1998 Illinois gubernatorial election

The 1998 Illinois gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican Governor Jim Edgar did not run for a third term in office. Republican nominee George Ryan, the Illinois Secretary of State, narrowly won the election against Democratic Congressman Glenn Poshard.

With this election Corinne Wood became the first female lieutenant governor of the state.

Election information
The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal elections (Senate and House), as well as those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1998 Illinois elections.

Turnout
For the primaries, turnout for the gubernatorial primaries was 24.58%, with 1,658,296 votes cast and turnout for the lieutenant gubernatorial primaries was 19.76% with 1,333,446 votes cast. For the general election, turnout was 49.72%, with 3,358,705 votes cast. Due to Poshard's more conservative social positions he carried the reliably Republican downstate, while Ryan's liberal social policies led him to carry the more Democratic Chicago area.

Candidates

 * Larry Burgess
 * Jim Burns, former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (1993–1997), Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois in 1990
 * Roland Burris, former Attorney General of Illinois (1991-1995) and candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1994
 * Maurice Horton
 * Glenn Poshard, U.S. Representative (1989-1999)
 * John Schmidt, former United States Associate Attorney General (1994-1997)

Declined

 * Neil Hartigan, former Illinois Attorney General (1983–1991), former Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (1973–1977), and Democratic nominee for Governor in 1990

Results
[[File:1998 Illinois gubernatorial Democratic primary county map.svg|thumb|Gubernatorial primary results by county {{legend|#6674de|Poshard}}

{{legend|#bdd3ff|Poshard—30–40%}}

{{legend|#a5b0ff|Poshard—40–50%}}

{{legend|#7996e2|Poshard—50–60%}}

{{legend|#6674de|Poshard—60–70%}}

{{legend|#584cde|Poshard—70–80%}}

{{legend|#3933e5|Poshard—80–90%}}

{{legend|#0d0596|Poshard—90–100%}} {{legend|#37c837|Burris}}

{{legend|#87de87|Burris—40–50%}} {{legend|#ee8e50|Schmidt}}

{{legend|#ffcca9|Schmidt—30–40%}}

{{legend|#ffb580|Schmidt—40–50%}}

{{legend|#ff9a50|Schmidt—50–60%}} ]]

Candidates
[[File:1998 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial Democratic primary election results map by county.svg|thumb|Lieutenant gubernatorial primary results by county {{legend|#7996e2|Kearns}}

{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}

{{legend|#6674de|60–70%}}

{{legend|#584cde|70–80%}}

{{legend|#3933e5|80–90%}} {{legend|#5fd35f|Quinn}}

{{legend|#5fd35f|50–60%}} ]]
 * Mary Lou Kearns, Kane County Coroner
 * Pat Quinn, former Treasurer of Illinois

Candidates

 * George Ryan, Secretary of State of Illinois
 * Chad Koppie, perennial candidate and conservative activist

Candidates

 * Corinne Wood, member of the Illinois House of Representatives

Candidates

 * Lawrence Redmond

Candidates

 * Phyllis Nirchi