# 1998 Illinois elections

Elections in Illinois :
Federal government
U.S. Presidential elections
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
Dem
Rep
1988
1992
1996
Dem
Rep
2000
Dem
Rep
2004
Dem
Rep
2008
Dem
Rep
2012
Dem
Rep
2016
Dem
Rep
2020
Dem
Rep
2024
Dem
Rep
U.S. Senate elections
1818
1819
1823
1824
1824 sp
1825
1830 sp
1831
1835
1837
1843
1846
1849
1849 sp
1853
1859
1861
1863 sp
1867
1879
1882
1885
1885 sp
1887 sp
1888
1890
1894
1896
1897
1901
1903
1907
1909
1913
1913 sp
1914
1918
1920
1924
1926
1928 sp
1930
1932
1936
1938
1940 sp
1942
1944
1948
1950
1954
1956
1960
1962
1966
1968
1970 sp
1972
1974
1978
1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1996
1998
2002
2004
2008
2010
2010 sp
2014
2016
2020
2022
2026
U.S. House elections
1818
1819
1820
1822
1824
1826
1828
1831
1832
1834
1836
1838
1840
1842
1844
1846
1848
1850
1852
1854
1856
1858
1859
6th sp
1860
1861
6th sp
1862
1864
1866
1868
1870
1871
AL sp
1872
1874
1876
1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1895
10th sp
18th sp
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
4th sp
1920
1922
AL sp
1923
2nd sp
4th sp
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
19th sp
1946
1948
1950
1952
1953
7th sp
1954
1956
1957
7th sp
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1969
13th sp
1970
6th sp
1972
15th sp
1973
7th sp
1974
1975
5th sp
1976
1978
1980
10th sp
1982
1983
1st sp
1984
1985
14th sp
1986
1988
21st sp
1990
1991
15th sp
1992
1994
1995
2nd sp
1996
1998
2000
1st
2002
2004
2006
2008
14th sp
2009
5th sp
2010
17th
2012
2013
2nd sp
2014
2015
18th sp
2016
2018
2020
2022
1st
2024 :
State government
General elections
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1969
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1818
1822
1826
1830
1834
1838
1842
1846
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections
1818
1822
1826
1830
1834
1838
1842
1846
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
Attorney General elections
2018
2022
Secretary of State elections
2022
Comptroller elections
2016
Senate elections
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
1964
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Judicial elections
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures and referendums
State capitol referendum (1834)
Cutback Amendment (1980)
Crime Victim Rights Amendment (1992)
Illinois Governor Recall Amendment (2010)
Public Pension Amendment (2012)
Marsy's Law (2014)
Right to Vote Amendment (2014)
Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment (2016)
Fair Tax (2020)
Right to Collective Bargaining Amendment (2022) :
Chicago
General elections
2019
2023
Mayoral elections
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1865
1867
1869
1871
1873
1876
1877
1879
1881
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1893 sp
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1911
1915
1919
1923
1927
1931
1935
1939
1943
1947
1951
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971
1975
1977 sp
1979
1983
1987
1989 sp
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023
2027
Aldermanic elections
1923
1925
1927
1929
2011
2015
2019
2023
Chicago Board of Education elections
2024
2026 :
Cook County
County elections
1946
1980
State's Attorney
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
vte :
Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 3, 1998. Primary elections were held on March 17, 1998.
These elections saw Democrats make gains. The Democratic Party went from holding no statewide offices, to holding two.

## Election information

1998 was a midterm election year in the United States.

### Turnout
#### Primary election

For the primary election, turnout was 27.04%, with 1,824,806 votes cast.
Turnout by county
| County | Registration | Votes cast | Turnout |
| Adams | 39,753 | 8,380 | 21.08% |
| Alexander | 7,519 | 3,603 | 47.92% |
| Bond | 9,811 | 1,793 | 18.28% |
| Boone | 22,061 | 7,131 | 32.32% |
| Brown | 3,271 | 2,029 | 62.03% |
| Bureau | 25,112 | 7,924 | 31.55% |
| Calhoun | 3,798 | 1,220 | 32.12% |
| Carroll | 10,905 | 3,842 | 35.23% |
| Cass | 9,649 | 4,374 | 45.33% |
| Champaign | 115,156 | 21,566 | 18.73% |
| Christian | 23,603 | 8,173 | 34.63% |
| Clark | 12,084 | 3,727 | 30.84% |
| Clay | 10,087 | 2,676 | 26.53% |
| Clinton | 24,358 | 2,950 | 12.11% |
| Coles | 29,461 | 9,289 | 31.53% |
| Cook | 2,721,334 | 780,580 | 28.68% |
| Crawford | 13,381 | 3,772 | 28.19% |
| Cumberland | 7,915 | 2,686 | 33.94% |
| DeKalb | 45,534 | 8,651 | 19% |
| DeWitt | 11,513 | 2,244 | 19.49% |
| Douglas | 11,281 | 2,319 | 20.56% |
| DuPage | 460,688 | 113,345 | 24.6% |
| Edgar | 13,029 | 3,149 | 24.17% |
| Edwards | 5,143 | 2,380 | 46.28% |
| Effingham | 19,711 | 6,133 | 31.11% |
| Fayette | 13,422 | 3,850 | 28.68% |
| Ford | 8,384 | 4,543 | 54.19% |
| Franklin | 30,636 | 13,688 | 44.68% |
| Fulton | 25,999 | 9,500 | 36.54% |
| Gallatin | 4,731 | 2,812 | 59.44% |
| Greene | 8,923 | 2,801 | 31.39% |
| Grundy | 22,468 | 5,960 | 26.53% |
| Hamilton | 6,379 | 3,415 | 53.54% |
| Hancock | 12,821 | 4,967 | 38.74% |
| Hardin | 3,743 | 2,417 | 64.57% |
| Henderson | 5,324 | 2,154 | 40.46% |
| Henry | 32,819 | 7,881 | 24.01% |
| Iroquois | 18,397 | 5,591 | 30.39% |
| Jackson | 44,300 | 10,881 | 24.56% |
| Jasper | 7,547 | 3,862 | 51.17% |
| Jefferson | 25,924 | 7,253 | 27.98% |
| Jersey | 13,964 | 4,029 | 28.85% |
| Jo Daviess | 14,413 | 2,827 | 19.61% |
| Johnson | 7,120 | 3,676 | 51.63% |
| Kane | 177,041 | 51,342 | 29.00% |
| Kankakee | 57,482 | 8,217 | 14.29% |
| Kendall | 31,224 | 7,430 | 23.8% |
| Knox | 34,117 | 7,757 | 22.74% |
| Lake | 316,111 | 78,977 | 24.98% |
| LaSalle | 65,229 | 16,659 | 25.54% |
| Lawrence | 11,336 | 2,834 | 25.00% |
| Lee | 20,431 | 6,332 | 30.99% |
| Livingston | 22,714 | 8,902 | 39.19% |
| Logan | 18,665 | 7,589 | 40.66% |
| Macon | 72,319 | 20,844 | 28.82% |
| Macoupin | 35,243 | 10,428 | 29.59% |
| Madison | 164,136 | 34,057 | 20.75% |
| Marion | 28,158 | 7,408 | 26.31% |
| Marshall | 8,386 | 1,684 | 20.08% |
| Mason | 10,598 | 2,214 | 20.89% |
| Massac | 12,435 | 3,454 | 27.78% |
| McDonough | 18,536 | 4,658 | 25.13% |
| McHenry | 142,461 | 39,492 | 27.72% |
| McLean | 85,655 | 18,930 | 22.1% |
| Menard | 8,194 | 3,018 | 36.83% |
| Mercer | 11,717 | 2,274 | 19.41% |
| Monroe | 18,228 | 6,089 | 33.4% |
| Montgomery | 20,983 | 4,232 | 20.17% |
| Morgan | 20,885 | 4,331 | 20.74% |
| Moultrie | 8,234 | 2,916 | 35.41% |
| Ogle | 28,094 | 6,932 | 24.67% |
| Peoria | 105,139 | 20,889 | 19.87% |
| Perry | 15,388 | 5,828 | 37.87% |
| Piatt | 11,034 | 2,960 | 26.83% |
| Pike | 12,814 | 4,611 | 35.98% |
| Pope | 3,250 | 1,820 | 56.00% |
| Pulaski | 5,470 | 2,445 | 44.70% |
| Putnam | 4,383 | 2,131 | 48.62% |
| Randolph | 23,496 | 8,155 | 34.71% |
| Richland | 12,753 | 4,028 | 31.58% |
| Rock Island | 101,715 | 22,710 | 22.33% |
| Saline | 18,053 | 9,025 | 49.99% |
| Sangamon | 121,984 | 35,680 | 29.25% |
| Schuyler | 5,926 | 2,107 | 35.56% |
| Scott | 3,627 | 1,493 | 41.16% |
| Shelby | 14,326 | 4,857 | 33.9% |
| Stark | 4,540 | 1,135 | 25.00% |
| St. Clair | 153,502 | 29,738 | 19.37% |
| Stephenson | 31,107 | 7,920 | 25.46% |
| Tazewell | 81,769 | 23,112 | 28.26% |
| Union | 14,571 | 6,063 | 41.61% |
| Vermilion | 50,035 | 11,115 | 22.21% |
| Wabash | 9,191 | 2,125 | 23.12% |
| Warren | 11,279 | 2,944 | 26.1% |
| Washington | 10,663 | 2,860 | 26.82% |
| Wayne | 12,773 | 4,263 | 33.38% |
| White | 11,693 | 5,442 | 46.54% |
| Whiteside | 35,370 | 4,726 | 13.36% |
| Will | 229,337 | 53,784 | 23.45% |
| Williamson | 39,063 | 16,509 | 42.26% |
| Winnebago | 158,118 | 29,238 | 18.49% |
| Woodford | 22,924 | 10,050 | 43.84% |
| Total | 6,747,376 | 1,824,806 | 27.04% |

#### General election

For the general election, turnout was 52.43%, with 3,541,379 votes cast.
Turnout by county
| County | Registration | Votes cast | Turnout% |
| Adams | 41,285 | 25,575 | 61.95% |
| Alexander | 7,547 | 3,990 | 52.87% |
| Bond | 10,205 | 5,343 | 52.36% |
| Boone | 21,953 | 9,950 | 45.32% |
| Brown | 3,565 | 2,850 | 79.94% |
| Bureau | 24,773 | 15,087 | 60.9% |
| Calhoun | 3,745 | 2,650 | 70.76% |
| Carroll | 10,385 | 6,199 | 59.69% |
| Cass | 9,752 | 4,723 | 48.43% |
| Champaign | 127,069 | 50,026 | 39.37% |
| Christian | 24,112 | 12,302 | 51.02% |
| Clark | 12,197 | 6,517 | 53.43% |
| Clay | 9,254 | 5,354 | 57.86% |
| Clinton | 24,391 | 11,990 | 49.16% |
| Coles | 30,165 | 16,959 | 56.22% |
| Cook | 2,625,022 | 1,433,423 | 54.61% |
| Crawford | 13,763 | 7,194 | 52.27% |
| Cumberland | 8,125 | 4,186 | 51.52% |
| DeKalb | 52,659 | 22,131 | 42.03% |
| DeWitt | 10,408 | 5,294 | 50.86% |
| Douglas | 11,637 | 5,911 | 50.79% |
| DuPage | 443,387 | 257,729 | 58.13% |
| Edgar | 13,280 | 7,447 | 56.08% |
| Edwards | 5,127 | 2,971 | 57.95% |
| Effingham | 20,666 | 11,639 | 56.32% |
| Fayette | 14,035 | 8,189 | 58.35% |
| Ford | 8,660 | 5,478 | 63.26% |
| Franklin | 31,202 | 17,097 | 54.79% |
| Fulton | 24,611 | 13,026 | 52.93% |
| Gallatin | 4,704 | 3,215 | 68.35% |
| Greene | 8,769 | 5,047 | 57.56% |
| Grundy | 23,476 | 12,533 | 53.39% |
| Hamilton | 6,487 | 4,368 | 67.33% |
| Hancock | 13,271 | 8,234 | 62.05% |
| Hardin | 3,833 | 2,824 | 73.68% |
| Henderson | 5,493 | 3,578 | 65.14% |
| Henry | 33,838 | 19,022 | 56.21% |
| Iroquois | 18,137 | 11,150 | 61.48% |
| Jackson | 43,168 | 18,919 | 43.83% |
| Jasper | 7,673 | 4,274 | 55.7% |
| Jefferson | 26,587 | 12,683 | 47.7% |
| Jersey | 13,126 | 7,364 | 56.1% |
| Jo Daviess | 15,017 | 8,109 | 54% |
| Johnson | 7,487 | 5,038 | 67.29% |
| Kane | 188,596 | 91,059 | 48.28% |
| Kankakee | 55,176 | 30,720 | 55.68% |
| Kendall | 32,945 | 15,596 | 47.34% |
| Knox | 34,377 | 19,379 | 56.37% |
| Lake | 309,409 | 158,547 | 51.24% |
| LaSalle | 67,876 | 35,919 | 52.92% |
| Lawrence | 9,875 | 5,604 | 56.75% |
| Lee | 21,205 | 11,086 | 52.28% |
| Livingston | 21,433 | 12,212 | 56.98% |
| Logan | 19,243 | 10,772 | 55.98% |
| Macon | 74,913 | 40,772 | 54.43% |
| Macoupin | 35,725 | 15,754 | 44.1% |
| Madison | 170,151 | 74,485 | 43.78% |
| Marion | 29,529 | 12,430 | 42.09% |
| Marshall | 8,564 | 4,467 | 52.16% |
| Mason | 10,192 | 5,331 | 52.31% |
| Massac | 12,760 | 5,669 | 44.43% |
| McDonough | 19,632 | 10,631 | 54.15% |
| McHenry | 150,683 | 66,836 | 44.36% |
| McLean | 94,605 | 39,813 | 42.08% |
| Menard | 8,405 | 5,164 | 61.44% |
| Mercer | 12,025 | 7,093 | 58.99% |
| Monroe | 18,405 | 9,945 | 54.03% |
| Montgomery | 21,153 | 10,255 | 48.48% |
| Morgan | 21,680 | 12,032 | 55.5% |
| Moultrie | 8,208 | 4,670 | 56.9% |
| Ogle | 29,479 | 14,042 | 47.63% |
| Peoria | 110,820 | 54,623 | 49.29% |
| Perry | 15,156 | 9,652 | 63.68% |
| Piatt | 11,197 | 6,351 | 56.72% |
| Pike | 11,903 | 7,532 | 63.28% |
| Pope | 3,332 | 2,284 | 68.55% |
| Pulaski | 6,360 | 3,090 | 48.58% |
| Putnam | 4,167 | 2,529 | 60.69% |
| Randolph | 23,870 | 13,185 | 55.24% |
| Richland | 13,226 | 6,739 | 50.95% |
| Rock Island | 103,597 | 48,714 | 47.02% |
| Saline | 18,579 | 11,664 | 62.78% |
| Sangamon | 118,453 | 76,639 | 64.7% |
| Schuyler | 6,024 | 3,398 | 56.41% |
| Scott | 3,685 | 2,338 | 63.45% |
| Shelby | 14,849 | 8,795 | 59.23% |
| Stark | 4,586 | 2,557 | 55.76% |
| St. Clair | 160,520 | 72,357 | 45.08% |
| Stephenson | 32,197 | 13,674 | 42.47% |
| Tazewell | 84,100 | 40,613 | 48.29% |
| Union | 12,425 | 7,712 | 62.07% |
| Vermilion | 49,454 | 24,994 | 50.54% |
| Wabash | 9,378 | 4,978 | 53.08% |
| Warren | 11,637 | 6,261 | 53.8% |
| Washington | 9,985 | 6,320 | 63.29% |
| Wayne | 12,776 | 7,097 | 55.55% |
| White | 11,646 | 7,662 | 65.79% |
| Whiteside | 36,726 | 17,745 | 48.32% |
| Will | 271,410 | 124,154 | 45.74% |
| Williamson | 40,339 | 24,470 | 60.66% |
| Winnebago | 158,736 | 72,992 | 45.98% |
| Woodford | 23,575 | 12,389 | 52.55% |
| Total | 6,754,998 | 3,541,379 | 52.43% |

## Federal elections
### United States Senate

Incumbent Democratic United States Senator Carol Moseley Braun lost reelection, being unseated by Republican Peter Fitzgerald.

### United States House

All 20 of Illinois' seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 1998.
No seats switched parties, leaving the composition of Illinois' House delegation 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans.

## State elections
### Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Governor Jim Edgar, a Republican, did not seek a third term. Republican George Ryan was elected to succeed him.
Governor/Lieutenant Governor election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | George Ryan / Corinne Wood | 1,714,094 | 51.03 |
| | Democratic | Glenn Poshard / Mary Lou Kearns | 1,594,191 | 47.46 |
| | Reform | Lawrence Redmond / Phyllis Nirchi | 50,372 | 1.50 |
| | Write-in | Other | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,358,705 | 100 |

### Attorney General

Incumbent Attorney General Jim Ryan, a Republican, was reelected to a second term. As of 2022 this is the last time a Republican was elected Illinois Attorney General.

#### Democratic primary

Attorney General Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Miriam Santos | 647,099 | 100 |
| | Democratic | Mister Kawa | 3 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 647,099 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

Attorney General Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Ryan (incumbent) | 643,487 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 643,487 | 100 |

#### Reform primary

Attorney General Reform primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | Jesse M. Dowell, Jr. | 332 | 50.53 |
| | Reform | Daniel J. Kairis | 325 | 49.47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 657 | 100 |

#### General election

Attorney General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Ryan (incumbent) | 2,026,781 | 60.92 |
| | Democratic | Miriam Santos | 1,242,979 | 37.36 |
| | Reform | Jesse M. Dowell, Jr. | 56,944 | 1.71 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,326,704 | 100 |

### Secretary of State

Incumbent Secretary of State George Ryan, a Republican, did not seek reelection to a third term in office, instead opting to run for governor. Democrat Jesse White was elected to succeed him in office.

#### Democratic primary

Secretary of State Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jesse White | 484,798 | 55.76 |
| | Democratic | Tim McCarthy | 384,603 | 44.24 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 869,401 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

Secretary of State Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Al Salvi | 365,880 | 52.99 |
| | Republican | Robert W. Churchill | 324,529 | 47.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 690,409 | 100 |

#### Reform primary

Secretary of State Reform primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | Sandra Millatti | 426 | 66.46 |
| | Reform | Maryam Omar | 215 | 33.54 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 641 | 100 |

#### General election

Secretary of State election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jesse White | 1,874,626 | 55.46 |
| | Republican | Al Salvi | 1,437,420 | 42.53 |
| | Reform | Sandra Millatti | 67,696 | 2.00 |
| | Independent | Therese M. Battaglia | 229 | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,379,971 | 100 |

### Comptroller

Incumbent Comptroller Loleta Didrickson, a Republican, did not seek reelection to a second term, instead opting to (ultimately unsuccessfully) run for the Republican nomination for United States Senate. Democrat Daniel Hynes was elected to succeed her in office.

#### Democratic primary

Comptroller Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Daniel Hynes | 632,141 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 632,141 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

Comptroller Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Lauzen | 317,766 | 51.48 |
| | Republican | Harry Seigle | 299,469 | 48.52 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 617,235 | 100 |

#### Reform primary

Comptroller Reform primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | Houstoun McIntosh Sadler II | 579 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 579 | 100 |

#### General election

Comptroller election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Daniel Hynes | 1,895,273 | 58.63 |
| | Republican | Chris Lauzen | 1,280,860 | 39.63 |
| | Reform | Houstoun McIntosh Sadler II | 56,219 | 1.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,232,352 | 100 |

### Treasurer

Incumbent Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican, was reelected to a second term.

#### Democratic primary

Orland Park mayor Daniel J. McLaughlin defeated Calumet City mayor Jerry Genova.
Treasurer Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Daniel J. McLaughlin | 419,735 | 57.51 |
| | Democratic | Jerry Genova | 310,052 | 42.49 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 729,787 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

Treasurer Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent) | 591,932 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 591,932 | 100 |

#### Reform primary

Treasurer Reform primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Reform | Valorie Bain | 338 | 50.90 |
| | Reform | William P. Rakes | 326 | 49.10 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 664 | 100 |

#### General election

Treasurer election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Judy Baar Topinka (incumbent) | 1,610,498 | 49.97 |
| | Democratic | Daniel J. McLaughlin | 1,548,219 | 48.04 |
| | Reform | Valorie Bain | 64,001 | 1.99 |
| | Independent | Mark A. Mastrogiovanni | 226 | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,222,944 | 100 |

### State Senate

41 out of 59 seats in the Illinois Senate were up for election in 1998. Republicans retained control of the chamber.

### State House of Representatives

All of the seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 1998. Democrats retained control of the chamber.

### Judicial elections

Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 1998.

### Ballot measure

Illinois voters voted on a single ballot measure in 1998. In order to be approved, the measures required either 60% support among those specifically voting on the amendment or 50% support among all ballots cast in the elections.

#### Illinois Courts Commission Amendment

Voters approved the Illinois Courts Commission Amendment, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment which amended Article VI, Section 15 of the Constitution of Illinois to make modifications to the courts commission.
Illinois Courts Commission Amendment :
| Option | Votes | % of votes on measure | % of all ballots cast |
| Yes | 1,677,109 | 80.47 | 47.37 |
| No | 407,014 | 19.53 | 11.49 |
| Total votes | 2,084,123 | 100 | 58.85 |
| Voter turnout | 30.85% | 30.85% | 30.85% |

## Local elections

Local elections were held. These included county elections, such as the Cook County elections.