| Election Name: | 1998 Michigan gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Michigan |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1994 Michigan gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1994 |
| Next Election: | 2002 Michigan gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2002 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 1998 |
| Image1: | File:Vern Ehlers and John Engler (cropped).jpeg |
| Nominee1: | John Engler |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Dick Posthumus |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,883,005 |
| Percentage1: | 62.2% |
| Nominee2: | Geoffrey Fieger |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Running Mate2: | Jim Agee |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,143,574 |
| Percentage2: | 37.8% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | John Engler |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John Engler |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1998 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the state of Michigan. Incumbent Governor John Engler, a member of the Republican Party, was re-elected over Democratic Party nominee Geoffrey Fieger, a lawyer who had represented the assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian.[1] As of, this was the last time Genesee County and Washtenaw County voted for the Republican gubernatorial candidate.
Engler, a two-term incumbent, faced token opposition in the Republican primary, winning re-nomination with 90 percent of the vote. Following Lt. Gov. Connie Binsfeld's decision to not seek a third term, State Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus received the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.[2]
Early in the race, Owen was considered the front runner.[3] But due to Fieger's notoriety and personal wealth, he surpassed his opponents. He ended spending almost $6 million of his own money in the race.[4] Fieger won a close race, taking 41 percent of the vote.[5] State Rep. Jim Agee, after securing the support from the Michigan Education Association was picked by Fieger to be his running mate, over Fieger's initial preferred choice state Rep. Candace Curtis.[6]
| County | Engler | Votes | Fieger | Votes | Others | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcona | 69.2% | 2,951 | 30.8% | 1,312 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Alger | 56.9% | 1,794 | 43.1% | 1,358 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Allegan | 77.8% | 24,121 | 22.2% | 6,896 | 0.0% | 4 |
| Alpena | 65.8% | 7,267 | 34.2% | 3,785 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Antrim | 68.5% | 5,748 | 31.5% | 2,641 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Arenac | 59.0% | 3,179 | 41.0% | 2,210 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Baraga | 53.6% | 1,338 | 46.4% | 1,157 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Barry | 71.4% | 13,148 | 28.6% | 5,259 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Bay | 60.8% | 23,343 | 39.2% | 15,017 | 0.0% | 12 |
| Benzie | 62.8% | 3,726 | 37.2% | 2,206 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Berrien | 73.5% | 30,380 | 26.5% | 10,971 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Branch | 70.3% | 7,623 | 29.7% | 3,216 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Calhoun | 67.2% | 25,955 | 32.8% | 12,661 | 0.0% | 5 |
| Cass | 72.7% | 9,177 | 27.3% | 3,438 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Charlevoix | 69.3% | 6,290 | 30.7% | 2,792 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Cheboygan | 67.7% | 6,036 | 32.3% | 2,875 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Chippewa | 61.3% | 6,613 | 38.7% | 4,180 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Clare | 61.3% | 5,649 | 38.7% | 3,561 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Clinton | 73.8% | 17,696 | 26.0% | 6,222 | 0.2% | 56 |
| Crawford | 62.5% | 3,051 | 37.5% | 1,831 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Delta | 59.3% | 7,410 | 40.7% | 5,080 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Dickinson | 63.0% | 6,183 | 37.0% | 3,638 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Eaton | 68.4% | 24,778 | 31.6% | 11,436 | 0.0% | 8 |
| Emmet | 73.8% | 7,765 | 26.2% | 2,758 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Genesee | 51.2% | 69,799 | 48.8% | 66,608 | 0.0% | 10 |
| Gladwin | 63.7% | 5,573 | 36.3% | 3,177 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Gogebic | 51.0% | 3,020 | 49.0% | 2,905 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Grand Traverse | 71.6% | 20,462 | 28.4% | 8,101 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Gratiot | 71.1% | 7,998 | 28.9% | 3,245 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Hillsdale | 73.1% | 9,027 | 26.9% | 3,325 | 0.0% | 5 |
| Houghton | 60.9% | 6,443 | 39.1% | 4,131 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Huron | 76.1% | 9,264 | 23.9% | 2,902 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Ingham | 60.1% | 53,905 | 39.7% | 35,584 | 0.2% | 151 |
| Ionia | 71.2% | 12,324 | 28.8% | 4,996 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Iosco | 66.5% | 6,457 | 33.5% | 3,252 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Iron | 54.3% | 2,715 | 45.7% | 2,282 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Isabella | 63.7% | 9,423 | 36.3% | 5,361 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Jackson | 67.3% | 31,330 | 32.7% | 15,229 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Kalamazoo | 67.6% | 46,443 | 32.4% | 22,275 | 0.0% | 6 |
| Kalkaska | 63.1% | 3,155 | 36.9% | 1,844 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Kent | 76.6% | 133,120 | 23.4% | 40,709 | 0.0% | 8 |
| Keweenaw | 56.3% | 566 | 43.7% | 440 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Lake | 53.5% | 1,832 | 46.5% | 1,593 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Lapeer | 65.6% | 17,382 | 34.4% | 9,106 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Leelanau | 70.9% | 6,577 | 29.1% | 2,705 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Lenawee | 63.3% | 18,137 | 36.7% | 10,494 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Livingston | 73.8% | 37,458 | 26.2% | 13,283 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Luce | 58.0% | 1,130 | 42.0% | 819 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Mackinac | 64.7% | 3,054 | 35.3% | 1,666 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Macomb | 67.5% | 166,920 | 32.5% | 80,438 | 0.0% | 18 |
| Manistee | 62.8% | 5,493 | 37.2% | 3,247 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Marquette | 51.6% | 11,157 | 48.4% | 10,460 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Mason | 66.1% | 6,391 | 33.9% | 3,277 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Mecosta | 67.2% | 7,065 | 32.8% | 3,446 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Menominee | 65.7% | 4,579 | 34.3% | 2,391 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Midland | 73.6% | 20,737 | 26.4% | 7,445 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Missaukee | 72.8% | 3,629 | 27.2% | 1,346 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Monroe | 65.0% | 26,690 | 35.0% | 14,401 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Montcalm | 68.6% | 11,069 | 31.4% | 5,058 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Montmorency | 65.0% | 2,499 | 35.0% | 1,346 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Muskegon | 60.5% | 29,660 | 39.5% | 19,331 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Newaygo | 69.0% | 9,776 | 31.0% | 4,392 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Oakland | 66.3% | 264,551 | 33.7% | 134,215 | 0.0% | 120 |
| Oceana | 67.5% | 5,231 | 32.5% | 2,520 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Ogemaw | 62.3% | 4,796 | 37.7% | 2,899 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Ontonagon | 51.8% | 1,553 | 48.2% | 1,442 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Osceola | 66.5% | 4,918 | 33.5% | 2,482 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Oscoda | 64.9% | 2,017 | 35.1% | 1,091 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Otsego | 71.6% | 5,525 | 28.4% | 2,195 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Ottawa | 85.4% | 67,054 | 14.6% | 11,451 | 0.0% | 9 |
| Presque Isle | 67.1% | 3,871 | 32.9% | 1,899 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Roscommon | 63.7% | 6,320 | 36.3% | 3,608 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Saginaw | 63.4% | 43,766 | 36.6% | 25,213 | 0.0% | 9 |
| St. Clair | 64.1% | 32,299 | 35.9% | 18,025 | 0.0% | 0 |
| St. Joseph | 74.9% | 11,026 | 25.1% | 3,703 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Sanilac | 71.1% | 9,941 | 28.8% | 4,023 | 0.1% | 8 |
| Schoolcraft | 55.5% | 1,594 | 44.5% | 1,277 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Shiawassee | 66.3% | 16,465 | 33.6% | 8,347 | 0.1% | 18 |
| Tuscola | 66.7% | 12,074 | 33.3% | 6,027 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Van Buren | 67.8% | 13,715 | 32.2% | 6,499 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Washtenaw | 57.0% | 53,227 | 43.0% | 40,078 | 0.0% | 32 |
| Wayne | 42.9% | 243,235 | 57.1% | 324,351 | 0.0% | 17 |
| Wexford | 67.1% | 6,347 | 32.8% | 3,108 | 0.1% | 10 |