1998 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 1998 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998, to elect the governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican governor Don Sundquist won re-election, defeating Democratic candidate John Jay Hooker.

1998 Tennessee gubernatorial election

← 1994 November 3, 1998 (1998-11-03) 2002 →
Turnout32.53% Decrease[1] 24.09 pp
 
Nominee Don Sundquist John Jay Hooker
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 669,973 287,750
Percentage 68.63% 29.48%

County results
Sundquist:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Hooker:      40–50%      60–70%

Governor before election

Don Sundquist
Republican

Elected Governor

Don Sundquist
Republican

Sundquist became the first Republican gubernatorial nominee to get over 60% of the vote since Dewitt Clinton Senter did in 1869. Sundquist carried all but two counties (Lake and Van Buren).

Republican primary

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Results

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Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Sundquist (incumbent) 358,786 92.50%
Republican Shirley Beck-Vosse 28,951 7.46%
Write-ins 123 0.03%
Total votes 387,860 100.00

Democratic primary

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Results

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Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John J. Hooker 123,384 41.34%
Democratic Mike Whitaker 83,542 27.99%
Democratic Sherry Whittenberg 28,822 9.66%
Democratic Luther Best 25,565 8.57%
Democratic Donald Jackson 18,458 6.18%
Democratic Virginia Nyabongo 12,352 4.14%
Democratic Jerral Parris 5,740 1.92%
Write-ins 603 0.20%
Total votes 298,466 100.00%

General election

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1998 Tennessee gubernatorial election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Don Sundquist (incumbent) 669,973 68.63% +14.36%
Democratic John Jay Hooker 287,750 29.48% −15.19%
Independent George Alexander Hamilton, Sr. 5,899 0.60% N/A
Independent Irwin W. Gibbs 4,651 0.48% N/A
Independent Thomas E. Smith II 1,851 0.19% N/A
Independent Karl Smithson 1,841 0.19% N/A
N/A Write-ins 548 0.00% N/A
Total votes 976,236 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tennessee Voter Turnout in 1998". Tennessee Secretary of State. November 3, 1998. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "The 1998 Results Maps". Dave Leip's Atlas. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  3. ^ "The 1998 Results Maps". Dave Leip's Atlas. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  4. ^ "State of Tennessee - Governor - November 3, 1998 - General Election" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2014.