The 1998 Iowa gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican Governor Terry Branstad did not seek re-election to a fifth consecutive term; he later successfully ran again in 2010 and 2014.

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1998 Iowa gubernatorial election

← 1994 November 3, 1998 2002 →

Nominee Tom Vilsack Jim Ross Lightfoot Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 500,231 444,787 Percentage 52.3% 46.5%

County results Vilsack:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Lightfoot:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Terry Branstad Republican Elected Governor Tom Vilsack Democratic

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To replace him, State Senator Tom Vilsack narrowly won the nomination of the Democratic Party while former United States Congressman Jim Ross Lightfoot, who was previously the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 1996, won his party's nomination. Lightfoot was the odds-on favorite to succeed Branstad and polling consistently showed him in the lead.^[1] However, Vilsack comfortably won the general election in a stunning upset, becoming the first Democrat to serve as governor of Iowa in 30 years and only the fifth Democrat to hold the office in the 20th century. Lightfoot never conceded defeat.^[2]

• 1998 United States gubernatorial elections
• State of Iowa
• Governors of Iowa