Colorado gubernatorial election, 1998

Colorado gubernatorial election, 1998

November 3, 1998

Nominee Bill Owens Gail Schoettler Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 648,202 639,905 Percentage 49.06% 48.43%

Governor before election Roy Romer Democratic Elected Governor Bill Owens Republican

The 1998 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998 to select the governor of the state of Colorado. Roy Romer, the Democratic incumbent was term limited and could not run again. The Republican nominee, Colorado Treasurer Bill Owens, narrowly defeated the Democratic nominee, Colorado Lieutenant Governor Gail Schoettler, to flip the seat to the Republicans for the first time in 24 years.

Democratic Primary

• Gail Schoettler, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado
• Mike Feeley, Minority Leader of the Colorado State Senate

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gail Schoettler	79,607	55.25
	Democratic	Mike Feeley	64,466	44.75
Total votes			144,073	100.00

Republican Primary

• Bill Owens, Colorado State Treasurer
• Tom Norton, President of the Colorado State Senate

Republican primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Owens	126,613	59.20
	Republican	Tom Norton	87,269	40.80
Total votes			213,882	100.00

General election

Colorado gubernatorial election, 1998

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bill Owens	648,202	49.06%	+10.36%
	Democratic	Gail Schoettler	639,905	48.43%	-7.03%
	Libertarian	Sandra D. Johnson	22,202	1.68%
	Constitution	Tim Leonard	10,998	0.83%
Majority			8,297	0.63%	-16.13%
Turnout			1,321,307
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing