1994 Iowa gubernatorial election

The 1994 Iowa gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Republican Governor Terry Branstad narrowly defeated a primary challenger by 11,419 votes. On the Democratic side, State Attorney General Bonnie Campbell won her party's nomination. Branstad ultimately won re-election to a fourth term as governor, defeating Campbell in a landslide. This was the last time until 2010 that a Republican was elected Governor of Iowa, when Branstad defeated incumbent Democrat Chet Culver.

Republican primary

Candidates

Terry Branstad, incumbent Governor of Iowa
Fred Grandy, U.S. Representative from Sioux City and former actor

Democratic primary

Candidates

Bonnie Campbell, Attorney General of Iowa
Darold Powers
Bill Reichardt, former State Senator from Iowa City and former Green Bay Packers football player

General election

Governor Terry Branstad made reinstatement of the death penalty a central focus of his 1994 re-election campaign; however, despite successfully being re-elected, he was unable to implement this policy due to opposition from Democrats in the Iowa State Senate.