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.
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.[1][2] For the general election, turnout was 49.72%, with 3,358,705 votes cast.[1][2]
Democratic primaries[]
Governor[]
Candidates[]
Larry Burgess
Jim Burns (1945–2020), former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (1993–1997)
Roland Burris (born 1937), former Attorney General of Illinois (1991-1995) and candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1994.
Maurice Horton
Glenn Poshard (born 1945), U.S. Representative (1989-1999)
John Schmidt (born 1943), United States Associate Attorney General (1994-1997)