Gary Artinian
John Engler, incumbent governor
Engler, a two-term incumbent, faced token opposition in the Republican primary, winning re-nomination with 90 percent of the vote. Following Lt. Gov. Connie Binsfeld 's decision to not seek a third term, State Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus received the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.[ 2]
Early in the race, Owen was considered the front runner.[ 4] But due to Fieger's notoriety and personal wealth, he surpassed his opponents. He ended spending almost $6 million of his own money in the race.[ 5] Fieger won a close race, taking 41 percent of the vote.[ 6] State Rep. 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 Rep. Candace Curtis.[ 7]
County
Engler
Votes
Fieger
Votes
Others
Votes
Alcona
69.2%
2,951
30.8%
1,312
0.0%
0
Alger
56.9%
1,794
43.1%
1,358
0.0%
0
Allegan
77.8%
24,121
22.2%
6,896
0.0%
4
Alpena
65.8%
7,267
34.2%
3,785
0.0%
1
Antrim
68.5%
5,748
31.5%
2,641
0.0%
0
Arenac
59.0%
3,179
41.0%
2,210
0.0%
1
Baraga
53.6%
1,338
46.4%
1,157
0.0%
0
Barry
71.4%
13,148
28.6%
5,259
0.0%
0
Bay
60.8%
23,343
39.2%
15,017
0.0%
12
Benzie
62.8%
3,726
37.2%
2,206
0.0%
0
Berrien
73.5%
30,380
26.5%
10,971
0.0%
0
Branch
70.3%
7,623
29.7%
3,216
0.0%
1
Calhoun
67.2%
25,955
32.8%
12,661
0.0%
5
Cass
72.7%
9,177
27.3%
3,438
0.0%
0
Charlevoix
69.3%
6,290
30.7%
2,792
0.0%
0
Cheboygan
67.7%
6,036
32.3%
2,875
0.0%
0
Chippewa
61.3%
6,613
38.7%
4,180
0.0%
0
Clare
61.3%
5,649
38.7%
3,561
0.0%
0
Clinton
73.8%
17,696
26.0%
6,222
0.2%
56
Crawford
62.5%
3,051
37.5%
1,831
0.0%
0
Delta
59.3%
7,410
40.7%
5,080
0.0%
0
Dickinson
63.0%
6,183
37.0%
3,638
0.0%
0
Eaton
68.4%
24,778
31.6%
11,436
0.0%
8
Emmet
73.8%
7,765
26.2%
2,758
0.0%
0
Genesee
51.2%
69,799
48.8%
66,608
0.0%
10
Gladwin
63.7%
5,573
36.3%
3,177
0.0%
0
Gogebic
51.0%
3,020
49.0%
2,905
0.0%
0
Grand Traverse
71.6%
20,462
28.4%
8,101
0.0%
2
Gratiot
71.1%
7,998
28.9%
3,245
0.0%
0
Hillsdale
73.1%
9,027
26.9%
3,325
0.0%
5
Houghton
60.9%
6,443
39.1%
4,131
0.0%
2
Huron
76.1%
9,264
23.9%
2,902
0.0%
1
Ingham
60.1%
53,905
39.7%
35,584
0.2%
151
Ionia
71.2%
12,324
28.8%
4,996
0.0%
0
Iosco
66.5%
6,457
33.5%
3,252
0.0%
2
Iron
54.3%
2,715
45.7%
2,282
0.0%
0
Isabella
63.7%
9,423
36.3%
5,361
0.0%
0
Jackson
67.3%
31,330
32.7%
15,229
0.0%
2
Kalamazoo
67.6%
46,443
32.4%
22,275
0.0%
6
Kalkaska
63.1%
3,155
36.9%
1,844
0.0%
0
Kent
76.6%
133,120
23.4%
40,709
0.0%
8
Keweenaw
56.3%
566
43.7%
440
0.0%
0
Lake
53.5%
1,832
46.5%
1,593
0.0%
0
Lapeer
65.6%
17,382
34.4%
9,106
0.0%
1
Leelanau
70.9%
6,577
29.1%
2,705
0.0%
0
Lenawee
63.3%
18,137
36.7%
10,494
0.0%
0
Livingston
73.8%
37,458
26.2%
13,283
0.0%
2
Luce
58.0%
1,130
42.0%
819
0.0%
0
Mackinac
64.7%
3,054
35.3%
1,666
0.0%
0
Macomb
67.5%
166,920
32.5%
80,438
0.0%
18
Manistee
62.8%
5,493
37.2%
3,247
0.0%
0
Marquette
51.6%
11,157
48.4%
10,460
0.0%
0
Mason
66.1%
6,391
33.9%
3,277
0.0%
0
Mecosta
67.2%
7,065
32.8%
3,446
0.0%
1
Menominee
65.7%
4,579
34.3%
2,391
0.0%
0
Midland
73.6%
20,737
26.4%
7,445
0.0%
0
Missaukee
72.8%
3,629
27.2%
1,346
0.0%
0
Monroe
65.0%
26,690
35.0%
14,401
0.0%
0
Montcalm
68.6%
11,069
31.4%
5,058
0.0%
0
Montmorency
65.0%
2,499
35.0%
1,346
0.0%
0
Muskegon
60.5%
29,660
39.5%
19,331
0.0%
2
Newaygo
69.0%
9,776
31.0%
4,392
0.0%
0
Oakland
66.3%
264,551
33.7%
134,215
0.0%
120
Oceana
67.5%
5,231
32.5%
2,520
0.0%
0
Ogemaw
62.3%
4,796
37.7%
2,899
0.0%
0
Ontonagon
51.8%
1,553
48.2%
1,442
0.0%
1
Osceola
66.5%
4,918
33.5%
2,482
0.0%
0
Oscoda
64.9%
2,017
35.1%
1,091
0.0%
0
Otsego
71.6%
5,525
28.4%
2,195
0.0%
0
Ottawa
85.4%
67,054
14.6%
11,451
0.0%
9
Presque Isle
67.1%
3,871
32.9%
1,899
0.0%
0
Roscommon
63.7%
6,320
36.3%
3,608
0.0%
0
Saginaw
63.4%
43,766
36.6%
25,213
0.0%
9
St. Clair
64.1%
32,299
35.9%
18,025
0.0%
0
St. Joseph
74.9%
11,026
25.1%
3,703
0.0%
0
Sanilac
71.1%
9,941
28.8%
4,023
0.1%
8
Schoolcraft
55.5%
1,594
44.5%
1,277
0.0%
0
Shiawassee
66.3%
16,465
33.6%
8,347
0.1%
18
Tuscola
66.7%
12,074
33.3%
6,027
0.0%
0
Van Buren
67.8%
13,715
32.2%
6,499
0.0%
0
Washtenaw
57.0%
53,227
43.0%
40,078
0.0%
32
Wayne
42.9%
243,235
57.1%
324,351
0.0%
17
Wexford
67.1%
6,347
32.8%
3,108
0.1%
10
^ Wald, Matthew L. (November 5, 1998). "The 1998 elections: state by state -- Midwest; Michigan" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 31, 2011 .
^ "DECISION '98: A LOOK AT KEY ELECTIONS" . Crains Detroit . October 16, 1998. Retrieved October 12, 2017 .
^ a b "1998 Official Michigan Primary Election Results" . Michigan Department of State Bureau of Elections. September 28, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2017 .
^ "Larry Owen" . Our Campaigns . March 16, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2017 .
^ Kathleen Gray (May 12, 2017). "Geoffrey Fieger considering a return to politics with run for governor" . Detroit Free Press . Retrieved October 12, 2017 .
^ Associated Press (August 6, 1998). "Kevorkian's Lawyer Wins Gubernatorial Primary in Michigan" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 12, 2017 .
^ By From Tribune News Services (August 29, 1998). "Teachers Pleased By Fieger Running Mate" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved October 12, 2017 .
^ "1998 Official Michigan General Election Results: Governor 4 Year Term (1) Position" . Michigan Department of State Bureau of Elections. February 9, 1999. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2011 .