1998 Iowa gubernatorial election
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The 1998 Iowa gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican Governor Terry Branstad did not seek re-election to a fifth consecutive term; he later successfully ran again in 2010 and 2014.
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November 3, 1998
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 County results Vilsack: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Lightfoot: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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To replace him, State Senator Tom Vilsack narrowly won the nomination of the Democratic Party while former United States Congressman Jim Ross Lightfoot, who was previously the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 1996, won his party's nomination. Lightfoot was the odds-on favorite to win and polling consistently showed him in the lead,[1] but Vilsack won the general election in a stunning upset, becoming the first Democrat to serve as governor of Iowa since 1969 and the 5th Democrat to hold the office in the 20th century. Lightfoot never conceded defeat.[2]
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Tom Vilsack, Iowa State Senator
- Mark McCormick, former Iowa Supreme Court Justice (1972–1986)
Results
- Vilsack—91-100%
- Vilsack—81-90%
- Vilsack—71-80%
- Vilsack—61-70%
- Vilsack—51-60%
- McCormick—81-90%
- McCormick—71-80%
- McCormick—61-70%
- McCormick—51-60%
- McCormick—41-50%
- Tie between Vilsack and McCormick-49%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tom Vilsack | 59,130 | 51.20 | |
| Democratic | Mark McCormick | 55,950 | 48.45 | |
| Democratic | Write-ins | 410 | 0.36 | |
| Total votes | 115,490 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jim Ross Lightfoot, former United States Representative and nominee for the United States Senate in 1996
- David A. Oman, telecommunications executive, chief of staff to Governor Terry Branstad
- Paul Pate, Iowa Secretary of State
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Ross Lightfoot | 113,499 | 69.89 | |
| Republican | David A. Oman | 35,402 | 21.80 | |
| Republican | Paul Pate | 13,299 | 8.19 | |
| Republican | Write-ins | 193 | 0.12 | |
| Total votes | 162,393 | 100.00 | ||
Reform Party primary
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Jimm Lightfoot (R) |
Tom Vilsack (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selzer & Co.[4][A] | October 28–30, 1998 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 47% | 43% | 10% |
| Mason-Dixon[4] | October 25–27, 1998 | 803 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 47% | 42% | 11% |
| Mason-Dixon[4] | October 11–13, 1998 | 809 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 53% | 35% | 12% |
| Mason-Dixon[4] | September 12–14, 1998 | 804 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 54% | 32% | 14% |
| Mason-Dixon[4] | July 18–21, 1998 | 834 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 54% | 31% | 15% |
| Selzer & Co.[4][A] | June 20–24, 1998 | 581 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 53% | 32% | 15% |
| Mason-Dixon[4] | May 25–27, 1998 | 837 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 55% | 21% | 24% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tom Vilsack | 500,231 | 52.30% | +10.74% | |
| Republican | Jim Ross Lightfoot | 444,787 | 46.51% | −10.29% | |
| Reform | Jim Hennager | 5,606 | 0.59% | ||
| Natural Law | Jim Schaefer | 3,144 | 0.33% | −0.05% | |
| Independent | Mark Kennis | 2,006 | 0.21% | ||
| Write-in | 641 | 0.07% | |||
| Majority | 55,444 | 5.80% | −9.44% | ||
| Turnout | 956,415 | ||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
See also
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
- Partisan clients
- Poll sponsored by The Des Moines Register