1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
Flag of Massachusetts.svg
  1994 November 2, 1998 2002  
Turnout51.19% Decrease2.svg 18.86 [1]
  Paul Cellucci gubernatorial photo (1).jpg L. Scott Harshbarger (3x4a).png
Nominee Paul Cellucci Scott Harshbarger
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Jane Swift Warren Tolman
Popular vote967,160901,843
Percentage50.9%47.4%

1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1998 Massachusetts Gubernatorial Election by Municipality.svg
Cellucci:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Harshbarger:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Paul Cellucci (acting)
Republican

Elected Governor

Paul Cellucci
Republican

The 1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Acting Governor Paul Cellucci was elected to his first term as Governor of Massachusetts.

Contents

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Campaign

The race between Cellucci and Malone was acrimonious, with each candidate accusing the other of committing ethical violations. [2]

Results

On September 16, Cellucci defeated Malone to win his party's nomination. [3]

Republican primary results by municipality Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 1998.svg
Republican primary results by municipality
Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary, 1998 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Paul Cellucci (acting) 136,258 58.57%
Republican Joe Malone 95,96341.25%
Write-inAll others4420.19%
Total votes232,663 100.00%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

  • Janet E. Jeghelian, radio host (running with Malone)
  • Jane Swift, Secretary of Consumer Affairs (running with Cellucci)
Declined
  • Charlie Baker, Secretary of Administration and Finance
  • Ralph C. Martin II, Suffolk County District Attorney

Results

Massachusetts Republican Lt. gubernatorial primary, 1998 [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jane Swift 116,476 54.38%
Republican Janet E. Jeghelian 97,41145.48%
Write-inAll others3230.15%
Total votes214,210 100.00%

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

Withdrew

Debate

1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election Democratic primary debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Democratic Democratic Democratic
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Brian J. Donnelly Scott Harshbarger Patricia McGovern
1Sep. 8, 1998 WWLP Jim Madigan C-SPAN PPP

Results

Democratic primary results by municipality Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 1998.svg
Democratic primary results by municipality
Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1998 [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Scott Harshbarger 296,212 51.35%
Democratic Patricia McGovern 180,42931.28%
Democratic Brian J. Donnelly 98,77417.12%
Write-inAll others1,4840.26%
Total votes576,899 100.00%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts Democratic Lt. gubernatorial primary, 1998 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Warren Tolman 270,791 53.75%
Democratic Dorothy Kelly Gay 232,25046.10%
Write-inAll others7680.15%
Total votes503,809 100.00%

General election

Campaign

After Harshbarger's primary victory, many moderate Democrats who had voted for McGovern or Donnelly, chose to support the socially liberal, fiscally moderate Cellucci instead of the more liberal Harshbarger. [8] [9]

Debate

1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Republican Democratic
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Paul Cellucci Scott Harshbarger
1Oct. 26, 1998 Boston Herald
The Boston Globe
New England Cable News
WCVB-TV
WHDH-TV
WBZ-TV
Charles Ogletree C-SPAN PP

Polling

In a January opinion poll, Cellucci lead Harshbarger 50%-30%. By August, Harshbarger had taken a 37%-35% lead over Cellucci. [10]

Results

On November 3, Cellucci defeated Harshbarger by 65,317 votes. [11] [12]

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1998
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Paul Cellucci (acting) 967,160 50.87% Decrease2.svg20.00
Democratic Scott Harshbarger 901,84347.44%Increase2.svg19.17
Libertarian Dean Cook32,1841.69%Increase2.svg 1.01
Write-in 2,1490.11%
Total votes1,901,187 51.19%
N/ABlank votes31,9411.65%
Turnout 1,935,27751.19%
Republican hold Swing

Results by county

1998 United States gubernatorial election in Massachusetts (by county) [12]
CountyCellucci - R %Cellucci - R #Harshbarger - D %Harshbarger - D #Others %Others #Total #
Barnstable 53.8%50,69042.7%40,2593.6%3,35794,306
Berkshire 49.8%20,67947.1%19,5933.1%1,28741,559
Bristol 48.37%69,20948.36%69,1903.3%4,676143,075
Dukes 40.9%2,63955.1%3,5504.0%2566,445
Essex 52.4%118,54044.0%99,4523.6%8,113226,105
Franklin 41.9%9,88254.6%12,8663.5%81923,567
Hampden 49.3%58,51746.9%55,7093.8%4,484118,710
Hampshire 40.4%19,23956.3%26,8363.4%1,59847,673
Middlesex 48.2%230,00448.7%232,3023.1%14,900477,206
Nantucket 48.8%1,75546.7%1,6814.6%1643,600
Norfolk 51.2%120,72945.4%106,9993.4%7,936235,664
Plymouth 55.6%81,04740.8%59,5253.6%5,239145,811
Suffolk 39.5%58,38456.2%83,0484.2%6,210147,642
Worcester 56.2%125,84640.6%90,8333.2%7,235223,914

See also

References

  1. "Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1998".
  2. Jill Zuckman and Frank Phillips (September 10, 1998). "Malone, Cellucci trade blows on ethics". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Our Campaigns - MA Governor - R Primary Race - Sep 15, 1998". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  4. "Our Campaigns - MA Lt. Governor - R Primary Race - Sep 15, 1998". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  5. Harden, Blaine (August 29, 1997). "Joseph Kennedy Ends Gubernatorial Bid". The Washington Post . Retrieved August 27, 2009.
  6. "Our Campaigns - MA Governor - D Primary Race - Sep 15, 1998". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  7. "Our Campaigns - MA Lt. Governor - D Primary Race - Sep 15, 1998". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  8. Adrian Walker (September 19, 1998). "Democratic Dissidents Back Cellucci". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  9. Scot Lehigh (October 6, 1998). "Cellucci Seen Seizing Initiative from Harshbarger". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  10. Brian C. Mooney (August 15, 1998). "Surplus Stumble Illustrates Why Cellucci's Falling". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  11. "Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 03, 1998". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  12. 1 2 "PD43+ » Search Elections".