1998 Idaho gubernatorial election

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1998 Idaho gubernatorial election
Flag of Idaho.svg
  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  
  Dirkkempthornesenate.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Dirk Kempthorne Robert Huntley
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote258,095110,815
Percentage67.7%29.1%

1998 Idaho gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Kempthorne:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Huntley:     50–60%

Governor before election

Phil Batt
Republican

Elected Governor

Dirk Kempthorne
Republican

County results Idaho Governor R Primary 1998.svg
County results

The 1998 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998 to elect the Governor of Idaho. Phil Batt, the Republican incumbent, chose not to run for a second term. The Republican nominee, United States Senator Dirk Kempthorne, handily defeated the Democratic nominee, former Idaho Supreme Court justice Robert C. Huntley, to keep the seat in GOP hands.

Contents

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dirk Kempthorne 111,658 87.24
Republican David W. Sheperd16,33212.76
Total votes127,990 100.00

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

County results Idaho Governor D Primary 1998.svg
County results
Democratic Primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robert C. Huntley 14,638 54.27
Democratic William Tarnasky4,76917.68
Democratic Jack Wayne Chappell4,66617.30
Democratic Donald McMurrian2,90010.75
Total votes26,973 100.00

General election

Given the lack of a high-profile candidate on the Democratic side, throughout the campaign many considered Kempthorne's election a foregone conclusion. Indeed, Huntley's performance was well below that of the 1994 Democratic nominee Larry EchoHawk. In addition, Peter Rickards, a podiatrist and anti-nuclear waste advocate from Twin Falls, siphoned off progressive votes that would have otherwise gone to the Democratic candidate.

Idaho gubernatorial election, 1998 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dirk Kempthorne 258,095 67.70 +15.41
Democratic Robert C. Huntley 110,81529.07-14.81
IndependentPeter Rickards12,3383.24
Majority147,28038.63+30.22
Turnout 381,248
Republican hold Swing

See also

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References

Preceded by
1994
Idaho gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
2002