Idaho gubernatorial election, 1998

Infobox Election
election_name = Idaho gubernatorial election, 1998
country = Idaho
type = presidential
ongoing = no
previous_election = Idaho gubernatorial election, 1994
previous_year = 1994
next_election = Idaho gubernatorial election, 2002
next_year = 2002
election_date = November 3 1998


nominee1 = Dirk Kempthorne
party1 = Republican Party (United States)
popular_vote1 = 258,095
percentage1 = 67.70


nominee2 = Robert Huntley
party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
popular_vote2 = 110,815
percentage2 = 29.07
map_

map_size = 200px
map_caption = Election results by county
title = Governor
before_election = Phil Batt
before_party = Republican Party (United States)
after_election = Dirk Kempthorne
after_party = Republican Party (United States)The 1998 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998 to select the governor of the state of Idaho. Phil Batt, the Republican incumbent, chose not to run for a second term. The Republican nominee, United States Senator Dirk Kempthorne, handily defeated the Democratic nominee, former Idaho Supreme Court justice Robert C. Huntley, to keep the seat in GOP hands.

Republican Primary

Kempthorne easily defeated a little-known challenger to win the Republican nomination.

Democratic Primary

Huntley won a Democratic primary composed of primarily unknown candidates.

General Election

Given the lack of a high-profile candidate on the Democratic side, throughout the campaign many considered Kempthorne's election a foregone conclusion. Indeed, Huntley's performance was well below that of the 1994 Democratic nominee Larry EchoHawk. In addition, Peter Rickards, a podiatrist and anti-nuclear waste advocate from Twin Falls, siphoned off progressive votes that would have otherwise gone to the Democratic candidate.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Robert C. Huntley
votes = 110,815
percentage = 29.1
change = -14.8 Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Dirk Kempthorne
votes = 258,095
percentage = 67.7
change = +15.4

Election box candidate
party = Independent
candidate = Peter Rickards
votes = 12,338
percentage = 3.2
change = N/AElection box majority
votes = 134,942
percentage = 35.4
change = +30.8Election box turnout
votes = 381,248
percentage = 58.5
change = -8.5
colspan=5 |Republican hold
-

ee also

*Governor of Idaho
*List of Governors of Idaho
*Idaho gubernatorial elections

External links

* [http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/98result/98gnrslt.htm Idaho General Election Results November 3, 1998]

sequence
prev=1994
list=Idaho gubernatorial elections
next=2002