1998 Michigan gubernatorial election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1998 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the state of Michigan. Incumbent Governor John Engler, a member of the Republican Party, was re-elected over Democratic Party nominee Geoffrey Fieger, a lawyer who had represented the assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian.[1] As of 2026, this was the last time Genesee County and Washtenaw County voted for the Republican gubernatorial candidate.
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November 3, 1998
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 County results Engler: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Fieger: 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Although in 1992 Michigan voters passed a ballot measure limiting governors to two lifetime terms in office, it was not retroactive and counted only towards people taking office in or after 1993.[2][3] As Engler had first took office in 1991, his first term did thus not count towards it and he was allowed to run for a third term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Gary Artinian
- John Engler, incumbent governor
Campaign
Engler, a two-term incumbent, faced token opposition in the Republican primary, winning re-nomination with almost 90 percent of the vote. Following lieutenant governor Connie Binsfeld's decision to not seek a third term, State Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus received the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.[4]
Results
Engler
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- >90%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Engler (inc.) | 477,628 | 89.60% | |
| Republican | Gary Artinian | 55,453 | 10.40% | |
| Total votes | 533,081 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Geoffrey Fieger, attorney known for representing Jack Kevorkian
- Larry Owen, former Mayor of East Lansing
- Doug Ross
Candidates
Early in the race, Owen was considered the front runner.[6] But due to Fieger's notoriety and personal wealth, he surpassed his opponents. He ended up spending almost $6 million of his own money in the race.[7] Fieger won a close race, taking 41 percent of the vote.[8] State Rep. Jim Agee, after securing the support from the Michigan Education Association was picked by Fieger to be his running mate, over Fieger's initial preferred choice state Rep. Candace Curtis.[9]
Results
Fieger
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
Owen
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
Ross
- 30–40%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Geoffrey Fieger | 300,458 | 41.18% | |
| Democratic | Larry Owen | 272,360 | 37.33% | |
| Democratic | Doug Ross | 156,847 | 21.50% | |
| Total votes | 729,665 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
John Engler (R) |
Geoffrey Fieger (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPIC/MRA[10][A] | September 29 – October 1, 1998 | 600 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 54% | 22% | 24% |
| Mitchell Research & Communications, Inc.[10] |
September 21–23, 1998 | 400 (RV) | ± 5.5% | 61% | 24% | 15% |
| Mitchell Research & Communication Inc.[10][B] |
September 10–13, 1998 | 400 (RV) | ± 5.0% | 60% | 21% | 19% |
| EPIC/MRA[10][A] | August 20–24, 1998 | 600 (A) | ± 4.0% | 55% | 31% | 14% |
| EPIC/MRA[10][A] | August 6, 1998 | (A) | ± 4.0% | 53% | 33% | 24% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Engler (inc.) | 1,883,005 | 62.20% | +0.73% | |
| Democratic | Geoffrey Fieger | 1,143,574 | 37.78% | −0.69% | |
| Terry Link (write-in) | 399 | 0.01% | |||
| Carl Humphrey (write-in) | 36 | 0.00% | |||
| Vicki Foreback (write-in) | 32 | 0.00% | |||
| Marc Katz (write-in) | 20 | 0.00% | |||
| Robert Marek (write-in) | 17 | 0.00% | |||
| Michael Wagonlander (write-in) | 12 | 0.00% | |||
| Johnni Matthew III (write-in) | 9 | 0.00% | |||
| Majority | 739,431 | 24.43% | |||
| Total votes | 3,027,104 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | +1.42% | |||
Results by county
| County[11] | John Engler Republican |
Geoffrey Fieger Democratic |
Scattering Write-in |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Alcona | 2,951 | 69.22% | 1,312 | 30.78% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,639 | 38.45% | 4,263 |
| Alger | 1,794 | 56.92% | 1,358 | 43.08% | 0 | 0.00% | 436 | 13.83% | 3,152 |
| Allegan | 24,141 | 77.76% | 6,896 | 22.23% | 4 | 0.01% | 17,225 | 55.53% | 31,021 |
| Alpena | 7,267 | 65.75% | 3,785 | 34.24% | 1 | 0.01% | 3,482 | 31.50% | 11,053 |
| Antrim | 5,748 | 68.52% | 2,641 | 31.48% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,107 | 37.04% | 8,389 |
| Arenac | 3,179 | 58.98% | 2,210 | 41.00% | 1 | 0.02% | 969 | 17.98% | 5,390 |
| Baraga | 1,338 | 53.63% | 1,157 | 46.37% | 0 | 0.00% | 181 | 7.25% | 2,495 |
| Barry | 13,148 | 71.43% | 5,259 | 28.57% | 0 | 0.00% | 7,889 | 42.86% | 18,407 |
| Bay | 23,343 | 60.83% | 15,017 | 39.14% | 12 | 0.03% | 8,326 | 21.70% | 38,372 |
| Benzie | 3,726 | 62.81% | 2,206 | 37.19% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,520 | 25.62% | 5,932 |
| Berrien | 30,380 | 73.47% | 10,971 | 26.53% | 0 | 0.00% | 19,409 | 46.94% | 41,351 |
| Branch | 7,623 | 70.32% | 3,216 | 29.67% | 1 | 0.01% | 4,407 | 40.65% | 10,840 |
| Calhoun | 25,955 | 67.20% | 12,661 | 32.78% | 5 | 0.01% | 13,294 | 34.42% | 38,621 |
| Cass | 9,177 | 72.75% | 3,438 | 27.25% | 0 | 0.00% | 5,739 | 45.49% | 12,615 |
| Charlevoix | 6,290 | 69.26% | 2,792 | 30.74% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,498 | 38.52% | 9,082 |
| Cheboygan | 6,036 | 67.74% | 2,875 | 32.26% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,161 | 35.47% | 8,911 |
| Chippewa | 6,613 | 61.27% | 4,180 | 38.73% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,433 | 22.54% | 10,793 |
| Clare | 5,649 | 61.34% | 3,561 | 38.66% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,088 | 22.67% | 9,210 |
| Clinton | 17,696 | 73.81% | 6,222 | 25.95% | 56 | 0.23% | 11,474 | 47.86% | 23,974 |
| Crawford | 3,051 | 62.49% | 1,831 | 37.51% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,220 | 24.99% | 4,882 |
| Delta | 7,410 | 59.33% | 5,080 | 40.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,330 | 18.65% | 12,490 |
| Dickinson | 6,183 | 62.96% | 3,638 | 37.04% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,545 | 25.91% | 9,821 |
| Eaton | 24,778 | 68.41% | 11,436 | 31.57% | 8 | 0.02% | 13,342 | 36.83% | 36,222 |
| Emmet | 7,765 | 73.79% | 2,758 | 26.21% | 0 | 0.00% | 5,007 | 47.58% | 10,523 |
| Genesee | 69,799 | 51.17% | 66,608 | 48.83% | 10 | 0.01% | 3,191 | 2.34% | 136,417 |
| Gladwin | 5,573 | 63.69% | 3,177 | 36.31% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,396 | 27.38% | 8,750 |
| Gogebic | 3,020 | 50.97% | 2,905 | 49.03% | 0 | 0.00% | 115 | 1.94% | 5,925 |
| Grand Traverse | 20,462 | 71.63% | 8,101 | 28.36% | 2 | 0.01% | 12,361 | 43.27% | 28,565 |
| Gratiot | 7,998 | 71.14% | 3,245 | 28.86% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,753 | 42.28% | 11,243 |
| Hillsdale | 9,027 | 73.05% | 3,325 | 26.91% | 5 | 0.04% | 5,702 | 46.14% | 12,357 |
| Houghton | 6,443 | 60.92% | 4,131 | 39.06% | 2 | 0.02% | 2,312 | 21.86% | 10,576 |
| Huron | 9,264 | 76.14% | 2,902 | 23.85% | 1 | 0.01% | 6,362 | 52.29% | 12,167 |
| Ingham | 53,905 | 60.13% | 35,584 | 39.70% | 151 | 0.17% | 18,321 | 20.44% | 89,640 |
| Ionia | 12,324 | 71.15% | 4,996 | 28.85% | 0 | 0.00% | 7,328 | 42.31% | 17,320 |
| Iosco | 6,457 | 66.49% | 3,252 | 33.49% | 2 | 0.02% | 3,205 | 33.00% | 9,711 |
| Iron | 2,715 | 54.33% | 2,282 | 45.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 433 | 8.67% | 4,997 |
| Isabella | 9,423 | 63.74% | 5,361 | 36.26% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,062 | 27.48% | 14,784 |
| Jackson | 31,330 | 67.29% | 15,229 | 32.71% | 2 | 0.00% | 16,101 | 34.58% | 46,561 |
| Kalamazoo | 46,443 | 67.58% | 22,275 | 32.41% | 6 | 0.01% | 24,168 | 35.17% | 68,724 |
| Kalkaska | 3,155 | 63.11% | 1,844 | 36.89% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,311 | 26.23% | 4,999 |
| Kent | 133,120 | 76.58% | 40,709 | 23.42% | 8 | 0.00% | 92,411 | 53.16% | 173,837 |
| Keweenaw | 566 | 56.26% | 440 | 43.74% | 0 | 0.00% | 126 | 12.52% | 1,006 |
| Lake | 1,832 | 53.49% | 1,593 | 46.51% | 0 | 0.00% | 239 | 6.98% | 3,425 |
| Lapeer | 17,382 | 65.62% | 9,106 | 34.38% | 1 | 0.00% | 8,276 | 31.24% | 26,489 |
| Leelanau | 6,577 | 70.86% | 2,705 | 29.14% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,872 | 41.72% | 9,282 |
| Lenawee | 18,137 | 63.35% | 10,494 | 36.65% | 0 | 0.00% | 7,643 | 26.69% | 28,631 |
| Livingston | 37,458 | 73.82% | 13,283 | 26.18% | 2 | 0.00% | 24,175 | 47.64% | 50,743 |
| Luce | 1,130 | 57.98% | 819 | 42.02% | 0 | 0.00% | 311 | 15.96% | 1,949 |
| Mackinac | 6,054 | 64.70% | 1,666 | 35.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,388 | 29.41% | 4,720 |
| Macomb | 166,920 | 67.48% | 80,438 | 32.52% | 18 | 0.01% | 86,482 | 34.96% | 247,376 |
| Manistee | 5,493 | 62.85% | 3,247 | 37.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,246 | 25.70% | 8,740 |
| Marquette | 11,157 | 51.61% | 10,460 | 48.39% | 0 | 0.00% | 697 | 3.22% | 21,617 |
| Mason | 6,391 | 66.10% | 3,277 | 33.90% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,114 | 32.21% | 9,668 |
| Mecosta | 7,065 | 67.21% | 3,446 | 32.78% | 1 | 0.01% | 3,619 | 34.43% | 10,512 |
| Menominee | 4,579 | 65.70% | 2,391 | 34.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,188 | 31.39% | 6,970 |
| Midland | 20,737 | 73.58% | 7,445 | 26.42% | 0 | 0.00% | 13,292 | 47.16% | 28,182 |
| Missaukee | 3,629 | 72.78% | 1,357 | 27.22% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,272 | 45.57% | 4,986 |
| Monroe | 26,690 | 64.95% | 14,401 | 35.05% | 0 | 0.00% | 12,289 | 29.91% | 41,091 |
| Montcalm | 11,069 | 68.64% | 5,058 | 31.36% | 0 | 0.00% | 6,011 | 37.27% | 16,127 |
| Montmorency | 2,499 | 64.99% | 1,346 | 35.01% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,153 | 29.99% | 3,845 |
| Muskegon | 29,660 | 60.54% | 19,331 | 39.46% | 2 | 0.00% | 10,329 | 21.08% | 48,993 |
| Newaygo | 9,776 | 69.00% | 4,392 | 31.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 5,384 | 38.00% | 14,168 |
| Oakland | 264,551 | 66.32% | 134,215 | 33.65% | 120 | 0.03% | 130,336 | 32.67% | 398,886 |
| Oceana | 5,231 | 67.49% | 2,520 | 32.51% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,711 | 34.98% | 7,751 |
| Ogemaw | 4,796 | 62.33% | 2,899 | 37.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,897 | 24.65% | 7,695 |
| Ontonagon | 1,553 | 51.84% | 1,442 | 48.13% | 1 | 0.03% | 111 | 3.70% | 2,996 |
| Osceola | 4,918 | 66.46% | 2,482 | 33.54% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,436 | 32.92% | 7,400 |
| Oscoda | 2,017 | 64.90% | 1,091 | 35.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 926 | 29.79% | 3,108 |
| Otsego | 5,525 | 71.57% | 2,195 | 28.43% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,330 | 43.13% | 7,720 |
| Ottawa | 67,054 | 85.40% | 11,451 | 14.58% | 9 | 0.01% | 55,603 | 70.82% | 78,514 |
| Presque Isle | 3,871 | 67.09% | 1,899 | 32.91% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,972 | 34.18% | 5,770 |
| Roscommon | 6,320 | 63.66% | 3,608 | 36.34% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,712 | 27.32% | 9,928 |
| Saginaw | 43,766 | 63.44% | 25,213 | 36.55% | 9 | 0.01% | 18,553 | 26.89% | 68,988 |
| Sanilac | 9,941 | 71.15% | 4,023 | 28.79% | 8 | 0.06% | 5,918 | 42.36% | 13,972 |
| Schoolcraft | 1,594 | 55.52% | 1,277 | 44.48% | 0 | 0.00% | 317 | 11.04% | 2,871 |
| Shiawassee | 16,465 | 66.31% | 8,347 | 33.62% | 18 | 0.07% | 8,118 | 32.69% | 24,830 |
| St. Clair | 32,299 | 64.18% | 18,025 | 35.82% | 0 | 0.00% | 14,274 | 28.36% | 50,324 |
| St. Joseph | 11,026 | 74.86% | 3,703 | 25.14% | 0 | 0.00% | 7,323 | 49.72% | 14,729 |
| Tuscola | 12,074 | 66.70% | 6,027 | 33.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 6,047 | 33.41% | 18,101 |
| Van Buren | 13,715 | 67.85% | 6,499 | 32.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 7,216 | 35.70% | 20,214 |
| Washtenaw | 53,227 | 57.03% | 40,078 | 42.94% | 32 | 0.03% | 13,149 | 14.09% | 93,337 |
| Wayne | 243,235 | 42.85% | 324,351 | 57.14% | 17 | 0.00% | -81,116 | -14.29% | 567,603 |
| Wexford | 6,347 | 67.06% | 3,108 | 32.84% | 10 | 0.11% | 3,239 | 34.22% | 9,465 |
| Total | 1,883,005 | 62.20% | 1,143,574 | 37.78% | 525 | 0.02% | 739,431 | 24.43% | 3,027,104 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
- Partisan clients
- Poll sponsored by the Detroit Free Press
- Poll sponsored by The Detroit News