The 1998 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Governor Tommy Thompson won re-election for his fourth term with 59.66% of the vote. As of 2022, this is most recent gubernatorial election in which Milwaukee, Rock, Portage, and Iowa counties voted for the Republican candidate; the most recent where the winner garnered a double-digit margin of victory; and, as of 2025, the last time a governor in the United States was reelected to a fourth consecutive four-year term.
Primary election
The primary election was held on September 8, 1998. Nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were selected in separate primaries before running on a joint ticket in the general election.
Republican party
Governor
Candidates
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
Democratic party
Governor
Candidates
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
Libertarian party
Governor
Candidates
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
US Taxpayers' party
Governor
Candidates
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
Green party
Governor
Candidates
Results
Independent nominations
Governor
Candidates
- Mike Mangan
- A-Ja-mu Muhammad
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Ed Garvey & Barbara Lawton, Democrat
- Tommy G. Thompson & Scott McCallum, Republican
- Jim Mueller & James Dean, Libertarian
- Edward J. Frami & Thomas R. Rivers, US Taxpayers'
- Jeffrey Lane Smith, Green
- Mike Mangan, Independent
- A-Ja-mu Muhammad & Vida Harley Bridges, Independent
Polling
Results
Results by county
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
See also
Notes
Partisan clients
References