1994 Oklahoma lieutenant gubernatorial election

1994 Oklahoma lieutenant gubernatorial election
November 8, 1994 (1994-11-08)
 
Nominee Mary Fallin Nance Diamond Bruce Hartnitt
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Popular vote 489,359 435,215 60,384
Percentage 49.69% 44.18% 6.13%
Results by county
Fallin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Diamond:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Lieutenant Governor before election

Jack Mildren
Democratic

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Mary Fallin
Republican

The 1994 Oklahoma lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, to elect the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on August 23, 1994, with runoff elections held on September 20 in races where no single candidate cleared at least 50% of the vote.[1]

Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Jack Mildren was eligible to run for re-election to a second term in office, but announced in January 1994 he would instead run for governor.[2] During what would later became known as the Republican Revolution, Republican state representative Mary Fallin defeated Democratic community activist Nance Diamond to become the first female and first Republican lieutenant governor in the state's history.[3][4]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Nance Diamond, community activist and teacher[5]

Eliminated in primary runoff

Eliminated in primary

  • Dave McBride, former Oklahoma Public Safety Commissioner[7]
  • Walt Roberts, state representative from the 18th district (1987–1991)[8]

Endorsements

Bob Cullison

State legislators

Labor unions

  • Oklahoma Public Employees Association[9] (also endorsed Roberts)

Organizations

Walt Roberts

Labor unions

  • Oklahoma Education Association[9]
  • Oklahoma Public Employees Association[9] (also endorsed Cullison)

Organizations

Results

Democratic primary results[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nance Diamond 156,624 36.80
Democratic Bob Cullison 118,210 27.77
Democratic Dave McBride 101,533 23.86
Democratic Walt Roberts 49,207 11.57
Total votes 425,574 100.0
Runoff election
Democratic Nance Diamond 210,031 56.31
Democratic Bob Cullison 162,920 43.69
Total votes 372,951 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Mary Fallin, state representative from the 85th district (1991–present)[14]

Eliminated in primary runoff

Eliminated in primary

  • Ronnie Eisenhour, funeral home director[15]

Endorsements

Mary Fallin

Labor unions

  • Oklahoma Public Employees Association[9]

Results

Republican primary results[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Terry Neese 73,336 37.57
Republican Mary Fallin 69,785 35.75
Republican Ronnie Eisenhour 52,081 26.68
Total votes 195,202 100.0
Runoff election
Republican Mary Fallin 67,000 52.97
Republican Terry Neese 59,488 47.03
Total votes 126,488 100.0

General election

Post-primary endorsements

Nance Diamond (D)

Statewide officials

  • Dave McBride, former Oklahoma Public Safety Commissioner[16] (previously ran against Diamond)

Results

1994 Oklahoma lieutenant gubernatorial election[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mary Fallin 489,539 49.69
Democratic Nance Diamond 435,215 44.18
Independent Bruce Hartnitt 60,384 6.13
Total votes 985,138 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

References

  1. ^ "1994-Election Results". Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  2. ^ English, Paul (January 12, 1994). "Mildren Announces Plan To Seek Governor's Post". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  3. ^ McReynolds, J.E. (November 9, 1994). "After Historic Win, Fallin to Become Lieutenant Governor". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 28, 2026. No woman and no Republican had ever won the office until Tuesday, when Fallin, 39, rode a Republican wave that swamped Democratic favorite Nance Diamond.
  4. ^ Glass, Andrew (November 8, 2007). "Congress runs into 'Republican Revolution' Nov. 8, 1994". POLITICO. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  5. ^ English, Paul (March 9, 1994). "Diamond Considers No. 2 Post". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Bad Boy, Bob". The Oklahoman. August 11, 1994. Archived from the original on February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  7. ^ "Safety Commissioner Resigns". The Oklahoman. June 14, 1994. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  8. ^ "Election 1994 Candidate Filings". The Oklahoman. July 14, 1994. Archived from the original on February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  9. ^ a b c d Greiner, John (August 15, 1994). "Groups Split On Endorsements". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  10. ^ "Police Group Backs Cullison In Runoff Race". The Oklahoman. August 30, 1994. Archived from the original on February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  11. ^ "Cops & Cullison". The Oklahoman. September 6, 1994. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  12. ^ a b "1994-primary-results.pdf" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  13. ^ a b "1994-runoff-results.pdf" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  14. ^ McReynolds, J.E. (August 24, 1994). "Odds Favor Woman for Lieutenant Governor's Job". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  15. ^ a b Greiner, John (August 21, 1994). "Candidates Square Off in State Races". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  16. ^ Hinton, Mick (September 2, 1994). "Losing Candidate Endorses Diamond". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  17. ^ "1994-general-results.pdf" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
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