1998 Illinois elections

Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 3, 1998. Primary elections were held on March 17, 1998.^[1]

These elections saw Democrats make gains. The Democratic Party went from holding no statewide offices, to holding two.

Election information

1998 was a midterm election year in the United States.

Turnout

Primary election

For the primary election, turnout was 27.04%, with 1,824,806 votes cast.^[2]

Turnout by county^[2]

General election

For the general election, turnout was 52.43%, with 3,541,379 votes cast.^[2]

Turnout by county^[2]

Federal elections

United States Senate

Incumbent Democratic United States Senator Carol Moseley Braun lost reelection, being unseated by Republican Peter Fitzgerald.

United States House

All 20 of Illinois' seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1998.

No seats switched parties, leaving the composition of Illinois' House delegation 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans.

State elections

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Governor Jim Edgar, a Republican, did not seek a third term. Republican George Ryan was elected to succeed him.

Attorney General

Incumbent Attorney General Jim Ryan, a Republican, was reelected to a second term. As of 2022 this is the last time a Republican was elected Illinois Attorney General.

Secretary of State

Incumbent Secretary of State George Ryan, a Republican, did not seek reelection to a third term in office, instead opting to run for governor. Democrat Jesse White was elected to succeed him in office.

Comptroller

Incumbent Comptroller Loleta Didrickson, a Republican, did not seek reelection to a second term, instead opting to (ultimately unsuccessfully) run for the Republican nomination for United States Senate. Democrat Daniel Hynes was elected to succeed her in office.

Treasurer

Incumbent Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican, was reelected to a second term.

Democratic primary

Orland Park mayor Daniel J. McLaughlin defeated Calumet City mayor Jerry Genova.^[3][4][5]

State Senate

41 out of 59 seats in the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1998.^[6] Republicans retained control of the chamber.^[7]

State House of Representatives

All of the seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1998.^[6] Democrats retained control of the chamber.^[7]

Judicial elections

Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 1998.

Ballot measure

Illinois voters voted on a single ballot measure in 1998.^[8] In order to be approved, the measures required either 60% support among those specifically voting on the amendment or 50% support among all ballots cast in the elections.^[8]

Illinois Courts Commission Amendment

Voters approved the Illinois Courts Commission Amendment, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment which amended Article VI, Section 15 of the Constitution of Illinois to make modifications to the courts commission.^[8][9]

Local elections

Local elections were held. These included county elections, such as the Cook County elections.

Notes

1. ^ For more on Cook County primary election turnout, see 1998 Cook County, Illinois elections#Primary election
2. ^ For more on Cook County general election turnout, see 1998 Cook County, Illinois elections#General election

References

1. ^ "Illinois Primary Results - March 17, 1998". www.cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
2. ^ "Voter Turnout". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
3. ^ "Election Results". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
4. ^ "ORLAND MOVES TO CONTROL GROWTH". Crain's Chicago Business. 6 August 1994. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
5. ^ O'Connor, Matt (14 March 2002). "Ex-Cal City chief gets prison term". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
6. ^ "1998 GENERAL ELECTION". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
7. ^ "Party control of Illinois state government". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
8. ^ "Illinois Constitution - Amendments Proposed". www.ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
9. ^ "Illinois Courts Commission, Amendment 1 (1998)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 29 March 2020.