1998 Connecticut gubernatorial election

1998 Connecticut gubernatorial election

November 3, 1998
Turnout56.59%[1]
 
Nominee John G. Rowland Barbara B. Kennelly
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Jodi Rell Joe Courtney
Popular vote 628,707 354,187
Percentage 62.9% 35.4%

Rowland:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
     70–80%      80–90%
Kennelly:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

John G. Rowland
Republican

Elected Governor

John G. Rowland
Republican

The 1998 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998, and incumbent Republican Governor John G. Rowland won re-election against Democratic Candidate United States Congresswoman Barbara B. Kennelly. This election was the first time since 1944 that an incumbent Republican Governor of Connecticut was re-elected.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Kennelly was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Rowland was unopposed in the Republican primary.

General election

Candidates

Democratic

Republican

  • John G. Rowland, incumbent Governor of Connecticut
    • Running mate: Jodi Rell, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
John
Rowland (R)
Barbara
Kennelly (D)
Undecided
Mason Dixon[2] October 26–27, 1998 633 (LV) ± 4.0% 58% 33% 9%
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute[2] October 13–19, 1998 683 (LV) ± 3.8% 72% 24% 4%
Mason Dixon[2] October 9–12, 1998 629 (LV) ± 4.0% 60% 28% 12%
University of Connecticut[2] September 12–16, 1998 505 (A) ± 5.0% 60% 23% 17%
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute[2] June 16–22, 1998 1,088 (RV) ± 3.0% 56% 32% 12%
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute[2] February 10–16, 1998 1,303 (RV) ± 3.0% 52% 35% 23%
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute[2] November 11–17, 1997 1,120 (RV) ± 3.0% 43% 44% 13%

Results

1998 Connecticut gubernatorial election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John G. Rowland (incumbent) 628,707 62.90% +26.70%
Democratic Barbara B. Kennelly 354,187 35.44% +2.73%
Concerned Citizens Joseph A. Zdonczyk 8,792 0.88% +0.01%
Libertarian Ned Vare 5,637 0.56% N/A
Term Limits Roberta Scaglione 2,212 0.22% N/A
Total votes 999,535 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

Notes

  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients

References

  1. ^ "Connecticut State Register and Manual, 1999". CT State Library.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Connecticut 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  3. ^ http://www.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/1998_sov.pdf