1994 FL Gubernatorial Election

Throughout his term, Chiles focused on a fiscally moderation, passing through welfare reform, and rewuireing "Healthy Start" to screen every pregnant woman and newborn for health risks. 

However, his popularity took a major hit in in 1992 when he called for $1.3 Billion dollars in new Taxes and it later suffered another blow in 1994 when his healthcare plan was rejected by the legislature.

Heading into Election season, after Bush won 46% in a seven candidate primary, the Challenger zoomed ahead in the polls, buyied by the anti-democratic mood of the 1994 Republican revolution in the early days of the campaign it appeared like Bush would win.

To this effect, throughout the campaign Bush called for Government playing a smaller roll in people's lives, Fewer appeals for death row inmates with speedier executions, as school choice and an amendment that would require voter approval for all tax increases (of note: there was such an amendment on the ballot in 1994 before it was struck down by the SCOFL).

Chiles countered by sying that he had reformed welfare and education, and had "aprooved as many executions as the previous governor Bob Martinez.

But his campaign really got steam when he attacked a Bush ad that showcased a mother who's daughter had been murdered that accused Chiles of not speeding executions, in addition to attacking Bush's business ties with the Savings and Loans industry.

Chiles also got credit for stopping the flow of refugees from Cuba to Florida as after he called on the federal government to stop the flow President Clinton reneged on his promise to provide refuge and confined refugees to Guantanamo bay.

Lastly, near the end of the campaign Chiles enphasized his "Cracker" roots, calling himself the "He-coon who always walks before the light of day," something which likely helped the governor in the Rural parts of north Florida