1998_Illinois_Attorney_General_election
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.
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]
More information County, Registration ...
| County | Registration | Votes cast | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | 39,753 | 8,380 | 21.08% |
| Alexander | 7,519 | 3,603 | 47.92% |
| Bond | 9,811 | 1,793 | 18.28% |
| Boone | 22,061 | 7,131 | 32.32% |
| Brown | 3,271 | 2,029 | 62.03% |
| Bureau | 25,112 | 7,924 | 31.55% |
| Calhoun | 3,798 | 1,220 | 32.12% |
| Carroll | 10,905 | 3,842 | 35.23% |
| Cass | 9,649 | 4,374 | 45.33% |
| Champaign | 115,156 | 21,566 | 18.73% |
| Christian | 23,603 | 8,173 | 34.63% |
| Clark | 12,084 | 3,727 | 30.84% |
| Clay | 10,087 | 2,676 | 26.53% |
| Clinton | 24,358 | 2,950 | 12.11% |
| Coles | 29,461 | 9,289 | 31.53% |
| Cook[note 1] | 2,721,334 | 780,580 | 28.68% |
| Crawford | 13,381 | 3,772 | 28.19% |
| Cumberland | 7,915 | 2,686 | 33.94% |
| DeKalb | 45,534 | 8,651 | 19% |
| DeWitt | 11,513 | 2,244 | 19.49% |
| Douglas | 11,281 | 2,319 | 20.56% |
| DuPage | 460,688 | 113,345 | 24.6% |
| Edgar | 13,029 | 3,149 | 24.17% |
| Edwards | 5,143 | 2,380 | 46.28% |
| Effingham | 19,711 | 6,133 | 31.11% |
| Fayette | 13,422 | 3,850 | 28.68% |
| Ford | 8,384 | 4,543 | 54.19% |
| Franklin | 30,636 | 13,688 | 44.68% |
| Fulton | 25,999 | 9,500 | 36.54% |
| Gallatin | 4,731 | 2,812 | 59.44% |
| Greene | 8,923 | 2,801 | 31.39% |
| Grundy | 22,468 | 5,960 | 26.53% |
| Hamilton | 6,379 | 3,415 | 53.54% |
| Hancock | 12,821 | 4,967 | 38.74% |
| Hardin | 3,743 | 2,417 | 64.57% |
| Henderson | 5,324 | 2,154 | 40.46% |
| Henry | 32,819 | 7,881 | 24.01% |
| Iroquois | 18,397 | 5,591 | 30.39% |
| Jackson | 44,300 | 10,881 | 24.56% |
| Jasper | 7,547 | 3,862 | 51.17% |
| Jefferson | 25,924 | 7,253 | 27.98% |
| Jersey | 13,964 | 4,029 | 28.85% |
| Jo Daviess | 14,413 | 2,827 | 19.61% |
| Johnson | 7,120 | 3,676 | 51.63% |
| Kane | 177,041 | 51,342 | 29.00% |
| Kankakee | 57,482 | 8,217 | 14.29% |
| Kendall | 31,224 | 7,430 | 23.8% |
| Knox | 34,117 | 7,757 | 22.74% |
| Lake | 316,111 | 78,977 | 24.98% |
| LaSalle | 65,229 | 16,659 | 25.54% |
| Lawrence | 11,336 | 2,834 | 25.00% |
| Lee | 20,431 | 6,332 | 30.99% |
| Livingston | 22,714 | 8,902 | 39.19% |
| Logan | 18,665 | 7,589 | 40.66% |
| Macon | 72,319 | 20,844 | 28.82% |
| Macoupin | 35,243 | 10,428 | 29.59% |
| Madison | 164,136 | 34,057 | 20.75% |
| Marion | 28,158 | 7,408 | 26.31% |
| Marshall | 8,386 | 1,684 | 20.08% |
| Mason | 10,598 | 2,214 | 20.89% |
| Massac | 12,435 | 3,454 | 27.78% |
| McDonough | 18,536 | 4,658 | 25.13% |
| McHenry | 142,461 | 39,492 | 27.72% |
| McLean | 85,655 | 18,930 | 22.1% |
| Menard | 8,194 | 3,018 | 36.83% |
| Mercer | 11,717 | 2,274 | 19.41% |
| Monroe | 18,228 | 6,089 | 33.4% |
| Montgomery | 20,983 | 4,232 | 20.17% |
| Morgan | 20,885 | 4,331 | 20.74% |
| Moultrie | 8,234 | 2,916 | 35.41% |
| Ogle | 28,094 | 6,932 | 24.67% |
| Peoria | 105,139 | 20,889 | 19.87% |
| Perry | 15,388 | 5,828 | 37.87% |
| Piatt | 11,034 | 2,960 | 26.83% |
| Pike | 12,814 | 4,611 | 35.98% |
| Pope | 3,250 | 1,820 | 56.00% |
| Pulaski | 5,470 | 2,445 | 44.70% |
| Putnam | 4,383 | 2,131 | 48.62% |
| Randolph | 23,496 | 8,155 | 34.71% |
| Richland | 12,753 | 4,028 | 31.58% |
| Rock Island | 101,715 | 22,710 | 22.33% |
| Saline | 18,053 | 9,025 | 49.99% |
| Sangamon | 121,984 | 35,680 | 29.25% |
| Schuyler | 5,926 | 2,107 | 35.56% |
| Scott | 3,627 | 1,493 | 41.16% |
| Shelby | 14,326 | 4,857 | 33.9% |
| Stark | 4,540 | 1,135 | 25.00% |
| St. Clair | 153,502 | 29,738 | 19.37% |
| Stephenson | 31,107 | 7,920 | 25.46% |
| Tazewell | 81,769 | 23,112 | 28.26% |
| Union | 14,571 | 6,063 | 41.61% |
| Vermilion | 50,035 | 11,115 | 22.21% |
| Wabash | 9,191 | 2,125 | 23.12% |
| Warren | 11,279 | 2,944 | 26.1% |
| Washington | 10,663 | 2,860 | 26.82% |
| Wayne | 12,773 | 4,263 | 33.38% |
| White | 11,693 | 5,442 | 46.54% |
| Whiteside | 35,370 | 4,726 | 13.36% |
| Will | 229,337 | 53,784 | 23.45% |
| Williamson | 39,063 | 16,509 | 42.26% |
| Winnebago | 158,118 | 29,238 | 18.49% |
| Woodford | 22,924 | 10,050 | 43.84% |
| Total | 6,747,376 | 1,824,806 | 27.04% |
Close
General election
For the general election, turnout was 52.43%, with 3,541,379 votes cast.[2]
- Turnout by county[2]
More information County, Registration ...
| County | Registration | Votes cast | Turnout% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | 41,285 | 25,575 | 61.95% |
| Alexander | 7,547 | 3,990 | 52.87% |
| Bond | 10,205 | 5,343 | 52.36% |
| Boone | 21,953 | 9,950 | 45.32% |
| Brown | 3,565 | 2,850 | 79.94% |
| Bureau | 24,773 | 15,087 | 60.9% |
| Calhoun | 3,745 | 2,650 | 70.76% |
| Carroll | 10,385 | 6,199 | 59.69% |
| Cass | 9,752 | 4,723 | 48.43% |
| Champaign | 127,069 | 50,026 | 39.37% |
| Christian | 24,112 | 12,302 | 51.02% |
| Clark | 12,197 | 6,517 | 53.43% |
| Clay | 9,254 | 5,354 | 57.86% |
| Clinton | 24,391 | 11,990 | 49.16% |
| Coles | 30,165 | 16,959 | 56.22% |
| Cook[note 2] | 2,625,022 | 1,433,423 | 54.61% |
| Crawford | 13,763 | 7,194 | 52.27% |
| Cumberland | 8,125 | 4,186 | 51.52% |
| DeKalb | 52,659 | 22,131 | 42.03% |
| DeWitt | 10,408 | 5,294 | 50.86% |
| Douglas | 11,637 | 5,911 | 50.79% |
| DuPage | 443,387 | 257,729 | 58.13% |
| Edgar | 13,280 | 7,447 | 56.08% |
| Edwards | 5,127 | 2,971 | 57.95% |
| Effingham | 20,666 | 11,639 | 56.32% |
| Fayette | 14,035 | 8,189 | 58.35% |
| Ford | 8,660 | 5,478 | 63.26% |
| Franklin | 31,202 | 17,097 | 54.79% |
| Fulton | 24,611 | 13,026 | 52.93% |
| Gallatin | 4,704 | 3,215 | 68.35% |
| Greene | 8,769 | 5,047 | 57.56% |
| Grundy | 23,476 | 12,533 | 53.39% |
| Hamilton | 6,487 | 4,368 | 67.33% |
| Hancock | 13,271 | 8,234 | 62.05% |
| Hardin | 3,833 | 2,824 | 73.68% |
| Henderson | 5,493 | 3,578 | 65.14% |
| Henry | 33,838 | 19,022 | 56.21% |
| Iroquois | 18,137 | 11,150 | 61.48% |
| Jackson | 43,168 | 18,919 | 43.83% |
| Jasper | 7,673 | 4,274 | 55.7% |
| Jefferson | 26,587 | 12,683 | 47.7% |
| Jersey | 13,126 | 7,364 | 56.1% |
| Jo Daviess | 15,017 | 8,109 | 54% |
| Johnson | 7,487 | 5,038 | 67.29% |
| Kane | 188,596 | 91,059 | 48.28% |
| Kankakee | 55,176 | 30,720 | 55.68% |
| Kendall | 32,945 | 15,596 | 47.34% |
| Knox | 34,377 | 19,379 | 56.37% |
| Lake | 309,409 | 158,547 | 51.24% |
| LaSalle | 67,876 | 35,919 | 52.92% |
| Lawrence | 9,875 | 5,604 | 56.75% |
| Lee | 21,205 | 11,086 | 52.28% |
| Livingston | 21,433 | 12,212 | 56.98% |
| Logan | 19,243 | 10,772 | 55.98% |
| Macon | 74,913 | 40,772 | 54.43% |
| Macoupin | 35,725 | 15,754 | 44.1% |
| Madison | 170,151 | 74,485 | 43.78% |
| Marion | 29,529 | 12,430 | 42.09% |
| Marshall | 8,564 | 4,467 | 52.16% |
| Mason | 10,192 | 5,331 | 52.31% |
| Massac | 12,760 | 5,669 | 44.43% |
| McDonough | 19,632 | 10,631 | 54.15% |
| McHenry | 150,683 | 66,836 | 44.36% |
| McLean | 94,605 | 39,813 | 42.08% |
| Menard | 8,405 | 5,164 | 61.44% |
| Mercer | 12,025 | 7,093 | 58.99% |
| Monroe | 18,405 | 9,945 | 54.03% |
| Montgomery | 21,153 | 10,255 | 48.48% |
| Morgan | 21,680 | 12,032 | 55.5% |
| Moultrie | 8,208 | 4,670 | 56.9% |
| Ogle | 29,479 | 14,042 | 47.63% |
| Peoria | 110,820 | 54,623 | 49.29% |
| Perry | 15,156 | 9,652 | 63.68% |
| Piatt | 11,197 | 6,351 | 56.72% |
| Pike | 11,903 | 7,532 | 63.28% |
| Pope | 3,332 | 2,284 | 68.55% |
| Pulaski | 6,360 | 3,090 | 48.58% |
| Putnam | 4,167 | 2,529 | 60.69% |
| Randolph | 23,870 | 13,185 | 55.24% |
| Richland | 13,226 | 6,739 | 50.95% |
| Rock Island | 103,597 | 48,714 | 47.02% |
| Saline | 18,579 | 11,664 | 62.78% |
| Sangamon | 118,453 | 76,639 | 64.7% |
| Schuyler | 6,024 | 3,398 | 56.41% |
| Scott | 3,685 | 2,338 | 63.45% |
| Shelby | 14,849 | 8,795 | 59.23% |
| Stark | 4,586 | 2,557 | 55.76% |
| St. Clair | 160,520 | 72,357 | 45.08% |
| Stephenson | 32,197 | 13,674 | 42.47% |
| Tazewell | 84,100 | 40,613 | 48.29% |
| Union | 12,425 | 7,712 | 62.07% |
| Vermilion | 49,454 | 24,994 | 50.54% |
| Wabash | 9,378 | 4,978 | 53.08% |
| Warren | 11,637 | 6,261 | 53.8% |
| Washington | 9,985 | 6,320 | 63.29% |
| Wayne | 12,776 | 7,097 | 55.55% |
| White | 11,646 | 7,662 | 65.79% |
| Whiteside | 36,726 | 17,745 | 48.32% |
| Will | 271,410 | 124,154 | 45.74% |
| Williamson | 40,339 | 24,470 | 60.66% |
| Winnebago | 158,736 | 72,992 | 45.98% |
| Woodford | 23,575 | 12,389 | 52.55% |
| Total | 6,754,998 | 3,541,379 | 52.43% |
Close
United States Senate
Main article: 1998 United States Senate election in Illinois
See also: 1998 United States Senate elections
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.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Main article: 1998 Illinois gubernatorial election
Quick Facts Turnout, Nominee ...
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| Turnout | 49.72% | |||||||||||||||||||
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County results Ryan: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Poshard: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Governor Jim Edgar, a Republican, did not seek a third term. Republican George Ryan was elected to succeed him.
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George Ryan / Corinne Wood | 1,714,094 | 51.03 | |
| Democratic | Glenn Poshard / Mary Lou Kearns | 1,594,191 | 47.46 | |
| Reform | Lawrence Redmond / Phyllis Nirchi | 50,372 | 1.50 | |
| Write-in | Other | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Total votes | 3,358,705 | 100 | ||
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Attorney General
Quick Facts Turnout, Nominee ...
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| Turnout | 49.25% | ||||||||||||||||
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County results Ryan: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Santos: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Attorney General Jim Ryan, a Republican, was reelected to a second term. As of 2022[update] this is the last time a Republican was elected Illinois Attorney General.
Democratic primary
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Miriam Santos | 647,099 | 100 | |
| Democratic | Mister Kawa | 3 | 0.00 | |
| Total votes | 647,099 | 100 | ||
Close
Republican primary
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Ryan (incumbent) | 643,487 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 643,487 | 100 | ||
Close
Reform primary
General election
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Ryan (incumbent) | 2,026,781 | 60.92 | |
| Democratic | Miriam Santos | 1,242,979 | 37.36 | |
| Reform | Jesse M. Dowell, Jr. | 56,944 | 1.71 | |
| Total votes | 3,326,704 | 100 | ||
Close
Secretary of State
Quick Facts Turnout, Nominee ...
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| Turnout | 50.04% | ||||||||||||||||
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County results White: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Salvi: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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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.
Democratic primary
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jesse White | 484,798 | 55.76 | |
| Democratic | Tim McCarthy | 384,603 | 44.24 | |
| Total votes | 869,401 | 100 | ||
Close
Republican primary
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Al Salvi | 365,880 | 52.99 | |
| Republican | Robert W. Churchill | 324,529 | 47.01 | |
| Total votes | 690,409 | 100 | ||
Close
Reform primary
General election
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jesse White | 1,874,626 | 55.46 | |
| Republican | Al Salvi | 1,437,420 | 42.53 | |
| Reform | Sandra Millatti | 67,696 | 2.00 | |
| Independent | Therese M. Battaglia | 229 | 0.01 | |
| Total votes | 3,379,971 | 100 | ||
Close
Comptroller
Quick Facts Turnout, Nominee ...
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| Turnout | 47.85% | ||||||||||||||||
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County results Hynes: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Lauzen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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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.
Democratic primary
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Daniel Hynes | 632,141 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 632,141 | 100 | ||
Close
Republican primary
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Lauzen | 317,766 | 51.48 | |
| Republican | Harry Seigle | 299,469 | 48.52 | |
| Total votes | 617,235 | 100 | ||
Close
Reform primary
General election
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Daniel Hynes | 1,895,273 | 58.63 | |
| Republican | Chris Lauzen | 1,280,860 | 39.63 | |
| Reform | Houstoun McIntosh Sadler II | 56,219 | 1.74 | |
| Total votes | 3,232,352 | 100 | ||
Close
Treasurer
Quick Facts Turnout, Nominee ...
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| Turnout | 47.71% | ||||||||||||||||
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County results Topinka: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% McLaughlin: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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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]
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Daniel J. McLaughlin | 419,735 | 57.51 | |
| Democratic | Jerry Genova | 310,052 | 42.49 | |
| Total votes | 729,787 | 100 | ||
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Republican primary
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent) | 591,932 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 591,932 | 100 | ||
Close
Reform primary
General election
More information Party, Candidate ...
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent) | 1,610,498 | 49.97 | |
| Democratic | Daniel J. McLaughlin | 1,548,219 | 48.04 | |
| Reform | Valorie Bain | 64,001 | 1.99 | |
| Independent | Mark A. Mastrogiovanni | 226 | 0.01 | |
| Total votes | 3,222,944 | 100 | ||
Close
State Senate
Some of the seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1998. Republicans retained control of the chamber.[6]
State House of Representatives
All of the seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1998. Democrats retained control of the chamber.[6]
Judicial elections
Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 1998.
Ballot measure
Illinois voters voted on a single ballot measure in 1998.[7] 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.[7]
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.[7][8]
Local elections were held. These included county elections, such as the Cook County elections.
- For more on Cook County primary election turnout, see 1998 Cook County, Illinois elections#Primary election
- For more on Cook County general election turnout, see 1998 Cook County, Illinois elections#General election
- "Illinois Primary Results - March 17, 1998". www.cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- "Voter Turnout". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- "Election Results". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- "ORLAND MOVES TO CONTROL GROWTH". Crain's Chicago Business. August 6, 1994. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- O'Connor, Matt (March 14, 2002). "Ex-Cal City chief gets prison term". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- "Party control of Illinois state government". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- "Illinois Constitution - Amendments Proposed". www.ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- "Illinois Courts Commission, Amendment 1 (1998)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2020.