1998 Iowa gubernatorial election

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.

1998 Iowa gubernatorial election

← 1994 November 3, 1998 2002 →

Nominee Tom Vilsack Jim Ross Lightfoot Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 500,231 444,787 Percentage 52.3% 46.5%

County results Vilsack:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Lightfoot:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Terry Branstad Republican Elected Governor Tom Vilsack Democratic

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 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

Primary results by county:

Vilsack

•   Vilsack—91-100%
•   Vilsack—81-90%
•   Vilsack—71-80%
•   Vilsack—61-70%
•   Vilsack—51-60%

McCormick

•   McCormick—81-90%
•   McCormick—71-80%
•   McCormick—61-70%
•   McCormick—51-60%
•   McCormick—41-50%

Tie

•   Tie between Vilsack and McCormick-49%

Democratic primary results^[3]

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

Republican primary results^[3]

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

Candidates

• Jim Hennager
• Edward Moses
• Jeffrey L. Hughes Sr.

Results

Reform Party primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Reform	Jim Hennager	131	35.60
	Reform	Edward Moses	99	26.90
	Reform	Jeffrey L. Hughes, Sr.	99	26.90
	Reform	Write-ins	39	10.60
Total votes			368	100.00

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

Iowa gubernatorial election, 1998^[5]

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

• 1998 United States gubernatorial elections
• State of Iowa
• Governors of Iowa

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

1. Poll sponsored by The Des Moines Register