1998 Georgia gubernatorial election
The 1998 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic Governor Zell Miller was unable to seek re-election due to term limits, therefore creating an open seat. To replace him, State Representative Roy Barnes won the Democratic Party's nomination after a close and highly contested primary election, while businessman Guy Millner, who had run for Governor and the United States Senate in the previous four years, won the nomination of the Republican Party. In the general election, Barnes was able to defeat Millner by a margin of victory larger than Governor Miller's victory over Millner four years prior, which was in part due to the unpopularity and controversy of Mitch Skandalakis, the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. As of 2021, this is the most recent election in which a Democrat was elected Governor of Georgia.
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![]() County results Barnes: 40-50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Millner: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Georgia |
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Roy Barnes, Georgia State Representative
- Lewis A. Massey, Georgia Secretary of State
- David Poythress, Georgia Commissioner of Labor
- Steve Langford, Georgia State Senator
- Morris James
- Carlton Myers
Results

- Barnes—61-70%
- Barnes—51-60%
- Barnes—41-50%
- Barnes—31-40%
- Massey—61-70%
- Massey—51-60%
- Massey—41-50%
- Massey—31-40%
- Langford—31-40%
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Roy Barnes | 239,517 | 49.20 | |
Democratic | Lewis A. Massey | 135,920 | 27.92 | |
Democratic | David Poythress | 65,860 | 13.53 | |
Democratic | Steve Langford | 31,543 | 6.48 | |
Democratic | Morris James | 9,148 | 1.88 | |
Democratic | Carlton Myers | 4,853 | 1.00 | |
Total votes | 486,841 | 100.00 |
Runoff results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Roy Barnes | 221,651 | 82.90 | |
Democratic | Lewis A. Massey | 45,735 | 17.10 | |
Total votes | 267,386 | 100.00 |
Republican primary
Candidates
- Guy Millner, 1996 Republican nominee for the United States Senate, 1994 Republican nominee for Governor of Georgia, businessman
- Mike Bowers, Attorney General of Georgia
- Nancy Schaefer, 1994 Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
- Bruce Hatfield
Results

- Millner—71-80%
- Millner—61-70%
- Millner—51-60%
- Millner—41-50%
- Bowers—51-60%
- Bowers—41-50%
- Tie between Bowers and Millner—41%
- Tie between Bowers, Millner, and Hatfield—33%
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Guy Millner | 210,845 | 50.38 | |
Republican | Mike Bowers | 167,074 | 39.92 | |
Republican | Nancy Schaefer | 32,315 | 7.72 | |
Republican | Bruce Hatfield | 8,308 | 1.98 | |
Total votes | 418,542 | 100.00 |
General election
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Roy Barnes | 941,076 | 52.49% | +1.44% | |
Republican | Guy Millner | 790,201 | 44.08% | -4.87% | |
Libertarian | Jack Cashin | 61,531 | 3.43% | ||
Majority | 150,875 | 8.42% | +6.31% | ||
Turnout | 1,792,808 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing |