1998 Connecticut gubernatorial election

1998 Connecticut gubernatorial election
	November 3, 1998
Turnout	56.59%
	Rowland: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% ; 70–80% 80–90%; Kennelly: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Governor before election; John G. Rowland; Republican	Elected Governor ; John G. Rowland; Republican

The 1998 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998, and incumbent Republican Governor John G. Rowland won re-election against Democratic Candidate United States Congresswoman Barbara B. Kennelly. This election was the first time since 1944 that an incumbent Republican Governor of Connecticut was re-elected.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Barbara B. Kennelly, U.S. Representative from the CT-01

Results

Kennelly was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Republican primary

Candidates

John G. Rowland, incumbent Governor of Connecticut

Results

Rowland was unopposed in the Republican primary.

General election

Candidates

Democratic

Barbara B. Kennelly, U.S. Representative from the CT-01
- Running mate: Joe Courtney, Member of Connecticut House of Representatives

Republican

John G. Rowland, incumbent Governor of Connecticut
- Running mate: Jodi Rell, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	John Rowland (R)	Barbara Kennelly (D)	Undecided
Mason Dixon^[2]	October 26–27, 1998	633 (LV)	± 4.0%	58%	33%	9%
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute^[2]	October 13–19, 1998	683 (LV)	± 3.8%	72%	24%	4%
Mason Dixon^[2]	October 9–12, 1998	629 (LV)	± 4.0%	60%	28%	12%
University of Connecticut^[2]	September 12–16, 1998	505 (A)	± 5.0%	60%	23%	17%
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute^[2]	June 16–22, 1998	1,088 (RV)	± 3.0%	56%	32%	12%
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute^[2]	February 10–16, 1998	1,303 (RV)	± 3.0%	52%	35%	23%
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute^[2]	November 11–17, 1997	1,120 (RV)	± 3.0%	43%	44%	13%

Results

1998 Connecticut gubernatorial election^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John G. Rowland (incumbent)	628,707	62.90%	+26.70%
	Democratic	Barbara B. Kennelly	354,187	35.44%	+2.73%
	Concerned Citizens	Joseph A. Zdonczyk	8,792	0.88%	+0.01%
	Libertarian	Ned Vare	5,637	0.56%	N/A
	Term Limits	Roberta Scaglione	2,212	0.22%	N/A
Total votes			999,535	100.00%	N/A
	Republican hold

Notes

^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

Partisan clients

References

^ "Connecticut State Register and Manual, 1999". CT State Library.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Connecticut 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
^ ct.gov

[2] Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

[1] "Connecticut State Register and Manual, 1999". CT State Library.

[polls-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Connecticut 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.

[4] t.gov

[1]

[a]

[2]

[3]

Elections in Connecticut
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U.S. President	1788–89 1792 1796 1800 1804 1808 1812 1816 1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 2028
U.S. Senate	1788 1790 1791 1793 1796 1797 1801 1803 1807 1809 1812 1813 1814 1818 1819 1821 1824 1826 1831 1832 1837 1842 1852 (sp) 1854 1856 1860 1863 1866 1872 1879 1881 1885 1887 1891 1893 1897 1899 1903 1905 1909 1911 1914 1916 1920 1922 1926 1928 1932 1934 1938 1940 1944 1946 1950 1952 1956 1958 1962 1964 1968 1970 1974 1976 1980 1982 1986 1988 1992 1994 1998 2000 2004 2006 2010 2012 2016 2018 2022 2024
U.S. House	1788 1790 1792 1794 1796 1798 1800 1802 1804 1806 1808 1810 1812 1814 1816 1818 1821 1823 1825 1827 1829 1831 1833 1835 1837 1839 1840 1843 1845 1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
See also: Political party strength in Connecticut

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