay raise. Sundquist accused Bredesen offlip-flopping on issues such as public funding for abortion and school privatization.[2]
Don Sundquist focused on government efficiency andwelfare reform.[3] He signed the "Families First" bill in 1996, which reduced the number of families on welfare from 70,000 to 30,000.[4] He also signed a series of crime-related measures which called for tougher sentences and more focus on victims' rights.[3] In 1996, Sundquist eliminated the state's scandal-riddenPublic Service Commission, replacing it with theTennessee Regulatory Authority.[5] That same year, he created theDepartment of Children's Services.[3]
Don Sundquist easily won the nomination, winning over 80% of the vote in the primary toDavid Y. Copeland III.[6]
He won the Democratic nomination for governor, capturing 53% of the vote in a primary that included more than a half-dozen candidates, among them Shelby County MayorBill Morris and state senatorSteve Cohen.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Don Sundquist | 807,104 | 54.27% | +17.66% | |
| Democratic | Phil Bredesen | 664,252 | 44.67% | −16.16% | |
| Independent | Stephanie E. Holt | 9,981 | 0.67% | N/A | |
| Independent | Will Smith | 3,365 | 0.23% | N/A | |
| Independent | Charlie Moffett | 2,347 | 0.16% | N/A | |
| N/A | Write-ins | 81 | 0.01% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 1,487,130 | 100.00% | |||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | Swing | ||||
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