The 1994 California gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, in the midst of that year's "Republican Revolution". Incumbent Republican Pete Wilson easily won re-election over his main challenger, Democratic State Treasurer Kathleen Brown, the daughter of Pat Brown and younger sister of Jerry Brown, both of whom had previously served as governor. Although Wilson initially trailed Brown in the polls as a result of the state's faltering economy, his signature opposition to affirmative action and state services for illegal immigrants (with the associated Proposition 187) eventually led to his win. Wilson won 25% of the African American vote, a fairly strong performance for a Republican. However, he won only 25% of the Latino vote, a weak performance which was widely attributed to his support of Prop 187. This election was the first California gubernatorial election since 1974 in which the winner of the gubernatorial election was of a different party from the incumbent president.

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1994 California gubernatorial election

← 1990 November 8, 1994 1998 →

Nominee Pete Wilson Kathleen Brown Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 4,781,766 3,519,799 Percentage 55.18% 40.62%

County results Wilson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Brown:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Pete Wilson Republican Elected Governor Pete Wilson Republican

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Primaries were held on June 3, 1994.