Maine gubernatorial election, 1998

Last updated
Maine gubernatorial election, 1998
Flag of Maine.svg
  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  
  AngusKing.jpg Jimlongleyme.jpg
Nominee Angus King James Longley, Jr.
Party Independent Republican
Popular vote246,77279,716
Percentage58.61%18.93%

 
Nominee Tom Connolly Pat LaMarche
Party Democratic Green
Popular vote50,50628,722
Percentage12.00%6.82%

Maine gubernatorial election, 1998 results by county.svg
County Results
King:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%

Governor before election

Angus King
Independent

Elected Governor

Angus King
Independent

The 1998 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Independent Governor Angus King sought a second and final term as governor. King faced off against former United States Congressman James B. Longley, Jr., the Republican nominee; attorney Thomas J. Connolly, the Democratic nominee; and several other independent candidates, including Green candidate Pat LaMarche, who would later serve as the Green Party's Vice Presidential nominee in the 2004 presidential election.

An independent or nonpartisan politician is an individual politician not affiliated with any political party. There are numerous reasons why someone may stand for office as an independent.

Angus King United States Senator from Maine

Angus Stanley King Jr. is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States Senator from Maine since 2013. A political independent since 1993, he was the 72nd Governor of Maine from 1995 to 2003.

Republican Party (United States) Major political party in the United States

The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP, is one of the two major political parties in the United States; the other is its historic rival, the Democratic Party.

Contents

1998 was the first Maine gubernatorial election since 1982 in which the winning candidate received greater than 50% of the vote. This was not achieved again until 2018.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Thomas J. Connolly is a Maine attorney and Maine Democratic Party activist. Connolly, a Scarborough resident and attorney based in Portland's Old Port, ran for Governor of Maine in 1998 against incumbent unenrolled Angus King, receiving 13%. During the 2000 presidential election, Connolly leaked news of George W. Bush's 1976 arrest in Kennebunkport, Maine for drunken driving. In October 2006, Connolly was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for "standing on the side of the highway dressed in a rubber Osama Bin Laden mask, waving a plastic gun and a sign protesting a Taxpayer Bill of Rights."

Results

Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Thomas J. Connolly36,95481.72
Democratic Joseph Ricci8,26418.28
Total votes45,218100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Henry L. Joy is an American politician and retired teacher from Maine. Joy is a Republican from Crystal, Maine. He was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1992, which was the 116th Legislature, and served in every consecutive legislature except for the 120th Legislature, when he made an unsuccessful bid for governor of Maine, after which he served as a Selectman for the town of Crystal, and was returned to the 121st Legislature in 2002, re-elected in 2004 and 2006.

Maine House of Representatives lower house of the Maine state legislature

The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal number of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,800 citizens of the state. Because it is a part-time position, members of the Maine House of Representatives usually have outside employment as well. Members are limited to four consecutive terms of two years each, but may run again after two years.

James B. Longley American politician

James Bernard Longley Sr. was an American politician. He served as the 69th Governor of Maine from 1975 to 1979, and was the first Independent to hold the office. In 1949, he married the former Helen Angela Walsh, who died on September 13, 2005. They had five children, including former Republican U.S. Representative James B. Longley Jr.. Longley Sr., a graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, resided in Lewiston and Auburn, Maine.

Results

Republican primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican James B. Longley, Jr.38,19266.04
Republican Henry L. Joy 11,41119.73
Republican Leo G. Martin8,22914.23
Total votes57,832100.00

General election

Results

Maine gubernatorial election, 1998 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Angus King (Incumbent) 246,772 58.61% +23.25%
Republican James B. Longley, Jr. 79,71618.93%-4.14%
Democratic Thomas J. Connolly 50,50612.00%-21.83%
Green Pat LaMarche 28,7226.82%+0.43%
Constitution William P. Clarke, Jr.15,2933.63%
Majority167,05639.68%+38.14%
Turnout 421,009
Independent hold Swing

Related Research Articles

Piscataquis County, Maine County in the United States

Piscataquis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2010 census, its population was 17,535, making it Maine's least-populous county. Its county seat is Dover-Foxcroft. The county was incorporated on 23 March 1838, taken from the western part of Penobscot County and the eastern part of Somerset County, and is named for an Abenaki word meaning "branch of the river" or "at the river branch."

2006 Kansas gubernatorial election

The Kansas gubernatorial election of 2006 took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who sported high approval ratings ran for re-election to serve a second and final term. Governor Sebelius was unopposed for the Democratic nomination and she faced the Republican nominee, State Senator Jim Barnett, who emerged from a crowded primary. Sebelius roundly defeated Barnett and cruised to re-election, which was quite a considerable feat for a Democrat in staunchly conservative Kansas.

2006 Nebraska gubernatorial election

The 2006 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006; the primary election was held on May 9, 2006. Republican incumbent Dave Heineman was elected to a full term, defeating Democrat David Hahn.

2006 Maine gubernatorial election

The Maine gubernatorial election of 2006 took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democrat John Baldacci was re-elected to his second term. This was the last time a Democrat won statewide office in Maine until 2018, when Janet Mills won the gubernatorial election over Republican Shawn Moody.

2006 Oregon gubernatorial election

The 2006 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Oregon Ted Kulongoski ran for a second and final term as governor. Kulongoski faced several challengers in his primary, whom he dispatched to win his party's nomination a second time, while Republican nominee Ron Saxton, the former Chair of the Portland Public Schools Board and a candidate for governor in 2002 emerged from a crowded primary. Kulongoski and Saxton were initially going to be challenged in the general election by State Senator Ben Westlund, but Westlund withdrew his candidacy before the general election. There were, however, a number of strong independent challengers, the most notable of whom was Mary Starrett, the Constitution Party nominee. In a hard-fought campaign, Kulongoski won re-election by a surprisingly wide margin, winning his second term as governor.

Robert C. "Bob" Huntley is an American politician. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Idaho in 1998. Huntley is an attorney in Boise.

1998 Idaho gubernatorial election

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.

2002 Idaho gubernatorial election

The 2002 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002 to select the governor of the state of Idaho. Dirk Kempthorne, the Republican incumbent, defeated Democratic nominee Jerry Brady to win a second term, but the win was not nearly as overwhelming as Kempthorne's 1998 victory.

1994 Idaho gubernatorial election

The 1994 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994 to select the governor of the U.S. state of Idaho. Cecil D. Andrus, the Democratic incumbent, chose not to seek reelection after a total of 14 years in office. Former state senator and Republican Party chair Phil Batt engineered a come-from-behind victory to defeat Democratic Attorney General Larry Echo Hawk. Batt's victory put the Idaho statehouse in Republican hands for the first time since 1970.

1994 Maine gubernatorial election

The 1994 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994. Independent candidate Angus King defeated Democratic Party candidate Joseph Brennan, a former Governor of Maine, Republican Party challenger Susan Collins, a regional coordinator of the Small Business Administration, and environmentalist Jonathan Carter. Ed Finks, as a write-in candidate, took in 1.29% of the vote. Incidentally, both King and Collins now serve together in the United States Senate.

2010 Nebraska gubernatorial election

The 2010 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the Governor of Nebraska, who will serve a four-year term to begin in January 2011. Republican incumbent Dave Heineman won, defeating Democrat Mike Meister. Heineman easily won his party's nomination. Mark Lakers ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, but dropped out in July 2010. Attorney Mike Meister was chosen as a replacement.

2002 Maine gubernatorial election

The Maine gubernatorial election of 2002 took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Independent Governor Angus King was term limited, and unable to seek re-election. United States Congressman John Baldacci won the Democratic primary uncontested, while former State Representative Peter Cianchette emerged from the Republican primary victorious. Baldacci and Cianchetti squared off in the general election, joined by Jonathan Carter, the Green Party nominee, and independent State Representative John Michael. Ultimately, Baldacci prevailed over Cianchette to win what would be his first of two terms as governor, with Carter taking an unusually high amount of the vote for a third-party candidate.

2011 Mississippi gubernatorial election

The 2011 Mississippi gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2011. Incumbent Republican Governor of Mississippi Haley Barbour was unable to run for a third term due to term limits.

2000 United States Senate election in Nebraska

The 2000 United States election in Nebraska was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey retired after two terms in office, and Democrat Ben Nelson, a former two-term governor, won the open seat.

1998 New Mexico gubernatorial election

The New Mexico gubernatorial election of 1998 contest to elect the next Governor of New Mexico. The winner of the election would serve a term from January 1, 1999 until January 1, 2003. Incumbent Republican Governor Gary Johnson was eligible and ran for re-election and was re-elected. As of 2019, this is the last time a non-Hispanic was elected Governor of New Mexico.

1998 Georgia gubernatorial election Election of the governor of the US state

The 1998 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic Governor Zell Miller was unable to seek re-election due to term limits, therefore creating an open seat. To replace him, State Representative Roy Barnes won the Democratic Party's nomination after a close and highly contested primary election, while businessman Guy Millner, who had run for Governor and the United States Senate in the previous four years, won the nomination of the Republican Party. In the general election, Barnes was able to defeat Millner by a margin of victory larger than Governor Miller's victory over Millner four years prior, which was in part due to the unpopularity and controversy of Mitch Skandalakis, the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. As of 2018, this is the most recent election in which a Democrat was elected Governor of Georgia.

1996 United States Senate election in Maine

The 1996 United States Senate election in Maine was held November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican United States Senator William Cohen decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. To replace him, United States Congressman and former Governor of Maine Joseph E. Brennan won the Democratic primary while political consultant and 1994 nominee for Governor of Maine Susan Collins won the Republican primary. A competitive general election ensued, but Collins ultimately won out over Brennan, keeping the seat in the Republican column. With Collins' election to the Senate in 1996, Maine became only the second state after California to have two sitting women senators.

1994 United States Senate election in Maine

The 1994 United States Senate election in Maine was held November 7, 1994. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell decided to retire, instead of seeking a third term. United States Congressman Tom Andrews won the Democratic primary unopposed, while United States Congresswoman Olympia Snowe won the Republican primary unopposed. In the general election, Snowe defeated Andrews in a rout to win her first of three terms in the United States Senate, a stark contrast to retiring Senator Mitchell's landslide win six years prior.

2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

When incumbent Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen opted to run for the United States Senate rather than seek a fourth term as governor, self-funding businessman Craig Benson, the Republican nominee defeated Mark Fernald, a New Hampshire State Senator and the Democratic nominee, in the general election after each of them won contested primary elections.

2000 West Virginia gubernatorial election

The 2000 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2000 for the post of Governor of West Virginia. Democratic Member of the United States House of Representatives Bob Wise defeated incumbent Republican Governor Cecil Underwood. Concurrently, the state voted for the opposite party federally, choosing Republican U.S. Presidential nominee, George W. Bush over Democratic nominee Al Gore in the Presidential election that year.

References