The 1998 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Michigan. Republican incumbent John Engler was re-elected to a third term in office over Democratic lawyer Geoffrey Fieger in a landslide.
Engler won the Republican nomination against token opposition. Fieger, who was best known for representing the assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, funded his own successful campaign for the Democratic nomination and defeated East Lansing mayor Larry Owen and former state senator Doug Ross.
As of 2026, this was the last time Genesee County and Washtenaw County voted for the Republican gubernatorial candidate.
Background
Although Michigan voters had passed a ballot measure in 1992 limiting governors to two terms in office, it was not retroactive and counted only towards people taking office in or after 1993. As Engler had first taken office in 1991, his first term did not count towards the two-term limit, and he was allowed to run for a third term.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Gary Artinian
- John Engler, incumbent governor of Michigan since 1991
Campaign
Engler, a two-term incumbent, faced token opposition in the Republican primary, winning re-nomination with almost 90 percent of the vote. Following lieutenant governor Connie Binsfeld's decision to not seek a third term, Michigan Senate majority leader Dick Posthumus received the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Geoffrey Fieger, attorney known for representing Jack Kevorkian
- Larry Owen, former mayor of East Lansing
- Doug Ross, former state senator from Oak Park
Candidates
Early in the race, Owen was considered the front runner. But due to Fieger's notoriety and personal wealth, he surpassed his opponents. He ended up spending almost $6 million of his own money in the race. Fieger won a close race, taking 41 percent of the vote. State representative Jim Agee, after securing the support from the Michigan Education Association was picked by Fieger to be his running mate, over Fieger's initial preferred choice, state representative Candace Curtis.
General election
Candidates
- John Engler, incumbent governor of Michigan since 1991 (Republican)
- Geoffrey Fieger, attorney known for representing Jack Kevorkian (Democratic)
Results
Results by county