 The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary for governor on August 9, 1994.Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore, from the Upstate, emerged as the winner of the runoff election on August 23 against popular Charleston mayor Joseph P. (Joe) Riley, Jr. and the three-term Attorney General of South Carolina, Thomas T. Medlock.The South Carolina Republican Party held their primary on August 9, 1994, and the contest featured state representative David Beasley from the Upstate against two Lowcountry politicians.