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1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/1998_Pennsylvania_gubernatorial_election_results_map_by_county.svg/250px-1998_Pennsylvania_gubernatorial_election_results_map_by_county.svg.png) County results
Ridge
:
40?50%
50?60%
60?70%
70?80%
Itkin
:
50?60%
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The
1998 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
was held on November 3, 1998. The candidates were incumbent
Republican
Tom Ridge
,
Democrat
Ivan Itkin
, Constitutionalist Peg Luksik and Libertarian Ken Krawchuk. Ridge, a popular moderate, won with 57 percent of the votes cast.
As of 2023, this 1998 gubernatorial election was the last time 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
[
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]
Incumbent Governor Ridge ran unopposed for the Republican nomination, and was endorsed by multiple newspapers across the state, including the
York Daily Record
.
[1]
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,
[2]
while the conservative Bailey drew strong union support.
General election
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]
Candidates
[
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]
- Ivan Itkin
, State Representative (Democratic)
- 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)
Campaign
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]
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).
[4]
Results
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]
References
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]
- ^
"
Today is the day to have your say
." York, Pennsylvania:
York Daily Record
, November 3, 1998, p. 4 (subscription required).
- ^
Strader, Jim. "
Candidates spend last day across state
." Pottsville, Pennsylvania:
Pottsville Republican and Evening Herald
, November 3, 1998, p. 11 (subscription required).
- ^
"Our Campaigns - PA Governor - D Primary Race - May 19, 1998"
.
- ^
Kennedy, John J. (2006).
Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests From 1950-2004
. University Press of America.
ISBN
9780761832799
.
- ^
The Pennsylvania Manual
, p. 7-94.
- ^
The Pennsylvania Manual
, p. 7-16.
- Sources