The 1998 Governors' Races

After President, the Governors are the most important elected officials in the United States system. Routinely, more votes are cast for Governor than for Senator. Of course, there are always exceptions. In Wisconsin, the hotly contested Senate race between incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold and Republican Mark Neumann received more votes than the re-election of Governor Thompson. The primacy of Governors makes sense because there are only 50 Governors while there are 100 Senators. Every state has two Senators but only one Governor.

In 1998, the vote for Governor fell to 57,891,035 from 60,093,428; a decline of 2,202,393. The Republican candidates received 29,555,880; a decline of 2,686,677 from four years before. The Democratic candidates got 25,215,684, a gain of 258,658 over 1994's vote total. And the independent candidates garnered 3,119,471; an increase of 226,043 from four years earlier.

In 1998, the Republicans won 23 Governorships, the Democrats won 11 and the independents won 2. In 1994, 24 Republicans, 11 Democrats and 1 independent had been elected. So, the Republicans lost 1 Governorship while only the Independents gained one over the Republican landslide year of 1994.

Although overall party alignment changed little from 1994 to 1998, more than ¼ of the statehouses turned over. Democrats gained 4 governorships from the Republicans in Alabama, California, Iowa and South Carolina. Republicans won 5 governorships from the Democrats in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska and Nevada. And Jesse "The Body" Ventura, an independent Reform Party candidate, took the Governor's seat from the Republicans in Minnesota. New Hampshire, one of the two states (Vermont is the other) that still has a 2 year Governor's term, was gained by the Democrats in 1996.

Like the turnout overall, the vote for Governor fell an absolute 3.6%. Voters tilted slightly toward the Democrats and independents at the expense of the Republicans. Over ¼ of the governorships changed party, although the Democrats gained only 2% of the vote, from 41.5% to 43.5%, and the independents gained ½%, from 4.8% to 5.3%. The Republicans fell to 51%, a bare majority. So, everyone could claim a victory. The Republicans won a majority while the Democrats and independents gained. But really, the low vote totals show that the voters are dissatisfied with them all.

The Republicans won 2 to 1 in the Governors races with a less than 8% margin over the Democrats. Most Governors races, however, were landslides for one party or the other. Fourteen Republicans won with more than 55% of the vote, normally considered a landslide. Six Democrats won with over 55% and even Angus King, the independent Governor of Maine, won with 58%. That means that 21 of the 36 Governors races were won by landslide margins, indicating that they were not really contested races. Only 1 Republican and no Democrats won with less than 50%.

Taking all races together, however, the Republicans and Democrats fought each other to a stand still. Only the independent victory in Minnesota on the highest turnout of the election managed to change the party alignment. The message is clear. The Republicans and Democrats together are losing support at each succeeding election. The 1998 Governor's races show that the voters are willing to consider independent alternatives to the Republicans and Democrats.


Governors
Ab. Governor 98 James (R) Siegelman (D) Write-in Governor 98
554,756 760,155 2,941 1,317,852
42.0955% 57.6814% 0.2232% 2,941
Alaska Gov. 98 Lindauer (R) Knowles (D) Sullivan (AI) Metcalfe (Mod) Jacobsson (Grn) Write In Votes Total vote Governor 98 6,741
39,331 112,879 4,238 13,540 6,618 43,571 227,156 220,177 (6,979)
17.8634% 51.2674% 1.9248% 6.1496% 3.0058% 19.7891% Ind. total 67,967
Az. Gov. 98 Hull (R) Johnson (D) Gallant (Lbt) Malcomson (I) Tapia (w-i) White (w-i) Winn (w-i) Voting 1988 Governor 98
620,188 361,552 27,150 8,371 15 328 12 0 0 1,037,550 1,017,616 (19,934)
60.9452% 35.5293% 2.6680% 0.8226% 0.0015% 0.0322% 0.0012% 0.0000% 0.0000% Ind. total 35,876
Ark. Gov. 1998 Huckabee (R) Bristow (D) Caarle (Ref) Governor 98
421,989 272,923 11,099 706,011
59.7709% 38.6570% 1.5721% 0.0000% Ind. total 11,099
Cal. Gov. 98 Dan Lungren (R) Davis (D) Kubby (Lib) Johnson (AI) La Riva (P&F) Hamburg (Grn) Bloomfield (NL) Sahngold (WI) Ashamallah (WI) Hollum&Jursek(wi) Governor 1998
3,216,749 4,858,817 73,823 37,955 59,181 104,117 31,208 16 3 2 8,381,871 (235,778)
38.3775% 57.9682% 0.8807% 0.4528% 0.7061% 1.2422% 0.3723% 0.0002% 0.0000% Ind. Total 306,305
Co. Gov. 1998 Owens (R) Schoettler (D) Johnson (L) Leonard (Const) Governor 1998
648,202 639,905 22,202 10,998 1,063,272 1,321,307 258035
49.0576% 48.4297% 1.6803% 0.8324% Ind. total 33,200
Ct. Governor 98 Rowland (R) Kennelly (D) Ned Vare (L) Powell (TL) Zdonczyk (CC) Demko (w-i) Governor 98
628,707 354,187 5,637 2,212 8,792 2 1,022,453 999,537 (22,916)
62.8998% 35.4351% 0.5640% 0.2213% 0.8796% 0.0002% Ind. total 16,643
Fla. Gov. 98 Bush (R) MacKay (D) McAlexander (Wri) Governor 98
2,192,105 1,773,054 282 3,965,441
55.2802% 44.7127% 0.0071% 282
Ga. Gov. 98 Millner (R) Barnes (D) Cashin (Lib) Governor 98
790,141 941,076 61,531 1,792,748
44.0743% 52.4935% 3.4322% 0.0000% 0.0000% 61,531
Ha. Gov. 1998 Lingle (R) Cayetano (D) Peabody (L) Governor 1998
198,952 204,206 4,398 0 0 412,520 407,556 (4,964)
48.8159% 50.1050% 1.0791% 0.0000% 0.0000% Ind. total 4,398
Id. Gov. 98 Kempthorne (R) Huntley (D) Rickards (I) Voting 1998 Governor 98
258,095 110,815 12,338 386,720 381,248 (5,472)
67.6974% 29.0664% 3.2362% Ind. total 12,338
Ill. Gov. 98 George Ryan (R) Poshard (D) Redmond (Ref) Friedman (W-I) Studer (w-i) Lichtenberger Katz (W-I) Weathers (w-i) Johnson (W-I) Governor 98
1,714,094 1,594,191 50,372 33 6 3 3 2 1 3,358,705 (182,674)
51.0344% 47.4645% 1.4997% 0.0010% 0.0002% 0.0001% 0.0001% 0.0001% 0.0000% 50,419
Iowa Gov. 1998 Lightfoot (R) Vilsack (D) Hennager (Ref) Kennis (NBP) Schaefer (NL) Scattering Voting 1988 Governor 1998
444,787 500,231 5,606 2,006 3,144 644 0 0 0 0 956,418
46.5055% 52.3025% 0.5861% 0.2097% 0.3287% 0.0673% 0.0000% 0.0000% 0.0000% 1.46936793852786E-39 Ind. total 11,400
Kan. Gov. 98 Graves (R) Sawyer (D) Poovey (Tax) King (Ref) Voting Governor 98
544,882 168,243 21,710 7,830 0 743,288 742,665 (623)
73.3685% 22.6540% 2.9233% 1.0543% 0.0000% Ind. total 29,540
Maine Gov. 98 Longley (R) Connolly (D) LaMarche (G) Angus King (I) Clarke (Tax) Governor 98
79,716 50,506 28,722 246,772 15,293 421,009
18.9345% 11.9964% 6.8222% 58.6144% 3.6325% Ind. total 290,787
Md. Governor 98 Sauerbrey (R) Glendening (D) Crabtree (w-i) Governor 98
688,357 846,972 649 1,535,978
44.8156% 55.1422% 0.0423% Ind. total 649
Ma. Gov. 1998 Cellucci (R) Harshbarger (D) Dean Cook (L) Others Voting 1998 Governor 1990
967,843 901,843 32,184 2,149 1,935,277 1,904,019 (31,258)
50.8316% 47.3652% 1.6903% 0.1129% Ind. total 34,333
Mich. Gov. 98 Engler (R) Fieger (D) Foreback (w-i) Humphrey (w-i) Katz (w-i) Link (w-i) Marek (w-i) Matthew (w-i) Wagonlander (w-i) Governor 98
1,883,005 1,143,574 32 36 20 399 17 9 12 3,027,104 (116,328)
62.2048% 37.7778% 0.0011% 0.0012% 0.0007% 0.0132% 0.0006% 0.0003% 0.0004% 513 #2 office
Minn. Gov. 98 Coleman (R) Humphrey (D) Lyons (SWP) Ventura (Ref) Germann (Lib) Wright (Grp) Fiske (Swp) McCloney (TPC) Pentel (GPM) Write-ins Governor 1998
717,350 587,528 6,701 773,713 1,932 1,727 787 919 7,034 776 2,098,467 (6,876)
34.1845% 27.9980% 0.3193% 36.8704% 0.0921% 0.0823% 0.0375% 0.0438% 0.3352% 0.0370% 793,589
Neb. Gov. 98 Mike Johanns (R) Bill Hoppner (D) Write-in Voting 1998 Governor 98
293,910 250,678 650 0 581,775 545,238 (36,537)
53.9049% 45.9759% 0.1192% 0.0000% Ind. total 650
Nv Governor 98 Kenny Guinn (R) Laverty (D) Savage (L) Horne (IA) None of These Voting 1998 Governor 98
223,892 182,281 7,307 7,509 12,641 440,042 433,630 (19,053)
51.6320% 42.0361% 1.6851% 1.7317% 2.9152% Ind. total 14,816
NH Governor 98 Lucas (R) Shaheen (D) Blevens (L) Bramante (wi) Rubens (wi) Bosa (wi) Scattering Governor 98
98,473 210,769 8,655 291 191 21 540 330,555 318,940 (11,615)
30.8751% 66.0842% 2.7137% 0.0912% 0.0599% 0.0066% 0.1693% Ind. total 9,698
NMex. Gov. 98 Johnson (R) Chavez (D) Governor 98
271,948 226,755 0 0 498,703
54.5311% 45.4689% 0.0000% 0.0000% Ind. Total 1.46936793852786E-39
NY Governor 98 Pataki (R,C) Vallone (D-WF) Reynolds (RTL) Golisano (I) Duncan (SWP) McCaughey (Lib) Leighton (Marij) France (Unity) Lewis (Green) Garvey (Libert) Governor 98
2,571,991 1,570,317 56,683 364,056 2,539 77,915 24,788 9,692 52,533 4,722 4,735,236 (250,696)
54.3160% 33.1624% 1.1970% 7.6882% 0.0536% 1.6454% 0.5235% 0.2047% 1.1094% 0.0997% 592,928
Ohio Gov. 98 Taft (R) Fisher (D) Feitler (I) Mitchel (I) Governor 98
1,647,081 1,469,295 64,315 109,791 3,290,482 (173,001)
50.0559% 44.6529% 1.9546% 3.3366% 174,106
Ok. Gov. 98 Keating (R) Laura Boyd (D) Heidelberg (R) Votin 1990 Governor 98
505,498 357,552 10,535 880,331 873,585 -6746
0.58 0.41 0.01 Ind. total 10,535
Or. Governor 98 Sizemore (R) Kitzhaber (D) Burke (L) Steurer (NL) Trey Smith (S) Bobier (P) Weidner (RF) Miscellaneous Voting 1998 Governor 98
334,001 717,061 20,200 7,823 5,772 15,843 10,144 2,254 1,160,400 1,113,098 (47,302)
30.0064% 64.4203% 1.8148% 0.7028% 0.5186% 1.4233% 0.9113% 0.2025% Ind. total 62036
Pa. Gov. 98 Tom Ridge (R) Ivan Itkin (D) Peg Luksik (C) Krawchuk (Lib) Write-in Governor 98
1,736,844 938,745 315,761 33,591 211 3,025,152
57.4134% 31.0313% 10.4379% 1.1104% 0.0070% 349,563
RI Governor 98 Almond (R) Myrth York (D) Healey (COO) Devine (Ref) Write-in Governor 1998
156,180 129,105 19,250 1,848 62 306,445
50.9651% 42.1299% 6.2817% 0.6030% 0.0202% Ind. total 21,160
SC Governor 98 Beasley (R) Jim Hodges (D) Moultrie (Lib) Eubanks (w-i) Write-in Governor 98
484,088 570,070 14,894 264 1,553 1,098,484 1,070,869 (27,615)
45.2052% 53.2343% 1.3908% 0.0247% 0.1450% Ind. total 16,711
SD Governor 98 Janklow (R) Hunhoff (D) Newland (L) Wieczorek (I) Governor 1998
166,621 85,473 4,389 3,704 266,355 260,187 (6,168)
64.0389% 32.8506% 1.6869% 1.4236% Ind. total 8,093
Tenn. Gov. 98 Sundquist (R) John Hooker (D) Creech (I) Gibbs (I) Hamilton (I) Smith (I) Smithson (I) Write-ins Governor 1998
669,973 287,750 3,723 4,651 5,899 1,851 1,841 548 976,236
68.6282% 29.4755% 0.3814% 0.4764% 0.6043% 0.1896% 0.1886% 0.0561% 18,513
Tx. Gov. 1998 George Bush (R) Garry Mauro (D) Turlington (L) Solar (w-i) Governor 1998
2,551,454 1,165,444 20,689 896 3,738,483
68.2484% 31.1742% 0.5534% 0.0240% 21,585
Vt. Gov. 98 Ruth Dwyer (R) Howard Dean (D) Amy Berkey (L) Gottlieb (LU) Williams (VG) Write-in Total vote Governor 98
89,726 121,425 2,141 1,177 3,305 346 220,991 218,120 (2,871)
41.1361% 55.6689% 0.9816% 0.5396% 1.5152% 0.1586% Ind. total 6,969
Wi. Governor 98 Thompson (R) Garvey (D) Frami (Tax) Mueller (Lib) Mangan (I) Muyhammed (I) Smith (W-I) Scattering Voting 1988 Governor 98
1,047,716 679,553 10,269 11,071 4,985 1,604 14 802 1,756,014
59.6644% 38.6986% 0.5848% 0.6305% 0.2839% 0.0913% 0.0008% 0.0457% Ind. total 28,745
Wy. Gov. 98 Geringer (R) Vinich (D) Dawson (L) Voting 1998 Governor 98
97,235 70,754 6,899 178,401 174,888 (3,513)
55.5984% 40.4567% 3.9448% Ind. total 6,899
29,555,880 25,215,684 937,975 1,652,287 132,159 248,371 69,354 14,242 59,583 5,500 0 57,891,035
3,119,471
51.0543% 43.5571%

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Contact: Joshua Leinsdorf