1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

Last updated

1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg
  1994 November 3, 1998 (1998-11-03) 2002  
  Congressman Tom Ridge.jpg 3x4.svg 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 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]

Results

1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election [5] [6]
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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election</span>

The 1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura, the former mayor of Brooklyn Park and professional wrestler, won office, defeating Republican St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman and DFL state attorney general Skip Humphrey. He succeeded Republican incumbent Arne Carlson, who was term limited. Ventura's victory as a third-party candidate was considered a historic major upset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 2006 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006, and included the races for the governor of Pennsylvania and lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. Incumbent Democratic governor Ed Rendell successfully ran for re-election. Pennsylvania's first female lieutenant governor, Catherine Baker Knoll, was also running for re-election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 2002, in 36 states and two territories. The Republicans won eight seats previously held by the Democrats, as well as the seat previously held by Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, who was elected on the Reform Party ticket but had since renounced his party affiliation. The Democrats won 10 seats previously held by the Republicans, as well as the seat previously held by Maine governor Angus King, an independent. The elections were held concurrently with the other United States elections of 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Indiana gubernatorial election</span>

The 2008 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican nominee Mitch Daniels was challenged by Democratic nominee Jill Long Thompson and Libertarian nominee Andy Horning. Daniels easily won reelection, defeating Long Thompson by over 17 points. Despite Daniels' landslide victory, Barack Obama narrowly carried Indiana in the concurrent presidential election; the only Democratic candidate to do so since 1964. As of 2024, this is the last election Marion County would vote Republican for governor and a statewide race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Maryland gubernatorial election</span>

The 2002 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Democratic Governor Parris Glendening was term-limited and could not seek a third term. Republican Bob Ehrlich defeated Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, making him the first Republican governor of Maryland since Spiro Agnew, who served from 1967 to 1969. As of 2024, this is the last time Charles County voted Republican in a statewide election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election</span>

The 1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994, in the midst of that year's Republican Revolution. Incumbent Republican Arne Carlson easily won re-election over Democrat–Farmer–Labor state senator John Marty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1982 Minnesota gubernatorial election</span>

The 1982 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate Rudy Perpich defeated Independent-Republican Party challenger Wheelock Whitney, Jr. Warren Spannaus unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination, while Lou Wangberg and Harold Stassen unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination. Perpich became the first candidate to receive over a million votes in a gubernatorial election in Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1994 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994. The incumbent governor, Bob Casey, Sr. (Democrat), was barred from seeking a third term by the state constitution. The Republican Party nominated Congressman Tom Ridge, while the Democrats nominated Mark Singel, Casey's lieutenant governor. Ridge went on to win the race with 45% of the vote. Singel finished with 39%, and Constitution Party candidate Peg Luksik finished third, garnering 12% of the vote.

Ivan Itkin was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1973 to 1998. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1990 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic governor Robert P. Casey easily defeated Republican Barbara Hafer. Governor Casey defeated Hafer by a margin of 35.29%, and carried 66 out of 67 Pennsylvania counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1986 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986. Democrat Bob Casey narrowly defeated Republican Bill Scranton III, in a race that featured two very high-profile candidates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 5. Incumbent Democratic Governor Milton Shapp defeated Republican Drew Lewis. Under the state's 1968 constitution, Shapp was the first governor who was eligible to run for consecutive terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1970 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 3. Democrat Milton Shapp challenged incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Ray Broderick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 1980 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Richard Schweiker decided to retire, instead of seeking a third term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1954 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 1954 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 2. In what is considered a crucial realigning election for the state, Democratic State Senator George M. Leader defeated Republican incumbent Lieutenant Governor Lloyd Wood, becoming the first Democrat to be elected governor since 1934.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Minnesota gubernatorial election</span>

The 2014 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Minnesota concurrently with the election to Minnesota's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, concurrently with the election of Pennsylvania's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various local elections. Incumbent Governor Tom Wolf won re-election to a second term by a double-digit margin, defeating Republican challenger Scott Wagner and two third-party candidates from the Green Party, Paul Glover and Libertarian Party, Ken Krawchuk. The primary elections were held on May 15. This was the only Democratic-held governorship up for election in a state that Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 2020, in 11 states and two territories. The previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2016, except in New Hampshire and Vermont where governors only serve two-year terms. These two states elected their current governors in 2018. Nine state governors ran for reelection and all nine won, while Democrat Steve Bullock of Montana could not run again due to term limits and Republican Gary Herbert of Utah decided to retire at the end of his term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Indiana gubernatorial election</span>

The 2020 Indiana gubernatorial election was won by incumbent Republican Eric Holcomb on November 3, 2020. The election was held concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 2022, in 36 states and three territories. As most governors serve four-year terms, the last regular gubernatorial elections for all but two of the seats took place in the 2018 U.S. gubernatorial elections. The gubernatorial elections took place concurrently with several other federal, state, and local elections, as part of the 2022 midterm elections.

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. The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 7-94.
  6. The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 7-16.

Sources