1998 New York Attorney General election

Summary

The 1998 New York Attorney General election took place on November 3, 1998 along with elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Democratic challenger Eliot Spitzer unseated one-term Republican incumbent Dennis Vacco in a major upset.

1998 New York Attorney General election

← 1994 November 3, 1998 2002 →
 
Nominee Eliot Spitzer Dennis Vacco
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,084,948 2,059,762
Percentage 48.2% 47.6%

County results
Spitzer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Vacco:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Attorney General before election

Dennis Vacco
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Eliot Spitzer
Democratic

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Polling edit

Source Date Oliver Koppell Catherine Abate Eliot Spitzer Evan Davis
Quinnipiac February 26, 1998 7% 7% 2% 5%
Quinnipiac July 16, 1998 16% 13% 18% -

Statewide Results edit

New York Democratic Attorney General primary, 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Eliot Spitzer 279,180 41.54%
Democratic Catherine Abate 186,626 27.77%
Democratic Oliver Koppell 145,231 21.61%
Democratic Evan A. Davis 60,978 9.07%
Majority 92,554 13.77%
Turnout 672,015 %

General election edit

Polling edit

Source Date Dennis Vacco (R) Eliot Spitzer (D)
Quinnipiac September 27, 1998 46% 37%
Quinnipiac October 15, 1998 45% 33%
Quinnipiac October 28, 1998 47% 34%

Results edit

1998 New York Attorney General Election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Eliot Spitzer 2,018,591 46.67% +1.63%
Liberal Eliot Spitzer 66,357 1.53% −0.81%
Total Eliot Spitzer 2,084,948 48.20% +0.82%
Republican Dennis Vacco 1,757,539 40.63% −2.08%
Conservative Dennis Vacco 302,223 6.99% +0.42%
Total Dennis Vacco (incumbent) 2,059,762 47.62% −1.66%
Independence Catherine M. Abate 81,439 1.88% +1.07%
Right to Life Robert W. Dapelo 60,399 1.40% −0.44%
Libertarian Daniel A. Conti Jr. 19,864 0.46% +0.05%
Green Johann L. Moore 18,984 0.44% NA
Turnout 4,325,396 −7.65%
Democratic gain from Republican

References edit

See also edit

Preceded by
1994
New York Attorney General election
1998
Succeeded by
2002