1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election

1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election

← 1994 November 3, 1998 2002 →

Nominee Jesse Ventura Norm Coleman Skip Humphrey Party Reform Republican Democratic (DFL) Running mate Mae Schunk Gen Olson Roger Moe Popular vote 773,713 717,350 587,528 Percentage 36.99% 34.29% 28.09%

County results Precinct results Ventura:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Coleman:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Humphrey:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Other:      40–50%      60–70% Tie:      30–40%      40–50%      50%      No votes

Governor before election Arne Carlson Republican Elected Governor Jesse Ventura Reform

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v t e

The 1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1998. Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura, the former mayor of Brooklyn Park and professional wrestler, won his first term in office, defeating Republican St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman and DFL state attorney general Skip Humphrey. He succeeded Republican incumbent Arne Carlson, who was term limited. Ventura's victory as a third-party candidate was considered a historic major upset.^[1] To date, the election marks the only time a Reform Party candidate won a major government office.