1998 Kansas gubernatorial election

The 1998 Kansas gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican Governor Bill Graves won re-election in a 50% landslide over his opponent, State Representative Tom Sawyer, becoming the first Republican incumbent Governor of Kansas to win reelection since John Anderson Jr.’s reelection victory in 1962.

1998 Kansas gubernatorial election

← 1994 November 3, 1998 2002 →

Nominee Bill Graves Tom Sawyer Party Republican Democratic Running mate Gary Sherrer Elizabeth Baker Popular vote 544,882 168,243 Percentage 73.4% 22.7%

County results Graves:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Bill Graves Republican Elected Governor Bill Graves Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tom Sawyer, Kansas State Representative
• Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tom Sawyer	88,248	85.28
	Democratic	Fred Phelps	15,233	14.72
Total votes			103,481	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bill Graves, incumbent governor of Kansas
• David Miller, former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Graves (inc.)	225,782	72.80
	Republican	David Miller	84,368	27.20
Total votes			310,150	100.00

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Bill Graves (R)	Tom Sawyer (D)	Undecided
Mason-Dixon[2]	July 6–8, 1998	804 (LV)	± 3.5%	67%	16%	17%

Results

Kansas gubernatorial election, 1998^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bill Graves (inc.)	544,882	73.37%	+9.27%
	Democratic	Tom Sawyer	168,243	22.65%	−13.25%
	Constitution	Kirt Poovey	21,710	2.92%
	Reform	Darrel King	7,830	1.05%
Majority			376,639	50.71%	+22.53%
Turnout			742,665
	Republican hold		Swing

Notes

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