1998 Idaho gubernatorial election

Last updated

1998 Idaho gubernatorial election
Flag of Idaho.svg
  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  
  Dirkkempthornesenate.jpg 3x4.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

Debate

1998 Idaho gubernatorial debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Republican Democratic Independent
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Dirk Kempthorne Robert C. Huntley Peter Rickards
1Oct. 22, 1998Idaho Press Club
Idaho Public Television
League of Women Voters of Idaho
Joan Cartan-Hansen PBS PPP

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [a]
Margin
of error
Dirk
Kempthorne (R)
Robert
Huntley (D)
Undecided
Mason Dixon [3] September 1–3, 19981,208 (LV)± 2.9%66%14%20%

Results

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, won over some progressive votes that may have otherwise gone to the Democratic candidate.

Idaho gubernatorial election, 1998 [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dirk Kempthorne 258,095 67.70 +15.41
Democratic Robert C. Huntley 110,81529.07−14.81
IndependentPeter Rickards12,3383.24
Majority 147,28038.63+30.22
Turnout 381,248
Republican hold Swing

See also

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/abstract/98prgov.htm [ dead link ]
  2. http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/abstract/98prgov.htmm%5B%5D
  3. "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Idaho 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  4. http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/98result/98gngov.htm [ dead link ]
Preceded by
1994
Idaho gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
2002