Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1998
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
, 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 Charles D. Baker, Jr.
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.
On November 3, Cellucci defeated Harshbarger by 65,317 votes.
Paul Cellucci
Argeo Paul Cellucci is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts and US Ambassador to Canada.-Early life and career:...
was elected to his first term as Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
.
Governor
Cellucci was challenged in the Republican primary by Treasurer and Receiver-GeneralTreasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
The Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts is an executive officer, elected state-wide every four years....
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
Kennedy family
In the United States, the phrase Kennedy family commonly refers to the family descending from the marriage of the Irish-Americans Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald that was prominent in American politics and government. Their political involvement has revolved around the...
member Joseph Patrick Kennedy II
Joseph Patrick Kennedy II
Joseph Patrick Kennedy II is an American businessman and Democratic politician.He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 8th congressional district of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1999. In 1979 he founded and led until election to the U.S...
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
Patricia McGovern
Patricia McGovern is an attorney and former Democratic Massachusetts State Senator from Lawrence, Massachusetts. She is currently the General Counsel and Senior Vice President for Corporate and Community Affairs at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center....
and former United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago
United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago
This is a list of United States Ambassadors to Trinidad and Tobago. The United States Embassy is located in Trinidad and Tobago's capital, Port of Spain, and was established there on August 31, 1962...
Brian J. Donnelly
Brian J. Donnelly
Brian Joseph Donnelly of Dorchester, Boston was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1979 to 1993. He is a Democrat....
in the Democratic primary.
Lt. Governor
Cellucci's Secretary of Consumer Affairs Jane M. SwiftJane M. Swift
Jane Maria Swift is an American politician, who served as the 69th lieutenant governor from 1999 to 2003 and acting governor of Massachusetts from 2001 to 2003. She is the only woman to perform the duties of governor of Massachusetts, doing so from April 2001 to January 2003...
, 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 Charles D. Baker, Jr.
Charles D. Baker, Jr.
Charles Duane "Charlie" Baker, Jr. , is an American businessman and politician from Massachusetts. He was a cabinet official under two Massachusetts governors, spent ten years as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and was the Republican candidate in the 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial...
and Suffolk County District Attorney Ralph C. Martin II declined to run.
State Senator Warren Tolman
Warren Tolman
Warren E. Tolman is a Massachusetts lawyer and former member of the Massachusetts General Court, serving in both of the Court's houses...
defeated Governor's Councilor
Massachusetts Governor's Council
The Massachusetts Governor's Council is a governmental body that provides advice and consent in certain matters such as judicial nominations, pardons, and commutations to the Governor of Massachusetts...
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.