Florida gubernatorial election, 1998
Encyclopedia
The 1998 Florida Gubernatorial Election was held on November 3, 1998. Governor Lawton Chiles
was term-limited and could not run for re-election. Republican Jeb Bush
, who had previously run for Governor in 1994 as the Republican nominee, defeated Democratic nominee Buddy MacKay
in the general election. On December 12, 1998, incumbent Governor Lawton Chiles died, making Lieutenant Governor MacKay the 42nd Governor of Florida, ironically thrusting him into the office which he had just lost an election for.
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
was term-limited and could not run for re-election. Republican Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
, who had previously run for Governor in 1994 as the Republican nominee, defeated Democratic nominee Buddy MacKay
Buddy MacKay
Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat from Florida. A Democrat, he was briefly the 42nd Governor of Florida following the death of Lawton Chiles on December 12, 1998. During his long public service career he was also state legislator, U.S. Representative, Lt...
in the general election. On December 12, 1998, incumbent Governor Lawton Chiles died, making Lieutenant Governor MacKay the 42nd Governor of Florida, ironically thrusting him into the office which he had just lost an election for.