1994 Colorado gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1994 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1994 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to select the governor of the state of Colorado. Although Colorado voters passed a term limits ballot measure in 1990 limiting the governors to two consecutive terms, it was not retroactive and only applied for terms beginning in 1991 or later, thus Roy Romer, the Democratic incumbent first elected in 1986, was able to run for reelection for a third term.^[1][2][3] The Republican nominee, Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, Bruce D. Benson, lost by a margin of nearly 18 percent.

1994 Colorado gubernatorial election

← 1990 November 8, 1994 1998 →

Nominee Roy Romer Bruce D. Benson Party Democratic Republican Running mate Gail Schoettler Bob Schaeffer Popular vote 619,205 432,042 Percentage 55.5% 38.7%

County results Romer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Benson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Roy Romer Democratic Elected Governor Roy Romer Democratic

Democratic primary

Incumbent governor Roy Romer ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Democratic primary results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roy Romer (incumbent)	68,722	100.00

Republican primary

• Bruce D. Benson, Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party
• Mike Bird
• Dick Sargent
• George P. Carouthen (write-in)

Republican primary results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bruce D. Benson	103,979	60.0%
	Republican	Mike Bird	38,577	22.3%
	Republican	Dick Sargent	30,332	17.5%
	Republican	George P. Carouthen (write-in)	410	0.2%
Total votes			173,298	100.00

General election

Colorado gubernatorial election, 1994^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Roy Romer (incumbent)	619,205	55.47%	−6.42%
	Republican	Bruce D. Benson	432,042	38.70%	+3.27%
	Constitution	Kevin Swanson	40,397	3.62%	N/A
	Green	Philip Hufford	16,956	1.52%	N/A
	Prohibition	Earl Dodge	7,584	0.68%	−0.10%
	Write-in	Thomas Todd	123	0.01%	N/A
Majority			187,163	16.77%	−9.69%
Turnout			1,116,307
	Democratic hold		Swing