The 1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held in the U.S. state on November 3, 1998. The main candidates were incumbent Republican Tom Ridge, Democrat Ivan Itkin, and Constitutionalist Peg Luksik. Ridge, a popular moderate, won with 57 percent of the votes cast.
As of 2024, this was the last gubernatorial election in which Delaware, Lackawanna and Montgomery counties voted for the Republican candidate, and was the last time a Republican was re-elected as governor of Pennsylvania. It was also the first time since 1930 that Greene County, Fayette County, and Washington County voted Republican.
Primary elections Incumbent Governor Ridge ran unopposed for the Republican nomination, and was endorsed by multiple newspapers across the state, including the York Daily Record."Today is the day to have your say." York, Pennsylvania: York Daily Record, November 3, 1998, p. 4 (subscription required). State Representative Ivan Itkin from Pittsburgh defeated former Auditor General and US Representative Don Bailey from Greensburg and private detective and anti-corruption activist Bill Keisling from York. Itkin, although not well known in the state, was a powerful figure in the legislature and had the backing of the party establishment,Strader, Jim. "Candidates spend last day across state." Pottsville, Pennsylvania: Pottsville Republican and Evening Herald, November 3, 1998, p. 11 (subscription required). while the conservative Bailey drew strong union support.
General election Candidates Ivan Itkin, State Representative (Democratic) Running mate: Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, former U.S. Representative Ken Krawchuk, technology consultant (Libertarian) Running mate: Henry Haller, attorney Peg Luksik, director of an anti-abortion organization and candidate in 1994 (Constitution) Running mate: Jim Clymer, attorney and nominee for Lt. Governor in 1994 Tom Ridge, incumbent Governor (Republican) Running mate: Mark Schweiker, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
Campaign During this election cycle, Democrats struggled with fundraising issues and had difficulty recruiting a top tier candidate. Itkin, who had little name recognition statewide, was considered to be a sacrificial lamb. Peg Luksik, who was well known as an outspoken opponent of abortion, ran as a strong third party contender for the second consecutive election cycle; she emphasized the pro-choice stances of both candidates and drew votes in the state's rural, conservative center. However, Ridge's victory was never in doubt, as he ran on a generally positive record from his prior term and a combination of traditional Republican strategies (such as his "tough on crime" image) combined with his ability to somewhat undercut Democratic support (such as through his labor ties).
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TomRidge (R) IvanItkin (D) PegLuksik (C) UndecidedMason-DixonOctober 26–27, 1998807 (LV)± 3.5%59%23%10%8%Mason-DixonOctober 3–6, 1998801 (LV)± 3.5%58%24%–18%Millersville UniversitySeptember 25–29, 1998629 (A)± 4.6%56%17%–27%Mason-DixonSeptember 14–16, 1998806 (LV)± 3.5%59%23%–18%Mason-DixonAugust 2–4, 1998806 (LV)± 3.5%57%22%–21%
Results
Results by county County Tom RidgeRepublican Ivan ItkinDemocratic Peg LuksikConstitution Ken KrawchukLibertarian Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # % Adams 14,810 73.83% 3,682 18.35%1,3606.78%2081.04% 11,128 55.48% 20,060 Allegheny 169,316 48.14% 127,994 36.39%50,68914.41%3,7191.06% 41,322 11.75% 351,718 Armstrong 8,641 48.71% 4,900 27.62%4,09823.10%990.56% 3,741 21.09% 17,738 Beaver 24,993 47.14% 19,879 37.49%7,66914.46%4770.90% 5,114 9.65% 53,018 Bedford 8,232 68.25% 2,322 19.25%1,42711.83%810.67% 5,910 49.00% 12,062 Berks 49,716 62.51% 21,336 26.83%6,9268.71%1,5531.95% 28,380 35.68% 79,531 Blair 19,025 67.54% 4,410 15.66%4,51816.04%2160.77% 14,507 51.50% 28,169 Bradford 12,534 74.70% 3,041 18.12%1,1016.56%1040.62% 9,493 56.58% 16,780 Bucks 93,697 64.85% 39,210 27.14%9,1456.33%2,4311.68% 54,487 37.71% 144,483 Butler 22,839 51.22% 10,593 23.76%10,75924.13%3950.89% 12,080 27.09% 44,586 Cambria 22,266 49.51% 12,675 28.18%9,72121.61%3130.70% 9,591 21.33% 44,975 Cameron 688 42.76% 266 16.53%64640.15%90.56% 42 2.61% 1,609 Carbon 7,503 54.98% 5,246 38.44%7165.25%1831.34% 2,257 16.54% 13,648 Centre 20,175 65.15% 7,295 23.56%3,10010.01%3971.28% 12,880 41.59% 30,967 Chester 68,572 67.62% 21,337 21.04%9,7869.65%1,7141.69% 47,235 46.58% 101,409 Clarion 5,861 57.21% 2,112 20.62%2,18221.30%890.87% 3,679 35.91% 10,244 Clearfield 11,437 56.10% 5,598 27.46%3,21515.77%1350.66% 5,839 28.64% 20,385 Clinton 5,348 62.28% 2,656 30.93%4875.67%961.12% 2,692 31.35% 8,587 Columbia 8,720 60.58% 4,175 29.00%1,4019.73%990.69% 4,545 31.58% 14,395 Crawford 13,875 63.30% 4,786 21.83%3,06513.98%1950.89% 9,089 41.47% 21,921 Cumberland 37,801 70.93% 8,610 16.16%6,36011.93%5220.98% 29,191 54.77% 53,293 Dauphin 39,914 64.79% 13,203 21.43%7,87112.78%6151.00% 26,711 43.36% 61,603 Delaware 97,746 63.32% 42,283 27.39%12,3688.01%1,9761.28% 55,463 35.93% 154,373 Elk 4,520 49.43% 2,500 27.34%2,07322.67%510.56% 2,020 22.09% 9,144 Erie 49,027 63.68% 16,783 21.80%10,45013.57%7240.94% 32,244 41.88% 76,984 Fayette 13,215 43.88% 12,863 42.71%3,69912.28%3421.14% 352 1.17% 30,119 Forest 987 63.80% 375 24.24%18111.70%40.26% 612 39.56% 1,547 Franklin 21,793 69.67% 6,527 20.87%2,7598.82%2000.64% 15,266 48.80% 31,279 Fulton 2,210 66.25% 885 26.53%2306.89%110.33% 1,325 39.72% 3,336 Greene 4,211 45.88% 3,900 42.49%96310.49%1041.13% 311 3.39% 9,178 Huntingdon 6,253 65.25% 1,936 20.20%1,32013.77%740.77% 4,317 45.05% 9,583 Indiana 11,733 50.73% 6,910 29.88%4,33418.74%1520.66% 4,823 20.85% 23,129 Jefferson 6,493 58.08% 2,473 22.12%2,13119.06%820.73% 4,020 35.96% 11,179 Juniata 3,947 65.98% 1,266 21.16%74012.37%290.48% 2,681 44.82% 5,982 Lackawanna 35,039 52.96% 25,297 38.24%5,2087.87%6150.93% 9,742 14.72% 66,159 Lancaster 72,198 72.13% 15,891 15.88%11,16911.16%8410.84% 56,307 56.25% 100,099 Lawrence 13,115 51.46% 9,259 36.33%2,95611.60%1540.60% 3,856 15.13% 25,484 Lebanon 20,263 72.70% 4,775 17.13%2,5889.28%2470.89% 15,488 55.57% 27,873 Lehigh 50,526 65.79% 22,472 29.26%2,8903.76%9101.18% 28,054 36.53% 76,798 Luzerne 44,030 58.96% 23,827 31.90%6,1258.20%7020.94% 20,203 27.06% 74,864 Lycoming 20,511 70.85% 6,058 20.93%2,1027.26%2800.97% 14,453 49.92% 28,951 McKean 6,742 68.43% 2,086 21.17%9399.53%850.86% 4,656 47.26% 9,852 Mercer 15,958 52.77% 10,349 34.23%3,70412.25%2270.75% 5,609 18.54% 30,238 Mifflin 6,914 71.01% 2,010 20.65%7237.43%890.91% 4,904 50.36% 9,736 Monroe 17,243 65.97% 7,160 27.40%1,3455.15%3881.48% 10,083 7.84% 26,136 Montgomery 129,376 61.42% 62,734 29.78%14,9597.10%3,5671.69% 66,642 31.64% 210,636 Montour 2,700 64.18% 1,012 24.06%46911.15%260.62% 1,688 40.12% 4,207 Northampton 42,352 64.15% 20,461 30.99%2,3373.54%8671.31% 21,891 33.16% 66,017 Northumberland 13,468 58.95% 7,051 30.86%2,0118.80%3171.39% 6,417 28.09% 22,847 Perry 7,023 68.83% 1,487 14.57%1,60415.72%890.87% 5,419 53.11% 10,203 Philadelphia 107,731 35.06% 183,066 59.58%13,0724.25%3,4011.11% -75,335 -24.52% 307,270 Pike 6,843 68.45% 2,726 27.27%3333.33%950.95% 4,117 41.18% 9,997 Potter 3,121 68.53% 963 21.15%4499.86%210.46% 2,158 47.38% 4,554 Schuylkill 27,992 63.14% 12,108 27.31%3,9208.84%3130.71% 15,884 35.83% 44,333 Snyder 5,565 69.95% 1,405 17.66%91911.55%670.84% 4,160 52.29% 7,956 Somerset 14,829 61.15% 5,676 23.40%3,56914.72%1780.73% 9,153 37.75% 24,252 Sullivan 1,609 69.62% 524 22.67%1637.05%150.65% 1,085 46.95% 2,311 Susquehanna 9,330 71.79% 2,830 21.77%7365.66%1010.78% 6,500 50.02% 12,997 Tioga 7,000 70.54% 2,071 20.87%7988.04%540.54% 4,929 49.67% 9,923 Union 5,395 68.20% 1,700 21.49%7579.57%580.73% 3,695 46.71% 7,910 Venango 9,643 62.96% 3,595 23.47%1,99113.00%870.57% 6,048 39.49% 15,316 Warren 6,760 60.71% 2,301 20.66%1,97517.74%990.89% 4,459 40.05% 11,135 Washington 22,825 43.56% 20,050 38.27%9,11317.39%4050.77% 2,775 5.29% 52,393 Wayne 8,692 70.57% 2,892 23.48%6034.90%1291.05% 5,800 47.09% 12,316 Westmoreland 44,331 44.54% 32,375 32.53%22,02522.13%8040.81% 11,956 12.01% 99,535 Wyoming 6,965 74.54% 1,682 18.00%6166.59%810.87% 5,283 56.54% 9,344 York 62,657 72.47% 16,825 19.46%6,1037.06%8801.02% 45,832 53.01% 86,465Totals1,736,84457.42%938,74531.03%315,76110.44%33,5911.11%798,09926.39%3,024,941
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Alleghany Beaver Cambria Fayette Greene Lackawanna Lawrence Luzerne Washington Westmoreland
Notes
Partisan clients
References
Sources