The 1998 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998.
Term limits prevented incumbent Governor
Ben Nelson, a
Democrat, from seeking a third term in office.
Republican nominee
Mike Johanns,
Mayor of Lincoln, defeated Democratic nominee, attorney Bill Hoppner. As of 2023[update], this was the last gubernatorial election in Nebraska in which the margin of victory was within single digits. Johanns later served Nebraska in the
United States Senate with Nelson from 2009 to 2013.
Pam Bataillon ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.[2] She was the vice president of the Visiting Nurse Association from
Omaha, Nebraska.[3] She is the wife of
Joseph Bataillon, a federal judge who was prevented from participating in her campaign due to judicial ethics requirements.[2]
^State of Nebraska. Secretary of State of Nebraska. Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers.
Comp. Scott Moore. Lincoln, Nebraska, 1998. A1. PDF file