1998 Maine gubernatorial election

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Thomas J. Connolly, attorney and activist
• Joseph Ricci, founder of the Élan School and owner of Scarborough Downs

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Henry L. Joy, State Representative
• James B. Longley Jr., former U.S. Representative and son of former governor James B. Longley, Sr.
• Leo G. Martin

Results

General election

Candidates

• Angus King (independent), incumbent governor of Maine
• Thomas J. Connolly (Democratic), attorney
• James B. Longley Jr. (Republican), former U.S. Representative and son of former governor James B. Longley, Sr.
• Pat LaMarche (Green), public figure and activist
• William P. Clarke Jr. (Constitution)

Endorsements

Individuals

• Joseph E. Brennan, former Governor of Maine (1979–1987), former U.S. Representative for Maine's 1st congressional district (1987–1991)
• George J. Mitchell, former U.S. Senator from Maine (1980–1995), former Senate Majority Leader (1989–1995)

Organizations

• Maine AFL-CIO

Publications

• Casco Bay Weekly Individuals
• Ken Curtis, former Governor of Maine (1967–1975) (Democrat)

Organizations

• Maine Education Association
• Sportsman's Alliance of Maine Individuals
• Jock McKernan, former Governor of Maine (1987–1995), former U.S. Representative for Maine's 1st congressional district (1983–1987)
• Olympia Snowe, U.S. Senator from Maine (1995–2013), former U.S. Representative for Maine's 2nd congressional district (1979–1995) Individuals
• Jonathan Carter, scientist, Green nominee for Governor of Maine in 1994

Organizations

• Maine National Organization for Women

Polling

Results

Connolly was inspired to run following King's handling of the January 1998 North American ice storm, which hit Maine particularly hard, while Longley criticized Maine's tax burden and echoed the Republican line that King was a "Democrat in disguise."

King won in a landslide, carrying all sixteen counties and almost every municipality in Maine. Longley did manage to carry 22 municipalities in rural Aroostook, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Washington counties, and he also tied King in two other municipalities. Connolly would win only the Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation, though he did tie King 4–4 in Beddington, while Constitution Party candidate William P. Clarke Jr. would carry the town of Talmadge over King, eight votes to seven. Despite getting nearly twice the votes of Clarke, LaMarche would fail to carry any municipality, though she did manage to tie King in Allagash and come in second to King in Jackson.

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Independent

• Kennebec (largest city: Augusta)
• Somerset (largest town: Skowhegan)
• York (largest town: Biddeford)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Independent

• Aroostook (largest city: Presque Isle)
• Penobscot (largest city: Bangor)
• Piscataquis (largest municipality: Dover-Foxcroft)
• Washington (largest city: Calais)

Notes

References

References

1. "Maine Primary Election Results - June 9, 1998 {{!}} Governor - Democratic".
2. "Maine Primary Election Results - June 9, 1998 {{!}} Governor - Republican".
3. (October 22, 1998). ""Chewing On The Issues: Dogging the Candidates for Governor"". [[Casco Bay Weekly]].
4. (1998-11-11). "Tom Connolly - Democratic Candidate for Governor of Maine".
5. Delaney, Bill. (October 28, 1998). "Nice guy looks to finish first in Maine governor's race - October 28, 1998".
6. "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Maine 1998 Polls". [[CNN]].
7. (2010-04-30). "Lawyers, Guns, No Money".
8. Higgins, A. Jay. (March 1, 1998). "Longley plans gubernatorial bid". [[Bangor Daily News]].
9. "General Election Tabulations - November 3, 1998 {{!}} Governor, U.S. Congress, State Legislature".