| Election Name: | 1998 Illinois gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Illinois |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1994 Illinois gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1994 |
| Next Election: | 2002 Illinois gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2002 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 1998 |
| Image1: | File:George Ryan (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1997-1998) (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | George Ryan |
| Running Mate1: | Corinne Wood |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,714,094 |
| Percentage1: | 51.03% |
| Nominee2: | Glenn Poshard |
| Running Mate2: | Mary Lou Kearns |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,594,191 |
| Percentage2: | 47.46% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Jim Edgar |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | George Ryan |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Turnout: | 49.72% 1.05 pp |
The 1998 Illinois gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican Governor Jim Edgar did not run for a third term in office. Republican nominee George Ryan, the Illinois Secretary of State, narrowly won the election against Democratic Congressman Glenn Poshard.
With this election Corinne Wood became the first female lieutenant governor of the state.
The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal elections (Senate and House), as well as those for other state offices. The election was part of the 1998 Illinois elections.
For the primaries, turnout for the gubernatorial primaries was 24.58%, with 1,658,296 votes cast and turnout for the lieutenant gubernatorial primaries was 19.76% with 1,333,446 votes cast.[1] [2] For the general election, turnout was 49.72%, with 3,358,705 votes cast.[1] [2] Due to Poshard's more conservative social positions he carried the reliably Republican downstate, while Ryan's liberal social policies led him to carry the more Democratic Chicago area.