1998 Illinois gubernatorial election
← 1994 November 3, 1998 2002 →
Turnout49.72% Decrease 1.05 pp
 
Nominee George Ryan Glenn Poshard
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Corinne Wood Mary Lou Kearns
Popular vote 1,714,094 1,594,191
Percentage 51.0% 47.5%
Ryan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Poshard:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election

Jim Edgar
Republican

Elected Governor

George Ryan
Republican

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The 1998 Illinois gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican Governor Jim Edgar did not run for a third term in office. Republican nominee George Ryan, the Illinois Secretary of State, narrowly won the election against Democratic Congressman Glenn Poshard.

With this election Corinne Wood became the first female lieutenant governor of the state.

Election information

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal elections (Senate and House), as well as those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1998 Illinois elections.

Turnout

For the primaries, turnout for the gubernatorial primaries was 24.58%, with 1,658,296 votes cast and turnout for the lieutenant gubernatorial primaries was 19.76% with 1,333,446 votes cast.[1][2] For the general election, turnout was 49.72%, with 3,358,705 votes cast.[1][2] Due to Poshard's more conservative social positions he carried the reliably Republican downstate, while Ryan's liberal social policies led him to carry the more Democratic Chicago area.

Democratic primaries

Governor

Candidates

Results

Gubernatorial primary results by county
  Poshard
  •   Poshard—30–40%
  •   Poshard—40–50%
  •   Poshard—50–60%
  •   Poshard—60–70%
  •   Poshard—70–80%
  •   Poshard—80–90%
  •   Poshard—90–100%
  Burris
  •   Burris—40–50%
  Schmidt
  •   Schmidt—30–40%
  •   Schmidt—40–50%
  •   Schmidt—50–60%
Democratic gubernatorial primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Glenn Poshard 357,342 37.60
Democratic Roland Burris 290,393 30.56
Democratic John R. Schmidt 236,309 24.87
Democratic Jim Burns 55,233 5.81
Democratic Larry Burgess 6,075 0.64
Democratic Maurice Horton 4,955 0.52
Total votes 950,307 100.00

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Lieutenant gubernatorial primary results by county
  Kearns
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Quinn
  •   50–60%
Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Lou Kearns 391,373 50.09
Democratic Pat Quinn 389,905 49.91
Total votes 781,278 100

Republican primaries

Governor

Candidates

Results

Republican gubernatorial primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Ryan 608,940 86.08
Republican Chad Koppie 98,466 13.92
Total votes 707,406 100.00

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Results

Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Corrine G. Wood 551,580 100
Total votes 551,580 100

Reform primary

Governor

Candidates

Results

Reform gubernatorial primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Reform Lawrence Redmond 583 100.00
Total votes 583 100.00

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Results

Reform lieutenant gubernatorial primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Reform Philomena "Phyllis" Nirchi 588 100
Total votes 588 100

General election

Results

Illinois gubernatorial election, 1998[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican George Ryan / Corinne Wood 1,714,094 51.03% -12.85%
Democratic Glenn Poshard / Mary Lou Kearns 1,594,191 47.46% +13.02%
Reform Lawrence Redmond / Phyllis Nirchi 50,372 1.50%
Write-ins 48 0.00%
Majority 119,903 3.57% -25.87%
Turnout 3,358,705 49.72%
Republican hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Voter Turnout". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Election Results". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Ballots Cast". Elections.illinois.gov. March 17, 1998. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "KANE CORONER TO JOIN JESSE WHITE'S STAFF". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. January 13, 1999. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "Ballots Cast". Elections.illinois.gov. November 3, 1998. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
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