The 1998 Alaska gubernatorial general election took place on November 3, 1998. The election resulted in a landslide for the Democratic incumbent, Tony Knowles, who had won the 1994 gubernatorial election by only 536 votes.[1][2] Jim Sykes, founder of the Green Party of Alaska, ran on that party's ticket, but Desa Jacobsson later replaced him on the ballot.
Knowles was the first incumbent governor to attain re-election since 1978 and the last until 2022.[3] As of 2023[update], this was the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of Alaska.
On the Republican side, three major candidates jockeyed for the nomination: businessman John Howard Lindauer, state senator Robin L. Taylor, and Wayne A. Ross. Lindauer won the open primary election, with Taylor coming in second. Ray Metcalfe, a defecting Republican who had founded the Republican Moderate Party of Alaska, also ran.
Lindauer's campaign faltered late into the race as a result of his failure to disclose that his wife, a wealthy Chicago lawyer, had financed the bulk of his campaign.[3] As a result of this revelation, the Republicans withdrew their support of Lindauer[2] and backed Robin Taylor, the runner-up of the Republican primary, as a write-in candidate. Due to the lateness of this change, the Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a court order to delay the election.[5] The collapse of Lindauer's campaign resulted in a three-way split of the Republican vote between him, Taylor, and the Republican Moderate Metcalfe.
Knowles defeated Taylor, his closest opponent, by 33%, the widest margin of victory for a gubernatorial candidate in Alaska history. Moreover, if Taylor's and Lindauer's totals are added together, Knowles defeated the two Republicans combined by 16% – still the widest margin in Alaska history until 2010. This was also the first time since 1970 that any candidate won an outright majority of the vote in an Alaska gubernatorial election.
^Since the vast majority of the write-in votes were towards Republican Robin L. Taylor, he likely won the Ketchikan district. However, the original election report does not separate the write-in votes by candidate, so it cannot be known for sure.
^ abPear, Robert (November 4, 1998). "THE 1998 ELECTIONS: STATE BY STATE -- WEST; ALASKA". The New York Times.
^ ab. February 13, 2007. Archived from the original on February 13, 2007.
^. Alaska Division of Elections. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
^. May 16, 2006. Archived from the original on May 16, 2006.
^. Archived from the original on November 27, 2008.
December 18, 2023
1998, alaska, gubernatorial, election, related, races, 1998, united, states, gubernatorial, elections, 1998, alaska, gubernatorial, general, election, took, place, november, 1998, election, resulted, landslide, democratic, incumbent, tony, knowles, 1994, guber. For related races see 1998 United States gubernatorial elections The 1998 Alaska gubernatorial general election took place on November 3 1998 The election resulted in a landslide for the Democratic incumbent Tony Knowles who had won the 1994 gubernatorial election by only 536 votes 1 2 Jim Sykes founder of the Green Party of Alaska ran on that party s ticket but Desa Jacobsson later replaced him on the ballot 1998 Alaska gubernatorial election 1994 November 3 1998 2002 Nominee Tony Knowles Robin L Taylor write in Party Democratic RepublicanAlliance Alaska RepublicanRunning mate Fran Ulmer nonePopular vote 112 879 40 209Percentage 51 3 18 3 Nominee John H Lindauer Ray MetcalfeParty Republican Republican ModerateRunning mate Jerry Ward Clyde BaxleyPopular vote 39 331 13 540Percentage 17 9 6 1 Results by state house districtKnowles 30 40 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 Write In a 40 50 Governor before electionTony KnowlesDemocratic Elected Governor Tony KnowlesDemocraticKnowles was the first incumbent governor to attain re election since 1978 and the last until 2022 3 As of 2023 update this was the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of Alaska Contents 1 Republican primary 2 Campaign 2 1 Results 3 Notes 4 ReferencesRepublican primary editOn the Republican side three major candidates jockeyed for the nomination businessman John Howard Lindauer state senator Robin L Taylor and Wayne A Ross Lindauer won the open primary election with Taylor coming in second Ray Metcalfe a defecting Republican who had founded the Republican Moderate Party of Alaska also ran 1998 Republican primary for Alaska governor 4 Party Candidate Votes Republican John Howard Lindauer 25 070 41 65Republican Robin Taylor 17 679 29 37Republican Wayne Ross 17 445 28 98Total votes 60 194 100 00Campaign editLindauer s campaign faltered late into the race as a result of his failure to disclose that his wife a wealthy Chicago lawyer had financed the bulk of his campaign 3 As a result of this revelation the Republicans withdrew their support of Lindauer 2 and backed Robin Taylor the runner up of the Republican primary as a write in candidate Due to the lateness of this change the Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a court order to delay the election 5 The collapse of Lindauer s campaign resulted in a three way split of the Republican vote between him Taylor and the Republican Moderate Metcalfe Knowles defeated Taylor his closest opponent by 33 the widest margin of victory for a gubernatorial candidate in Alaska history Moreover if Taylor s and Lindauer s totals are added together Knowles defeated the two Republicans combined by 16 still the widest margin in Alaska history until 2010 This was also the first time since 1970 that any candidate won an outright majority of the vote in an Alaska gubernatorial election Results edit 1998 Alaska gubernatorial election 6 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Tony Knowles incumbent 112 879 51 27 10 2Republican Write in Robin L Taylor 40 209 18 26 18 2Republican John Howard Lindauer 39 331 17 86 22 9Republican Moderate Ray Metcalfe 13 540 6 15 N AGreen Desa Jacobsson 6 618 3 01 1 1Independence Sylvia Sullivan 4 238 1 92 11 8Write in Others 3 362 1 53 1 4Majority 72 670 33 01 32 7Turnout 220 177 48 57 14 9Democratic hold Swing 32 7Notes edit Since the vast majority of the write in votes were towards Republican Robin L Taylor he likely won the Ketchikan district However the original election report does not separate the write in votes by candidate so it cannot be known for sure References edit http www cnn com ALLPOLITICS 1998 08 17 ap alaska index html eref sitesearch dead link a b Pear Robert November 4 1998 THE 1998 ELECTIONS STATE BY STATE WEST ALASKA The New York Times a b Knowles wins rare 2nd term in Alaska November 3 1998 February 13 2007 Archived from the original on February 13 2007 1998 PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS Alaska Division of Elections Archived from the original on May 14 2009 Retrieved April 14 2009 Alaska GOP wants election delayed October 30 1998 May 16 2006 Archived from the original on May 16 2006 Election Summary Report State of Alaska 1998 General Election Official Results Archived from the original on November 27 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1998 Alaska gubernatorial election amp oldid 1188666937, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
