November 2, 1998 2002 → 50.81% 47.38% | 967,160 901,843 | |
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The 1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Acting Governor Paul Cellucci was elected to his first term as Governor of Massachusetts.
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Governor
Cellucci was challenged in the Republican primary by Treasurer and Receiver-General Joe Malone. The race between Cellucci and Malone was acrimonious, with each candidate accusing the other of committing ethical violations.
On September 16, Cellucci defeated Malone to win his party's nomination.
Former Congressman and Kennedy family member Joseph Patrick Kennedy II was considered to be the early front-runner for the Democratic nomination, but personal and family problems resulted in him ending his campaign in August 1997.
Attorney General Scott Harshbarger defeated State Senator Patricia McGovern and former United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Brian J. Donnelly in the Democratic primary.
Lt. Governor
Cellucci's Secretary of Consumer Affairs, Jane M. Swift, defeated Malone's running mate, radio host Janet E. Jeghelian for the Republican nomination. Cellucci chose Swift as his running mate after Secretary of Administration and Finance of Massachusetts Charlie Baker and Suffolk County District Attorney Ralph C. Martin II declined to run.
State Senator Warren Tolman defeated Governor's Councilor Dorothy Kelly Gay in the Democratic primary.
General election
In a January opinion poll, Cellucci lead Harshbarger 50%-30%. By August, Harshbarger had taken a 37%-35% lead over Cellucci. After Harshbarger's primary victory, many moderate Democrats who had voted for McGovern or Donnelly, chose to support the socially liberal, fiscally moderate Cellucci instead of the more liberal Harshbarger.
On November 3, Cellucci defeated Harshbarger by 65,317 votes.