1998 Hawaii gubernatorial election
The 1998 Hawaii gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Hawaii Ben Cayetano ran for re-election to a second and final term, and he was contested by Maui Mayor Linda Lingle. The race between Cayetano and Lingle was close, with Lingle holding a sizable polling advantage. Ultimately, Cayetano narrowly won re-election to a second term in the closest gubernatorial election in Hawaii's history.
This, alongside the 1966 elections, is the only time a Democrat was elected governor without sweeping every county in the state. Lingle later won Hawaii's governorship in 2002 when Cayetano was term-limited; she was re-elected in 2006.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Ben Cayetano, incumbent Governor of Hawaii
- Jim Brewer, perennial candidate
- Richard C. S. Ho, former Hawaii State Representative
- Fred K. Tamura
- Raymond N. Onaga
- Miles F. Shiratori, perennial candidate
Republican primary
Candidates
- Linda Lingle, Mayor of Maui
- Frank Fasi, former Mayor of Honolulu and narrowly unsuccessful Independent candidate for governor in 1994