| Election Name: | 1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Massachusetts |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1994 |
| Next Election: | 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2002 |
| Election Date: | November 2, 1998 |
| Turnout: | 51.19% 18.86 [1] |
| Image1: | File:Paul Cellucci gubernatorial photo (1).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Paul Cellucci |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Jane Swift |
| Popular Vote1: | 967,160 |
| Percentage1: | 49.98% |
| Nominee2: | Scott Harshbarger |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Running Mate2: | Warren Tolman |
| Popular Vote2: | 901,843 |
| Percentage2: | 46.60% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Paul Cellucci (acting) |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Paul Cellucci |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Acting Governor Paul Cellucci was elected to his first term as Governor of Massachusetts.
The race between Cellucci and Malone was acrimonious, with each candidate accusing the other of committing ethical violations.[2]
On September 16, Cellucci defeated Malone to win his party's nomination.[3]
After Harshbarger's primary victory, many moderate Democrats who had voted for McGovern or Donnelly, chose to support the socially liberal, fiscally moderate Cellucci instead of the more liberal Harshbarger.[5] [6]
In a January opinion poll, Cellucci lead Harshbarger 50%-30%. By August, Harshbarger had taken a 37%-35% lead over Cellucci.[7]
On November 3, Cellucci defeated Harshbarger by 65,317 votes.[8] [9]
| 1998 United States gubernatorial election in Massachusetts (by county) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Cellucci - R % | Cellucci - R # | Harshbarger - D % | Harshbarger - D # | Others % | Others # | Total # | ||
| 53.8% | 50,690 | 42.7% | 40,259 | 3.6% | 3,357 | 94,306 | |||
| 49.8% | 20,679 | 47.1% | 19,593 | 3.1% | 1,287 | 41,559 | |||
| 48.37% | 69,209 | 48.36% | 69,190 | 3.3% | 4,676 | 143,075 | |||
| 40.9% | 2,639 | 55.1% | 3,550 | 4.0% | 256 | 6,445 | |||
| 52.4% | 118,540 | 44.0% | 99,452 | 3.6% | 8,113 | 226,105 | |||
| 41.9% | 9,882 | 54.6% | 12,866 | 3.5% | 819 | 23,567 | |||
| 49.3% | 58,517 | 46.9% | 55,709 | 3.8% | 4,484 | 118,710 | |||
| 40.4% | 19,239 | 56.3% | 26,836 | 3.4% | 1,598 | 47,673 | |||
| 48.2% | 230,004 | 48.7% | 232,302 | 3.1% | 14,900 | 477,206 | |||
| 48.8% | 1,755 | 46.7% | 1,681 | 4.6% | 164 | 3,600 | |||
| 51.2% | 120,729 | 45.4% | 106,999 | 3.4% | 7,936 | 235,664 | |||
| 55.6% | 81,047 | 40.8% | 59,525 | 3.6% | 5,239 | 145,811 | |||
| 39.5% | 58,384 | 56.2% | 83,048 | 4.2% | 6,210 | 147,642 | |||
| 56.2% | 125,846 | 40.6% | 90,833 | 3.2% | 7,235 | 223,914 | |||