1998 Oregon gubernatorial election
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November 3, 1998 | |||||||||||||||||
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 County results Kitzhaber: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Sizemore: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Oregon |
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The 1998 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Democratic nominee John Kitzhaber easily defeated Republican Bill Sizemore to win a second term. Kitzhaber won 35 out of 36 counties, the only county won by Sizemore was Malheur County. This is the only gubernatorial election since 1982 in Oregon in which the margin of victory was in double digits. It is also the most recent election in which any county in Eastern Oregon or Southern Oregon voted for the Democratic nominee, and the most recent gubernatorial election in which a candidate would win while carrying the majority of the state's counties. Sizemore would run again for governor in the 2022 election, but would lose in the Republican primary.[1]
This election was the first time where an incumbent Democratic Governor of Oregon was re-elected since 1906.
Democratic primary
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Kitzhaber (incumbent) | 271,781 | 87.74% | |
| Democratic | Dave Foley | 23,870 | 7.71% | |
| Democratic | Paul Damian Wells | 14,094 | 4.55% | |
| Total votes | 309,745 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
- 55–60%50–55%45–50%40–45%
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Sizemore | 108,036 | 52.16% | |
| Republican | Walter Huss | 39,186 | 18.93% | |
| Republican | Jeffrey Brady | 34,460 | 16.64% | |
| Republican | Bill Spidal | 25,373 | 12.25% | |
| Total votes | 207,055 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Campaign
Incumbent governor Kitzhaber emphasized his support of education and the environment.[4]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size[a] | Margin of error | John Kitzhaber (D) | Bill Sizemore (R) | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis & Hibbitts[5] | September 30 – October 6, 1998 | 618 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 70% | 17% | 13% |
| Davis & Hibbitts[5] | March 20–29, 1998 | 618 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 67% | 26% | 7% |
Results
Official results from the Oregon Secretary of State are as follows:[6]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Kitzhaber (incumbent) | 717,061 | 64.42% | |
| Republican | Bill Sizemore | 334,001 | 30.01% | |
| Libertarian | Richard P. Burke | 20,200 | 1.81% | |
| Pacific Green | Blair Bobier | 15,843 | 1.42% | |
| Reform | Roger G. Weidner | 10,144 | 0.91% | |
| Natural Law | Patti Steurer | 7,823 | 0.70% | |
| Socialist | Trey Smith | 5,772 | 0.52% | |
| Independent | Write-ins | 2,254 | 0.20% | |
| Total votes | 1,113,098 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Notes
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
References
- ^ "Oregon Primary Election Results". The New York Times. May 17, 2022. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
- ^ "OR Governor D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "OR Governor R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ Niebuhr, Gustav. "THE 1998 ELECTIONS: STATE BY STATE -- WEST; OREGON". Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ a b "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Oregon 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
- ^ "Content Manager WebDrawer - 1998 General Election Official Results". records.sos.state.or.us. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
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