1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

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1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg
←  1994 November 3, 1998 (1998-11-03) 2002  →
  Congressman Tom Ridge.jpg Ivan Itkin 1980 3x4.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Tom Ridge Ivan Itkin Peg Luksik
Party Republican Democratic Constitution
Running mate Mark Schweiker Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky Jim Clymer
Popular vote1,736,844938,745315,761
Percentage57.4%31.0%10.4%
1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Ridge:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Itkin:      50–60%
Governor before election

Tom Ridge
Republican

Elected Governor

Tom Ridge
Republican

The 1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held in the U.S. state on November 3, 1998. The candidates were incumbent Republican Tom Ridge, Democrat Ivan Itkin, Constitutionalist Peg Luksik and Libertarian Ken Krawchuk. Ridge, a popular moderate, won with 57 percent of the votes cast.

Contents

As of 2024, this was the last gubernatorial election in which Delaware, Lackawanna and Montgomery counties voted for the Republican candidate, and was the last time a Republican was re-elected as Governor of Pennsylvania. It was also the first time since 1930 that Greene County, Fayette County, and Washington County voted Republican.

Primary elections

Incumbent Governor Ridge ran unopposed for the Republican nomination, and was endorsed by multiple newspapers across the state, including the York Daily Record. [1] State Representative Ivan Itkin from Pittsburgh defeated former Auditor General and US Representative Don Bailey from Greensburg and private detective and anti-corruption activist Bill Keisling from York. Itkin, although not well known in the state, was a powerful figure in the legislature and had the backing of the party establishment, [2] while the conservative Bailey drew strong union support.

Democratic primary results .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Itkin 30%-40% 40%-50% 50%-60% 60%-70% Bailey 30%-40% 40%-50% 50%-60% 60%-70% 70%-80% Keisling 30%-40% 40%-50% 1998 Pennsylvania governor Democratic primary by county.svg
Democratic primary results
  Itkin
  •   30%-40%
  •   40%-50%
  •   50%-60%
  •   60%-70%
  Bailey
  •   30%-40%
  •   40%-50%
  •   50%-60%
  •   60%-70%
  •   70%-80%
  Keisling
  •   30%-40%
  •   40%-50%
Pennsylvania gubernatorial Democratic primary, 1998 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ivan Itkin 255,555 49.17
Democratic Don Bailey 200,45138.57
Democratic Bill Keisling63,69612.26
Total votes519,702 100.00

General election

Candidates

Campaign

During this election cycle, Democrats struggled with fundraising issues and had difficulty recruiting a top tier candidate. Itkin, who had little name recognition statewide, was considered to be a sacrificial lamb. Peg Luksik, who was well known as an outspoken opponent of abortion, ran as a strong third party contender for the second consecutive election cycle; she emphasized the pro-choice stances of both candidates and drew votes in the state's rural, conservative center. However, Ridge's victory was never in doubt, as he ran on a generally positive record from his prior term and a combination of traditional Republican strategies (such as his "tough on crime" image) combined with his ability to somewhat undercut Democratic support (such as through his labor ties). [4]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Tom
Ridge (R)		Ivan
Itkin (D)		Peg
Luksik (C)		Undecided
Mason-Dixon [5] October 26–27, 1998807 (LV)± 3.5%59%23%10%8%
Mason-Dixon [5] October 3–6, 1998801 (LV)± 3.5%58%24%–18%
Millersville University [5] [A] September 25–29, 1998629 (A)± 4.6%56%17%–27%
Mason-Dixon [5] September 14–16, 1998806 (LV)± 3.5%59%23%–18%
Mason-Dixon [5] August 2–4, 1998806 (LV)± 3.5%57%22%–21%

Results

1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election [6] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tom Ridge (incumbent) 1,736,844 57.42%
Democratic Ivan Itkin 938,74531.03%
Constitution Peg Luksik315,76110.43%
Libertarian Ken Krawchuk33,5911.11%
Write-in 2810.01%
Total votes3,025,022 100.00%
Turnout  41.67%
Republican hold

Results by county

County [8] Tom Ridge
Republican		Ivan Itkin
Democratic		Peg Luksik
Constitution		Ken Krawchuk
Libertarian		MarginTotal votes cast
#%#%#%#%#%
Adams 14,81073.83%3,68218.35%1,3606.78%2081.04%11,12855.48%20,060
Allegheny 169,31648.14%127,99436.39%50,68914.41%3,7191.06%41,32211.75%351,718
Armstrong 8,64148.71%4,90027.62%4,09823.10%990.56%3,74121.09%17,738
Beaver 24,99347.14%19,87937.49%7,66914.46%4770.90%5,1149.65%53,018
Bedford 8,23268.25%2,32219.25%1,42711.83%810.67%5,91049.00%12,062
Berks 49,71662.51%21,33626.83%6,9268.71%1,5531.95%28,38035.68%79,531
Blair 19,02567.54%4,41015.66%4,51816.04%2160.77%14,50751.50%28,169
Bradford 12,53474.70%3,04118.12%1,1016.56%1040.62%9,49356.58%16,780
Bucks 93,69764.85%39,21027.14%9,1456.33%2,4311.68%54,48737.71%144,483
Butler 22,83951.22%10,59323.76%10,75924.13%3950.89%12,08027.09%44,586
Cambria 22,26649.51%12,67528.18%9,72121.61%3130.70%9,59121.33%44,975
Cameron 68842.76%26616.53%64640.15%90.56%422.61%1,609
Carbon 7,50354.98%5,24638.44%7165.25%1831.34%2,25716.54%13,648
Centre 20,17565.15%7,29523.56%3,10010.01%3971.28%12,88041.59%30,967
Chester 68,57267.62%21,33721.04%9,7869.65%1,7141.69%47,23546.58%101,409
Clarion 5,86157.21%2,11220.62%2,18221.30%890.87%3,67935.91%10,244
Clearfield 11,43756.10%5,59827.46%3,21515.77%1350.66%5,83928.64%20,385
Clinton 5,34862.28%2,65630.93%4875.67%961.12%2,69231.35%8,587
Columbia 8,72060.58%4,17529.00%1,4019.73%990.69%4,54531.58%14,395
Crawford 13,87563.30%4,78621.83%3,06513.98%1950.89%9,08941.47%21,921
Cumberland 37,80170.93%8,61016.16%6,36011.93%5220.98%29,19154.77%53,293
Dauphin 39,91464.79%13,20321.43%7,87112.78%6151.00%26,71143.36%61,603
Delaware 97,74663.32%42,28327.39%12,3688.01%1,9761.28%55,46335.93%154,373
Elk 4,52049.43%2,50027.34%2,07322.67%510.56%2,02022.09%9,144
Erie 49,02763.68%16,78321.80%10,45013.57%7240.94%32,24441.88%76,984
Fayette 13,21543.88%12,86342.71%3,69912.28%3421.14%3521.17%30,119
Forest 98763.80%37524.24%18111.70%40.26%61239.56%1,547
Franklin 21,79369.67%6,52720.87%2,7598.82%2000.64%15,26648.80%31,279
Fulton 2,21066.25%88526.53%2306.89%110.33%1,32539.72%3,336
Greene 4,21145.88%3,90042.49%96310.49%1041.13%3113.39%9,178
Huntingdon 6,25365.25%1,93620.20%1,32013.77%740.77%4,31745.05%9,583
Indiana 11,73350.73%6,91029.88%4,33418.74%1520.66%4,82320.85%23,129
Jefferson 6,49358.08%2,47322.12%2,13119.06%820.73%4,02035.96%11,179
Juniata 3,94765.98%1,26621.16%74012.37%290.48%2,68144.82%5,982
Lackawanna 35,03952.96%25,29738.24%5,2087.87%6150.93%9,74214.72%66,159
Lancaster 72,19872.13%15,89115.88%11,16911.16%8410.84%56,30756.25%100,099
Lawrence 13,11551.46%9,25936.33%2,95611.60%1540.60%3,85615.13%25,484
Lebanon 20,26372.70%4,77517.13%2,5889.28%2470.89%15,48855.57%27,873
Lehigh 50,52665.79%22,47229.26%2,8903.76%9101.18%28,05436.53%76,798
Luzerne 44,03058.96%23,82731.90%6,1258.20%7020.94%20,20327.06%74,864
Lycoming 20,51170.85%6,05820.93%2,1027.26%2800.97%14,45349.92%28,951
McKean 6,74268.43%2,08621.17%9399.53%850.86%4,65647.26%9,852
Mercer 15,95852.77%10,34934.23%3,70412.25%2270.75%5,60918.54%30,238
Mifflin 6,91471.01%2,01020.65%7237.43%890.91%4,90450.36%9,736
Monroe 17,24365.97%7,16027.40%1,3455.15%3881.48%10,0837.84%26,136
Montgomery 129,37661.42%62,73429.78%14,9597.10%3,5671.69%66,64231.64%210,636
Montour 2,70064.18%1,01224.06%46911.15%260.62%1,68840.12%4,207
Northampton 42,35264.15%20,46130.99%2,3373.54%8671.31%21,89133.16%66,017
Northumberland 13,46858.95%7,05130.86%2,0118.80%3171.39%6,41728.09%22,847
Perry 7,02368.83%1,48714.57%1,60415.72%890.87%5,41953.11%10,203
Philadelphia 107,73135.06%183,06659.58%13,0724.25%3,4011.11%-75,335-24.52%307,270
Pike 6,84368.45%2,72627.27%3333.33%950.95%4,11741.18%9,997
Potter 3,12168.53%96321.15%4499.86%210.46%2,15847.38%4,554
Schuylkill 27,99263.14%12,10827.31%3,9208.84%3130.71%15,88435.83%44,333
Snyder 5,56569.95%1,40517.66%91911.55%670.84%4,16052.29%7,956
Somerset 14,82961.15%5,67623.40%3,56914.72%1780.73%9,15337.75%24,252
Sullivan 1,60969.62%52422.67%1637.05%150.65%1,08546.95%2,311
Susquehanna 9,33071.79%2,83021.77%7365.66%1010.78%6,50050.02%12,997
Tioga 7,00070.54%2,07120.87%7988.04%540.54%4,92949.67%9,923
Union 5,39568.20%1,70021.49%7579.57%580.73%3,69546.71%7,910
Venango 9,64362.96%3,59523.47%1,99113.00%870.57%6,04839.49%15,316
Warren 6,76060.71%2,30120.66%1,97517.74%990.89%4,45940.05%11,135
Washington 22,82543.56%20,05038.27%9,11317.39%4050.77%2,7755.29%52,393
Wayne 8,69270.57%2,89223.48%6034.90%1291.05%5,80047.09%12,316
Westmoreland 44,33144.54%32,37532.53%22,02522.13%8040.81%11,95612.01%99,535
Wyoming 6,96574.54%1,68218.00%6166.59%810.87%5,28356.54%9,344
York 62,65772.47%16,82519.46%6,1037.06%8801.02%45,83253.01%86,465
Totals1,736,84457.42%938,74531.03%315,76110.44%33,5911.11%798,09926.39%3,024,941

Notes

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

References

  1. ↑ "Today is the day to have your say." York, Pennsylvania: York Daily Record, November 3, 1998, p. 4 (subscription required).
  2. ↑ Strader, Jim. "Candidates spend last day across state." Pottsville, Pennsylvania: Pottsville Republican and Evening Herald, November 3, 1998, p. 11 (subscription required).
  3. ↑ "Our Campaigns - PA Governor - D Primary Race - May 19, 1998".
  4. ↑ Kennedy, John J. (2006). Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests From 1950-2004. University Press of America. ISBN   9780761832799.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Pennsylvania 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  6. ↑ The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 7-94.
  7. ↑ The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 7-16.
  8. ↑ "Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election Returns 1998". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Retrieved January 11, 2025.

Sources

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