1998 Massachusetts elections

A Massachusetts general election was held on November 3, 1998 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

1998 Massachusetts elections

← 1996 November 3, 1998 2000 →
Part of the 1998 United States elections

The election included:

• statewide elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, Secretary of the Commonwealth, treasurer, and auditor;
• district elections for U.S. Representatives, State Representatives, State Senators, and Governor's Councillors; and
• ballot questions at the state and local levels.

Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 15, 1998.

Governor & Lieutenant Governor

Further information: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1998

Republicans Paul Cellucci and Jane M. Swift were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, over Democratic candidates Scott Harshbarger and Warren Tolman, and Libertarian candidates Dean Cook and Eli Israel.

Attorney general

Incumbent Attorney General Scott Harshbarger did not run for re-election. Middlesex County District Attorney Thomas Reilly defeated State Senator Lois Pines in the Democratic primary and Middlesex County Sheriff Brad Bailey in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Lois Pines, State Senator from Newton
• Thomas Reilly, Middlesex County District Attorney

Results

Massachusetts Attorney General Democratic primary, 1998 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Thomas Reilly	309,332	52.67%
	Democratic	Lois Pines	277,588	47.27%
	Write-in		379	0.07%

General election

Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 1998 ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Thomas Reilly	1,218,244	66.77%
	Republican	Brad Bailey	604,700	33.14%
	Write-in		1,602	0.09%

Secretary of the Commonwealth

Democrat William F. Galvin was re-elected Secretary of the Commonwealth. He defeated Republican Dale C. Jenkins and Libertarian David Atkinson in the general election.

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1998 ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William F. Galvin (incumbent)	1,249,307	70.02%
	Republican	Dale C. Jenkins	448,972	25.17%
	Libertarian	David Atkinson	85,846	4.81%

Treasurer and Receiver-General

Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General Joe Malone did not run for re-election. Former State Representative Shannon O'Brien defeated Republican Robert Maginn and Libertarian Merton B. Baker in the general election.

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1998 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Shannon O'Brien	1,120,757	62.23
	Republican	Robert Maginn	626,286	34.77
	Libertarian	Merton B. Baker	53,299	2.96
	Write-in		675	0.04

Auditor

Democrat A. Joseph DeNucci was re-elected Auditor. He defeated Republican Michael Duffy and Libertarian Carla Howell.

Massachusetts Auditor Election, 1998

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	A. Joseph DeNucci (incumbent)	1,152,193	64.61
	Republican	Michael Duffy	529,571	29.70
	Libertarian	Carla Howell	101,498	5.69

U.S. House of Representatives

Main article: 1998 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

State Senate

Main article: Massachusetts Senate election, 1998

State House of Representatives

Main article: Massachusetts House election, 1998

Governor's Council

Main article: Massachusetts Governor's Council election, 1998

Ballot questions

There were four statewide ballot questions, which the Massachusetts voters voted on this election. All were approved. There were also various local ballot questions around the state.

Statewide Questions:

• Question 1 - Administration of government. A constitutional amendment that would prevent the legislature from altering its own base pay.^[5]
• Question 2 - Elections and campaigns. A law that would create a new state agency would fund campaigns for all state offices.^[6]
• Question 3 - Taxes. A law that would cut the state income tax rate on interest and dividend income.
• Question 4 - Business Regulation. A law that, starting in March 1998 would allow customers to choose to buy power from separate generating companies, instead of buying power from the utility that owns the power lines.