1998 Michigan gubernatorial election

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1998 Michigan gubernatorial election
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←  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →
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Nominee John Engler Geoffrey Fieger
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Dick Posthumus Jim Agee
Popular vote1,883,0051,143,574
Percentage62.2%37.8%
1998 Michigan gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Engler:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Fieger:      50–60%
Governor before election

John Engler
Republican

Elected Governor

John Engler
Republican

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 2024, this was the last time Genesee County and Washtenaw County voted for the Republican gubernatorial candidate.

Contents

Republican primary

Candidates

Engler, a two-term incumbent, faced token opposition in the Republican primary, winning re-nomination with 90 percent of the vote. Following Lt. Gov. Connie Binsfeld's decision to not seek a third term, State Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus received the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor. [2]

Results

Michigan gubernatorial Republican primary, 1998 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Engler (incumbent) 477,628 89.6
Republican Gary Artinian55,45310.4
Total votes533,081 100.00

Democratic primary

Candidates

Early in the race, Owen was considered the front runner. [4] But due to Fieger's notoriety and personal wealth, he surpassed his opponents. He ended spending almost $6 million of his own money in the race. [5] Fieger won a close race, taking 41 percent of the vote. [6] 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. [7]

Results

Michigan gubernatorial Democratic primary, 1998 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Geoffrey Fieger 300,458 41.2
Democratic Larry Owen272,36037.3
Democratic Doug Ross156,84721.5
Total votes729,665 100.00

Results

Michigan gubernatorial election, 1998 [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Engler (incumbent) 1,883,005 62.20
Democratic Geoffrey Fieger 1,143,57437.78
Write-In Terry Link3990.01
Write-In Carl Humphrey360.00
Write-In Vicki Foreback320.00
Write-In Marc Katz200.00
Write-In Robert Marek170.00
Write-In Michael Wagonlander120.00
Write-In Johnni Matthew III90.00
Majority739,43124.43%
Republican hold

Results by county

County EnglerVotesFiegerVotesOthersVotes
Alcona 69.2%2,95130.8%1,3120.0%0
Alger 56.9%1,79443.1%1,3580.0%0
Allegan 77.8%24,12122.2%6,8960.0%4
Alpena 65.8%7,26734.2%3,7850.0%1
Antrim 68.5%5,74831.5%2,6410.0%0
Arenac 59.0%3,17941.0%2,2100.0%1
Baraga 53.6%1,33846.4%1,1570.0%0
Barry 71.4%13,14828.6%5,2590.0%0
Bay 60.8%23,34339.2%15,0170.0%12
Benzie 62.8%3,72637.2%2,2060.0%0
Berrien 73.5%30,38026.5%10,9710.0%0
Branch 70.3%7,62329.7%3,2160.0%1
Calhoun 67.2%25,95532.8%12,6610.0%5
Cass 72.7%9,17727.3%3,4380.0%0
Charlevoix 69.3%6,29030.7%2,7920.0%0
Cheboygan 67.7%6,03632.3%2,8750.0%0
Chippewa 61.3%6,61338.7%4,1800.0%0
Clare 61.3%5,64938.7%3,5610.0%0
Clinton 73.8%17,69626.0%6,2220.2%56
Crawford 62.5%3,05137.5%1,8310.0%0
Delta 59.3%7,41040.7%5,0800.0%0
Dickinson 63.0%6,18337.0%3,6380.0%0
Eaton 68.4%24,77831.6%11,4360.0%8
Emmet 73.8%7,76526.2%2,7580.0%0
Genesee 51.2%69,79948.8%66,6080.0%10
Gladwin 63.7%5,57336.3%3,1770.0%0
Gogebic 51.0%3,02049.0%2,9050.0%0
Grand Traverse 71.6%20,46228.4%8,1010.0%2
Gratiot 71.1%7,99828.9%3,2450.0%0
Hillsdale 73.1%9,02726.9%3,3250.0%5
Houghton 60.9%6,44339.1%4,1310.0%2
Huron 76.1%9,26423.9%2,9020.0%1
Ingham 60.1%53,90539.7%35,5840.2%151
Ionia 71.2%12,32428.8%4,9960.0%0
Iosco 66.5%6,45733.5%3,2520.0%2
Iron 54.3%2,71545.7%2,2820.0%0
Isabella 63.7%9,42336.3%5,3610.0%0
Jackson 67.3%31,33032.7%15,2290.0%2
Kalamazoo 67.6%46,44332.4%22,2750.0%6
Kalkaska 63.1%3,15536.9%1,8440.0%0
Kent 76.6%133,12023.4%40,7090.0%8
Keweenaw 56.3%56643.7%4400.0%0
Lake 53.5%1,83246.5%1,5930.0%0
Lapeer 65.6%17,38234.4%9,1060.0%1
Leelanau 70.9%6,57729.1%2,7050.0%0
Lenawee 63.3%18,13736.7%10,4940.0%0
Livingston 73.8%37,45826.2%13,2830.0%2
Luce 58.0%1,13042.0%8190.0%0
Mackinac 64.7%3,05435.3%1,6660.0%0
Macomb 67.5%166,92032.5%80,4380.0%18
Manistee 62.8%5,49337.2%3,2470.0%0
Marquette 51.6%11,15748.4%10,4600.0%0
Mason 66.1%6,39133.9%3,2770.0%0
Mecosta 67.2%7,06532.8%3,4460.0%1
Menominee 65.7%4,57934.3%2,3910.0%0
Midland 73.6%20,73726.4%7,4450.0%0
Missaukee 72.8%3,62927.2%1,3460.0%0
Monroe 65.0%26,69035.0%14,4010.0%0
Montcalm 68.6%11,06931.4%5,0580.0%0
Montmorency 65.0%2,49935.0%1,3460.0%0
Muskegon 60.5%29,66039.5%19,3310.0%2
Newaygo 69.0%9,77631.0%4,3920.0%0
Oakland 66.3%264,55133.7%134,2150.0%120
Oceana 67.5%5,23132.5%2,5200.0%0
Ogemaw 62.3%4,79637.7%2,8990.0%0
Ontonagon 51.8%1,55348.2%1,4420.0%1
Osceola 66.5%4,91833.5%2,4820.0%0
Oscoda 64.9%2,01735.1%1,0910.0%0
Otsego 71.6%5,52528.4%2,1950.0%0
Ottawa 85.4%67,05414.6%11,4510.0%9
Presque Isle 67.1%3,87132.9%1,8990.0%0
Roscommon 63.7%6,32036.3%3,6080.0%0
Saginaw 63.4%43,76636.6%25,2130.0%9
St. Clair 64.1%32,29935.9%18,0250.0%0
St. Joseph 74.9%11,02625.1%3,7030.0%0
Sanilac 71.1%9,94128.8%4,0230.1%8
Schoolcraft 55.5%1,59444.5%1,2770.0%0
Shiawassee 66.3%16,46533.6%8,3470.1%18
Tuscola 66.7%12,07433.3%6,0270.0%0
Van Buren 67.8%13,71532.2%6,4990.0%0
Washtenaw 57.0%53,22743.0%40,0780.0%32
Wayne 42.9%243,23557.1%324,3510.0%17
Wexford 67.1%6,34732.8%3,1080.1%10

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References

  1. ↑ Wald, Matthew L. (November 5, 1998). "The 1998 elections: state by state -- Midwest; Michigan". The New York Times . Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  2. ↑ "DECISION '98: A LOOK AT KEY ELECTIONS". Crains Detroit. October 16, 1998. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "1998 Official Michigan Primary Election Results". Michigan Department of State Bureau of Elections. September 28, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Larry Owen". Our Campaigns. March 16, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  5. ↑ Kathleen Gray (May 12, 2017). "Geoffrey Fieger considering a return to politics with run for governor". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  6. ↑ Associated Press (August 6, 1998). "Kevorkian's Lawyer Wins Gubernatorial Primary in Michigan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  7. ↑ By From Tribune News Services (August 29, 1998). "Teachers Pleased By Fieger Running Mate". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ "1998 Official Michigan General Election Results: Governor 4 Year Term (1) Position". Michigan Department of State Bureau of Elections. February 9, 1999. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
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