1998 Wyoming state elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1998 Wyoming state elections Wyoming presidential no 1994 Wyoming state elections 1994 2002 Wyoming state elections 2002 A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 3, 1998. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. In addition, seats in both houses of the Wyoming Legislature were up, as well as the state's sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Governor 1998 Wyoming gubernatorial election Incumbent Republican Governor Jim Geringer ran for re-election to a second term. He won the Republican primary in a landslide, and then faced State Senator John Vinich, who won a contested Democratic primary, in the general election. Owing in part to the state's Republican lean, Geringer defeated Vinich by a wide margin, winning 56% of the vote to Vinich's 41%. Wyoming gubernatorial election, 1998https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/1998/98Results/98General/Statewide_Issues%20Abstract.pdf Statewide Issues Abstract Wyoming Secretary of State May 23, 2021 Republican Party (United States) Jim Geringer (inc.) 97,235 55.60 -3.12% Democratic Party (United States) John Vinich 70,754 40.46 +0.28% Libertarian Party (United States) Dave Dawson 6,899 3.94 +2.83% 174,888 100.00 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Secretary of State First-term Secretary of State Diana Ohman, a Republican, opted against seeking re-election to a second term, creating an open seat.April 1, 1998 Mockler enters secretary of state race Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A10 Former state attorney general Joe Meyer;April 23, 1998 Meyer resigns from UW to run for secretary of state Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A10 Johnnie Burton, the former director of the state department of revenue and a former state representative;April 28, 1998 Burton to run for secretary of state Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A8 and Lorraine Quarberg, the former chair of the Republican Party of Wyoming,April 24, 1998 Republican Quarberg announces Secretary of State candidacy Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1 all ran in the Republican primary to succeed Ohman. Former State Representative Steve Cranfill initially ran in the Republican primary, as well, but dropped out of the race shortly after joining.May 22, 1998 GOP candidate Cranfill drops out Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A12 Shortly after the race started, Burton was in a near-fatal automobile accident, prompting Meyer to suspend his campaign while she recovered.June 2, 1998 Burton out of ICU, future of campaign still undecided Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1 Several weeks later, Burton was cleared to return to the campaign trail, but acknowledged that the limitations on her mobility could affect her ability to connect with voters.June 11, 1998 Wreck doesn't deter Burton Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1 Meyer staked out a position as the frontrunner in the race, earning endorsements from the state's most prominent Republicans, including former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson and former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney,August 16, 1998 Republicans jostle for nomination Drake Kerry Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. G1, G2 and from the Wyoming Education Association.July 6, 1998 O'Steen closes medical office Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A4, A5 He was ultimately able to win the primary by a wide margin, receiving 45% of the vote to Burton's 29% and Quarberg's 26%. In the general election, Meyer faced E. Jayne Mockler, a State Senator from Cheyenne, who won the Democratic primary unopposed.April 22, 1998 Mockler enters secretary of state race Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A5 The campaign grew acrimonious quickly, with Mockler accusing Meyer of telling a group of county officials that he met with Governor Jim Geringer "to discuss what his duties would be as lieutenant governor." She argued that he was "demonstrating the same kind of arrogance and behind-the-door behavior that Jim Geringer has displayed during the past four years." Meyer admitted the meeting, but Geringer's press secretary denied it, noting that "the only 'meeting' that occurred basin Jayne's head" and suggesting that she was "hallucinating."October 6, 1998 Mockler, Meyer square off Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A8 The candidates also sparred on the issue of public lands, with Mockler accusing Meyer of being out of touch with the needs of the state's hunters, and with Meyer accusing her of "dirty politics" and for taking his words out of context.October 25, 1998 Meyer accuses Mockler of 'dirty politics' Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1, B2 In the end, Meyer defeated Mockler by a wide margin to win his first term as Secretary of State, receiving 60% of the vote to her 40%. He won a wide victory throughout the state, losing only Sweetwater County to Mockler. Democratic primary Candidates E. Jayne Mockler, State Senator Results Democratic Party primary resultshttps://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/1998/98Results/98_Primary_SW_Candidates.pdf Statewide Candidates Abstract -- Primary Election -- August 18, 1998 Wyoming Secretary of State May 23, 2021 E. Jayne Mockler Democratic Party (United States) 30,288 100.00 30,288 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Joe Meyer, former Attorney General of Wyoming Johnnie Burton, former Director of the Wyoming Department of Revenue, former State Representative Lorraine Quarberg, former Chairwoman of the Republican Party of Wyoming Results Republican Primary results Joe Meyer Republican Party (United States) 35,858 45.02 Johnnie Burton Republican Party (United States) 22,822 28.65 Lorraine Quarberg Republican Party (United States) 20,973 26.33 79,653 100.00 General election Results 2002 Wyoming Secretary of State election Republican Party (United States) Joe Meyer 102,145 60.21% -6.21% Democratic Party (United States) E. Jayne Mockler 67,511 39.79% +6.21% 34,634 20.41% -12.41% 169,656 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Meyer: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Mockler: #7996E2 50–60% Auditor Incumbent State Auditor Dave Ferrari, a Republican, opted against seeking a third term. Max Maxfield, the former director of the state department of commerce, and Bob Grieve, the President of the State Senate, ran in the Republican primary to succeed him. Grieve entered the race as the heavy frontrunner, and significantly outraised and outspent Maxfield.August 16, 1998 Grieve outspending Maxfield by 74 percent Stoelzle Deirdre Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1, B2 However, Maxfield found success in attacking Grieve over the conflict of interest he would face as State Auditor in sitting on the State Land Board while holding state leases.July 29, 1998 Maxfield plays up lack of grazing interests Tollefson Chris Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A4 Grieve denied that he directly held any state leases, but instead held stock in companies that themselves held leases.July 9, 1998 Grieve holds no state grazing leases directly Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1, B2 In the end, Maxfield narrowly defeated Grieve, winning 52% of the vote to Grieve's 48%, perhaps in large part due to his ability to weaponize Grieve's financial holdings.September 6, 1998 Public lands access hot button issue Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. E1 No Democratic candidates filed to run for Auditor. However, Deputy State Auditor Jan Washburn received 350 write-in votes in the Democratic primary, entitling her to the party's nomination. She declined to accept it, leaving the party without a nominee.September 4, 1998 Washburn declines Democratic slot for state auditor Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1, B2 Accordingly, Maxfield was elected unopposed. Democratic primary No Democratic candidates filed. Republican primary Candidates Max Maxfield, former Director of the Wyoming Department of Commerce Robert Grieve, President of the State Senate Results Republican Primary results Max Maxfield Republican Party (United States) 41,731 51.68 Robert Grieve Republican Party (United States) 39,024 48.32 80,755 100.00 General election Results 1998 Wyoming Auditor election Republican Party (United States) Max Maxfield 139,441 100.00% 139,441 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Maxfield: #A80000 90–100% Treasurer Incumbent State Treasurer Stan Smith, a Republican, declined to seek re-election. Cynthia Lummis, Governor Jim Geringer's general counsel and a former state senator, won the Republican primary unopposed. In the general election, she faced Butch Loveridge, the Democratic nominee, and James Blomquist, the Libertarian nominee. The ensuing campaign was largely non-controversial. Lummis campaigned on bringing innovative solutions to making state investments, like bringing local investment managers into the decision-making process.April 21, 1998 Lummis to run for state treasurer Drake Kerry Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A8 Lummis ultimately won the general election in a landslide, winning 63% of the vote to Loveridge's 31% and Blomquist's 6%. 1998 Wyoming Treasurer election Republican Party (United States) Cynthia Lummis 105,332 62.69% -2.51% Democratic Party (United States) Butch Loveridge 52,655 31.34% -3.46% Libertarian Party (United States) Blomquist 10,024 5.97% +5.97% 52,677 31.35% +0.95% 168,011 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Lummis: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Loveridge: #7996E2 50–60% Superintendent of Public Instruction Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Judy Catchpole, a Republican, ran for re-election to a second term. She was opposed by Gene Lane, the Democratic nominee and the head of an alternative junior high school in Sweetwater County School District 1, and both won their primaries unopposed. In the general election, Lane won the endorsement of the Wyoming Education Association and the Wyoming Public Employees Association.October 25, 1998 Making the most of grazing fees Stoelzle Deirdre Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A10 Catchpole ended up easily defeating Lane to win a second term, though the race was closer than most other statewide elections. Democratic primary Candidates Gene Lane, head of alternative public junior high school Results Democratic Party primary results Gene Lane Democratic Party (United States) 28,956 100.00 28,956 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Judy Catchpole, incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Results Republican Party primary results Judy Catchpole (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 72,064 100.00 72,064 100.00 General election Results 2006 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Republican Party (United States) Judy Catchpole (inc.) 98,289 57.25% -0.44% Democratic Party (United States) Gene Lane 73,393 42.75% +0.44% 171,682 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Catchpole: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Lane: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% US Representative 1998 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming 1998 Wyoming's at-large congressional district general election resultsStatewide Issues Abstract Wyoming Secretary of State, Elections Division 1998 https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/1998/98Results/98General/Statewide_Issues%20Abstract.pdf June 17, 2025 Barbara Cubin (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 100,687 57.79% Scott Farris Democratic Party (United States) 67,399 38.69% Steve Richardson Libertarian Party (United States) 6,133 3.52% 174,219 100.00% Republican Party (United States) State Legislature 1998 Wyoming House of Representatives election 1998 Wyoming Senate election References Wyoming