Idaho gubernatorial election, 1998
Encyclopedia
The 1998 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998 to select the governor of the state of Idaho
. Phil Batt
, the Republican
incumbent, chose not to run for a second term. The Republican nominee, United States Senator Dirk Kempthorne
, handily defeated the Democratic
nominee, former Idaho Supreme Court justice Robert C. Huntley, to keep the seat in GOP hands.
. In addition, Peter Rickards, a podiatrist and anti-nuclear waste advocate from Twin Falls
, siphoned off progressive votes that would have otherwise gone to the Democratic candidate.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Phil Batt
Phil Batt
Philip Eugene Batt was the 29th Governor of Idaho from 1995 to 1999.Batt was an onion and hops farmer from Wilder...
, the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent, chose not to run for a second term. The Republican nominee, United States Senator Dirk Kempthorne
Dirk Kempthorne
Dirk Arthur Kempthorne , was the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, who served under President George W. Bush from 2006 to 2009. A Republican, Kempthorne previously served as the 30th Governor and as a U.S. Senator from Idaho...
, handily defeated the Democratic
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee, former Idaho Supreme Court justice Robert C. Huntley, to keep the seat in GOP hands.
Results
Candidates
- Robert C. Huntley, former Idaho Supreme Court JusticeIdaho Supreme CourtThe Idaho Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Idaho, composed of the chief justice and four associate justices.The decisions of the Idaho Supreme Court are binding on all other Idaho state courts.The only court that may reverse or modify its decisions is the Supreme Court of...
, former Idaho State RepresentativeIdaho House of RepresentativesThe Idaho House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 70 representatives elected to two-year terms and meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the House:...
, former PocatelloPocatello, IdahoPocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
city councilman - William Tarnasky
- Jack Wayne Chappell
- Donald McMurrian
Results
General election
Given the lack of a high-profile candidate on the Democratic side, throughout the campaign many considered Kempthorne's election a foregone conclusion. Indeed, Huntley's performance was well below that of the 1994 Democratic nominee Larry EchoHawkLarry EchoHawk
Larry EchoHawk is an attorney and legal scholar. On May 20, 2009, EchoHawk joined the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama as the head of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. He served as Attorney General of Idaho from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:EchoHawk was raised in Farmington, New...
. In addition, Peter Rickards, a podiatrist and anti-nuclear waste advocate from Twin Falls
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 censusTwin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's Magic Valley region...
, siphoned off progressive votes that would have otherwise gone to the Democratic candidate.
See also
- Governor of Idaho
- List of Governors of Idaho
- Idaho gubernatorial electionsIdaho gubernatorial electionsIdaho gubernatorial elections have been held since statehood in 1890 to directly elect the Governor of Idaho. After the initial election was held in October 1890, each subsequent election was held every two years in November until 1946. Elections after 1946 were held in November every four...