1998 Texas Attorney General election

1998 Texas Attorney General election

←  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →

Nominee John Cornyn Jim Mattox Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,002,794 1,631,045 Percentage 54.26% 44.18%

County results Cornyn:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Mattox:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

Attorney General before election Dan Morales Democratic Elected Attorney General John Cornyn Republican

The 1998 Texas Attorney General election took place on November 3, 1998, to elect the Texas Attorney General. Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Dan Morales chose not to seek re-election to a third term.

Former Justice of the Texas Supreme Court John Cornyn beat Democratic nominee and former Attorney General Jim Mattox, 54% to 44%. Cornyn became the first Republican elected Attorney General since Reconstruction.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Cornyn, former Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. (1991–1997)

Eliminated in runoff

• Barry Williamson, Railroad Commissioner of Texas.

Eliminated in primary

• Tom Pauken, former chairman of the Texas Republican Party. (1994–1997)

First round results map by county:

  Williamson

•   30–40%
    40–50%
    50–60%
    60–70%
    70–80%
    >90%

  Cornyn

•   30–40%
    40–50%
    50–60%
    60–70%
    70–80%
    >90%

  Pauken

•   30–40%
    40–50%
    50–60%
    60–70%
    70–80%
    >90%

Results

Republican primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Barry Williamson	208,345	38.10%
	Republican	John Cornyn	176,269	32.24%
	Republican	Tom Pauken	162,180	29.66%
Total votes			546,794	100.00%

Runoff results map by county:

  Cornyn

•   50–60%
    60–70%
    70–80%
    80–90%
    >90%

  Williamson

•   50–60%
    60–70%
    70–80%
    80–90%
    >90%

Runoff

Republican primary runoff ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Cornyn	135,130	57.91%
	Republican	Barry Williamson	98,218	42.09%
Total votes			233,348	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jim Mattox, former Texas Attorney General. (1983–1991) ^[3]

Eliminated in primary

• Morris Overstreet, judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. ^[4]
• Gene Kelley, perennial candidate.

Runoff results map by county:

  Mattox

•   40–50%
    50–60%
    60–70%
    70–80%
    80–90%

  Overstreet

•   40–50%
    50–60%

Results

Democratic primary ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Mattox	444,746	67.99%
	Democratic	Morris Overstreet	122,311	18.70%
	Democratic	Gene Kelley	87,097	13.31%
Total votes			654,154	100.00%

General election

Results

1998 Texas Attorney General election ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Cornyn	2,002,794	54.26%
	Democratic	Jim Mattox	1,631,045	44.18%
	Libertarian	Mike Angwin	57,604	1.56%
Total votes			3,691,443	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

References

1. "1998 Republican Primary". Texas Secretary of State.
2. "1998 Republican Runoff Primary". Texas Secretary of State.
3. "Tejano Democrats endorse two for attorney general". The Victoria Advocate . February 1, 1998.
4. "Mauro will try to unseat Bush in November". The Victoria Advocate. March 11, 1998.
5. "Texas Almanac, 2000-2001 Page: 428". Portal to Texas History.
6. "1998 General Election". Texas Secretary of State.