The 1998 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Governor Tommy Thompson won re-election for his fourth consecutive term with 59.66% of the vote. As of 2026, this is most recent gubernatorial election in which Milwaukee, Rock, Portage, and Iowa counties voted for the Republican candidate, the most recent where the winner garnered a double-digit margin of victory, and the last time a governor in the United States was reelected to a fourth consecutive four-year term.
Primary election
The primary election was held on September 8, 1998. Nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were selected in separate primaries before running on a joint ticket in the general election.
Republican party
Governor
- Jeffrey A. Hyslop
- Tommy G. Thompson, incumbent governor
Lieutenant Governor
- Scott McCallum, incumbent lieutenant governor
Democratic party
Governor
- Ed Garvey, former executive director of the NFLPA and candidate for US Senate in 1986
- Gary R. George, member of Wisconsin Senate
Lieutenant Governor
- Barbara Lawton, businesswoman
Libertarian party
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
US Taxpayers' party
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Green party
Governor
Independent nominations
Governor
- Mike Mangan
- A-Ja-mu Muhammad
Lieutenant Governor
General election
Candidates
- Ed Garvey & Barbara Lawton, Democrat
- Tommy G. Thompson & Scott McCallum, Republican
- Jim Mueller & James Dean, Libertarian
- Edward J. Frami & Thomas R. Rivers, US Taxpayers'
- Jeffrey Lane Smith, Green
- Mike Mangan, Independent
- A-Ja-mu Muhammad & Vida Harley Bridges, Independent
Results by county
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Ashland
- Bayfield
- Dane
- Douglas