The 1996 Indiana gubernatorial Election was held on November 5, 1996, alongside the election of both houses of the Indiana General Assembly. Incumbent Governor Evan Bayh, a Democrat, was ineligible to run for a third consecutive term due to term limits established by the Indiana Constitution.[1] He was succeeded by Lt. Governor Frank O'Bannon, who won election over Republican Stephen Goldsmith with 52% of the vote.
O'Bannon was unchallenged in his party's primary, winning the Democratic nomination unanimously. He chose South Bend Mayor Joe Kernan to be his running mate.
Former Vice President of the United States Dan Quayle
With Governor Evan Bayh unable to seek another term in office, Indiana Republicans felt confident in their ability to take the Governor's Mansion in the general election. Of the three candidates for the nomination, the front-runner by far was Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith. Goldsmith was by far the favorite for the nomination throughout the race, in some polls leading by as much as 20 points.[2] The race was particularly heated: Indiana Republican Party Chairman Michael McDaniel, hoping to avoid alienating any voters, declined to endorse a candidate, instead hanging a Swiss flag in his office to symbolize his neutrality.[2] Goldsmith easily won the primary. Goldsmith endorsed no candidate for lieutenant governor, and Republican state convention delegates chose Witwer as his running mate.
Libertarian Party
Candidates
Steve Dillon
The Libertarian Party nominated Steve Dillon as their second candidate to contest the Indiana governorship.
The only Great Lakes state to have a Democratic Governor going into the 1996 elections, Indiana became the center of the Republican Party's attention in that year's gubernatorial elections. A traditionally Republican state, Goldsmith and his party were considered to have the edge in the election. That changed, however, when questions about Goldsmith's performance as Mayor of Indianapolis surfaced, specifically regarding an August 27 brawl in the city involving several drunken policemen. Goldsmith's campaign was further hurt when it was revealed that several comments made about O'Bannon's record as part of the Indiana state government had been statistically incorrect. The effect of these gaffes was to erase the double digit lead Goldsmith had enjoyed throughout the summer, leaving him narrowly trailing O'Bannon.[4] O'Bannon, meanwhile, was able to take credit for a thriving economy and a recent tax surplus that had occurred during Bayh's administration. The Democrat centered his campaign on his record in the Indiana State Senate, simultaneously attacking Goldsmith for controversial decisions made during his tenure as Mayor of Indianapolis. By running what was later described as a "steady" campaign, O'Bannon was able to refute many of the charges Goldsmith brought against him while keeping the pressure on. Even so, the race remained tight down to election night, and Goldsmith reportedly settled in on November 5 expecting to be elected.[5]
Results
O'Bannon won the election narrowly, carrying 52% of the vote to Goldsmith's 47%.
^Meredith, Robyn (7 May 1996). "POLITICAL BRIEFS: Indiana;As Governor Retires, 3 Republicans Joust". The New York Times.
^ abMeredith, Robyn (7 May 1996). "POLITICAL BRIEFS: Indiana;As Governor Retires, 3 Republicans Joust". The New York Times.
^"1996 Sample State of Indiana General Election Ballot". Newspapers.com. The Vincennes Sun-Commercia. 3 Nov 1996. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
^. Archived from the original on 2000-09-02. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
^"O'Bannon's 1996 campaign was one for the ages - Howey Politics". howeypolitics.com.
January 07, 2023
1996, indiana, gubernatorial, election, related, races, 1996, united, states, gubernatorial, elections, 1996, indiana, gubernatorial, election, held, november, 1996, alongside, election, both, houses, indiana, general, assembly, incumbent, governor, evan, bayh. For related races see 1996 United States gubernatorial elections The 1996 Indiana gubernatorial Election was held on November 5 1996 alongside the election of both houses of the Indiana General Assembly Incumbent Governor Evan Bayh a Democrat was ineligible to run for a third consecutive term due to term limits established by the Indiana Constitution 1 He was succeeded by Lt Governor Frank O Bannon who won election over Republican Stephen Goldsmith with 52 of the vote 1996 Indiana gubernatorial election 1992 November 5 1996 1996 11 05 2000 Nominee Frank O Bannon Steve GoldsmithParty Democratic RepublicanRunning mate Joe Kernan George WitwerPopular vote 1 087 128 986 982Percentage 51 5 46 8 County results O Bannon 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 Goldsmith 40 50 50 60 60 70 Governor before electionEvan BayhDemocratic Elected Governor Frank O BannonDemocratic Contents 1 Primaries 1 1 Democratic Party 1 2 Republican Party 1 3 Libertarian Party 2 General Election 3 Results 4 ReferencesPrimaries EditDemocratic Party Edit Candidates Lt Governor Frank O BannonO Bannon was unchallenged in his party s primary winning the Democratic nomination unanimously He chose South Bend Mayor Joe Kernan to be his running mate Republican Party Edit Candidates Mayor of Indianapolis and nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1988 Stephen Goldsmith Former Marine Sergeant Rex Early George WitwerDeclined Former Vice President of the United States Dan QuayleWith Governor Evan Bayh unable to seek another term in office Indiana Republicans felt confident in their ability to take the Governor s Mansion in the general election Of the three candidates for the nomination the front runner by far was Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith Goldsmith was by far the favorite for the nomination throughout the race in some polls leading by as much as 20 points 2 The race was particularly heated Indiana Republican Party Chairman Michael McDaniel hoping to avoid alienating any voters declined to endorse a candidate instead hanging a Swiss flag in his office to symbolize his neutrality 2 Goldsmith easily won the primary Goldsmith endorsed no candidate for lieutenant governor and Republican state convention delegates chose Witwer as his running mate Libertarian Party Edit Candidates Steve DillonThe Libertarian Party nominated Steve Dillon as their second candidate to contest the Indiana governorship Dillon s running mate was Leona McPherson 3 General Election EditThe only Great Lakes state to have a Democratic Governor going into the 1996 elections Indiana became the center of the Republican Party s attention in that year s gubernatorial elections A traditionally Republican state Goldsmith and his party were considered to have the edge in the election That changed however when questions about Goldsmith s performance as Mayor of Indianapolis surfaced specifically regarding an August 27 brawl in the city involving several drunken policemen Goldsmith s campaign was further hurt when it was revealed that several comments made about O Bannon s record as part of the Indiana state government had been statistically incorrect The effect of these gaffes was to erase the double digit lead Goldsmith had enjoyed throughout the summer leaving him narrowly trailing O Bannon 4 O Bannon meanwhile was able to take credit for a thriving economy and a recent tax surplus that had occurred during Bayh s administration The Democrat centered his campaign on his record in the Indiana State Senate simultaneously attacking Goldsmith for controversial decisions made during his tenure as Mayor of Indianapolis By running what was later described as a steady campaign O Bannon was able to refute many of the charges Goldsmith brought against him while keeping the pressure on Even so the race remained tight down to election night and Goldsmith reportedly settled in on November 5 expecting to be elected 5 Results EditO Bannon won the election narrowly carrying 52 of the vote to Goldsmith s 47 Indiana gubernatorial election 1996 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Frank O Bannon Joe Kernan 1 087 128 51 52Republican Stephen Goldsmith George Witwer 986 982 46 78Libertarian Steve Dillon Leona McPherson 35 805 1 70References Edit Meredith Robyn 7 May 1996 POLITICAL BRIEFS Indiana As Governor Retires 3 Republicans Joust The New York Times a b Meredith Robyn 7 May 1996 POLITICAL BRIEFS Indiana As Governor Retires 3 Republicans Joust The New York Times 1996 Sample State of Indiana General Election Ballot Newspapers com The Vincennes Sun Commercia 3 Nov 1996 Retrieved 7 March 2021 AllPolitics Indiana Governor s Race Oct 31 1996 Archived from the original on 2000 09 02 Retrieved 2013 11 13 O Bannon s 1996 campaign was one for the ages Howey Politics howeypolitics com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1996 Indiana gubernatorial election amp oldid 1121523641, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
