November 3, 1998 2002 → 52.49% 44.08% | 941,076 790,201 | |
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The 1998 Georgia Gubernatorial Election was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Georgia Zell Miller was unable to seek re-election due to term limits, therefore creating an open seat. To replace him, State Representative Roy Barnes the Democratic Party's nomination after a close and highly contested primary election, while businessman Guy Millner, who had run for Governor and the United States Senate in the previous four years, won the nomination of the Republican Party. In the general election, Barnes was able to defeat Millner by a margin of victory larger than Governor Miller's victory over Millner four years prior, which was in part due to the unpopularity and controversy of Mitch Skandalakis, the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. As of 2016, this is the most recent election in which a Democrat was elected Governor of Georgia.