The 1998 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Term limits prevented incumbent Governor Ben Nelson, a Democrat, from seeking a third term in office. Republican nominee Mike Johanns, Mayor of Lincoln, defeated Democratic nominee, attorney Bill Hoppner. As of 2023[update], this was the last gubernatorial election in Nebraska in which the margin of victory was within single digits. Johanns later served Nebraska in the United States Senate with Nelson from 2009 to 2013.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
County results Johanns: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hoppner: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Hoppner | 72,887 | 65.39 | |
Democratic | James D. McFarland | 33,890 | 30.41 | |
Democratic | Robb Nimic | 1,621 | 1.45 | |
Democratic | Write-ins | 1,606 | 1.44 | |
Democratic | Luis R. Calvillo | 1,455 | 1.31 | |
Total votes | 111,459 | 100.00 |
Pam Bataillon ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.[2] She was the vice president of the Visiting Nurse Association from Omaha, Nebraska.[3] She is the wife of Joseph Bataillon, a federal judge who was prevented from participating in her campaign due to judicial ethics requirements.[2]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Pam Bataillon | 87,971 | 98.61 | |
Democratic | Write-ins | 1,237 | 1.39 | |
Total votes | 89,208 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Johanns | 88,173 | 40.02 | |
Republican | John Breslow | 65,806 | 29.87 | |
Republican | Jon Christensen | 62,107 | 28.19 | |
Republican | Barry Richards | 2,036 | 0.92 | |
Republican | Lavern Bartels | 1,908 | 0.87 | |
Republican | Write-ins | 285 | 0.13 | |
Total votes | 220,315 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Maurstad | 61,778 | 31.18 | |
Republican | Elliott L. Rustad | 54,580 | 27.55 | |
Republican | Matt Butler | 35,133 | 17.73 | |
Republican | John DeCamp | 24,057 | 12.14 | |
Republican | Kevin Fry | 22,252 | 11.23 | |
Republican | Write-ins | 304 | 0.15 | |
Total votes | 198,104 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Johanns | 293,910 | 53.90% | +28.33% | |
Democratic | Bill Hoppner | 250,678 | 45.98% | -27.06% | |
Write-ins | 650 | 0.12% | |||
Majority | 43,232 | 7.93% | -39.53% | ||
Turnout | 545,238 | ||||
Republican gain from Democratic | Swing |