1998 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
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 County results Keating: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Boyd: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Oklahoma |
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 Government |
The 1998 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998, and was a race for Governor of Oklahoma.
Incumbent Republican Frank Keating won re-election in a landslide against Democratic State Representative Laura Boyd. The Reform Party, the first alternative party to be able to run a candidate for governor in the state since 1970, had Hoppy Heidelberg as its candidate.[1] Heidelberg was removed from a gubernatorial debate that he disrupted after not being allowed to be a participant.[2]
This was the first occasion since Oklahoma statehood that Bryan, Carter, Cotton, Garvin, Greer, Harmon, Jefferson, Kiowa, Love, Murray, and Pontotoc counties voted for a Republican for Governor, although several of these counties backed Independent candidate Wes Watkins four years earlier.
This election marked the first time a woman received the nomination for governor from a major party in Oklahoma. It was also the first time a Republican was elected to a consecutive term (Henry Bellmon was the first Republican to serve two terms, though not consecutive).
Candidates
Republican
- Frank Keating – incumbent Governor of Oklahoma, former Reagan Administration official
- Joe Vickers - perennial candidate, removed from the ballot after his candidacy was successfully challenged by Keating [3]
Democrat
- Laura Boyd – State Representative from Norman, Oklahoma
- James Hager - State Representative from Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Reform
- Hoppy Heidelberg – former member of the Oklahoma City Bombing grand jury
Democratic primary
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Laura Boyd | 171,121 | 60.2 | |
| Democratic | James Hager | 112,941 | 39.8 | |
| Total votes | 284,062 | 100.00 | ||
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Keating (incumbent) | 505,498 | 57.9% | +11.0% | |
| Democratic | Laura Boyd | 357,552 | 40.9% | +11.3% | |
| Reform | Hoppy Heidelberg | 10,535 | 1.2% | New | |
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ "Ex-OC Bombing Juror Hoppy Heidelberg to Run for Governor | Latest Headlines | tulsaworld.com".
- ^ Hinton, Mick (October 27, 1998). "Reform Candidate Says He's Banned From OU". The Oklahoman.
- ^ Hinton, Mick; English, Paul (July 15, 1998). "Keating Gets GOP Challenger Vickers Ousted From Race". The Oklahoman.
- ^ "Oklahoma State Election Board, Primary Election Results, August 25, 1998" (PDF).
- ^ "State of Oklahoma Official Returns, General Election - November 3, 1998" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. p. 2.