# 1998 Hawaii gubernatorial election

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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

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Cayetano (incumbent) | 95,797 | 86.40 |
| | Democratic | Jim Brewer | 6,169 | 5.56 |
| | Democratic | Richard C. S. Ho | 3,024 | 2.73 |
| | Democratic | Fred K. Tamura | 2,740 | 2.47 |
| | Democratic | Raymond N. Onaga | 1,651 | 1.49 |
| | Democratic | Miles F. Shiratori | 1,499 | 1.35 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 110,880 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Linda Lingle, Mayor of Maui
* Frank Fasi, former Mayor of Honolulu and narrowly unsuccessful Independent candidate for governor in 1994

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Linda Lingle | 109,061 | 69.22 |
| | Republican | Frank F. Fasi | 48,488 | 30.78 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 157,549 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

Hawaii gubernatorial election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Ben Cayetano (incumbent) | 204,206 | 50.11% | +13.53% |
| | Republican | Linda Lingle | 198,952 | 48.82% | +18.15% |
| | Libertarian | George Peabody | 4,398 | 1.08% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,254 | 1.29% | −4.62% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 407,556 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |