The 1998 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 3, 1998, to elect U.S. Representatives to serve in the 106th United States Congress. They were part of the midterm elections held during President Bill Clinton's second term. They were a major disappointment for the Republicans, who were expecting to gain seats due to the embarrassment Clinton suffered during the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the "six-year itch" effect observed in most second-term midterm elections. However, the Republicans lost five seats to the Democrats, although they retained a narrow majority in the House. A wave of Republican discontent with Speaker Newt Gingrich prompted him to resign shortly after the election; he was replaced by Congressman Dennis Hastert of Illinois.
The campaign was marked by Republican attacks on the morality of President Bill Clinton, with independent counsel Kenneth Starr having released his report on the Lewinsky scandal and House leaders having initiated an inquiry into whether impeachable offenses had occurred. However, exit polls indicated that most voters opposed impeaching Clinton, and predictions of high Republican or low Democratic turnout due to the scandal failed to materialize. Some speculate that the losses reflected a backlash against the Republicans for attacking the popular Clinton. With the Republicans having lost four House seats and failing to gain any seats in the Senate, it was the first time since 1934 that the non-presidential party failed to gain congressional seats in a midterm election; this would happen again in 2002. This was the last election until 2024 where no incumbents who served at least 6 terms (12 years) lost re-nomination or re-election, and it was also the most recent where no Democratic incumbent lost renomination.See
Results Federal + ↓ 211 1 223 Democratic I Republican
Party Seats Seatpercentage Votepercentage Popularvote 1996 Elected Netchange Republican Party 227 223 4 51.3% 48.4% 32,237,964 Democratic Party 206 211 5 48.5% 47.3% 31,490,298 Libertarian Party 0 0 0.0% 1.3% 880,024 Independent 2 1 1 0.2% 0.6% 372,072 Reform Party 0 0 0.0% 0.4% 239,173 Natural Law Party 0 0 0.0% 0.3% 195,015 U.S. Taxpayers' Party 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 73,983 Green Party 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 70,932 Conservative Party 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 57,775 Right to Life Party 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 52,356 Independent American Party 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 45,206 Others 0 0 0.0% 1.3% 890,004 Totals 435 435 100.0% 100.0% 66,604,802
Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk
Maps
Incumbent retirements
Democrats : Vic Fazio : Esteban Torres : Jane Harman: To run for Governor : David Skaggs : Barbara B. Kennelly: To run for Governor : Sidney R. Yates : Glenn Poshard: To run for Governor : Lee Hamilton : Scotty Baesler: To run for U.S. Senate : Joseph P. Kennedy II : Thomas Manton : Chuck Schumer: To run for U.S. Senate : Bill Hefner : Louis Stokes : Elizabeth Furse : Paul McHale : Henry B. González
Republicans : Frank Riggs: To run for U.S. Senate : Daniel Schaefer : Mike Crapo: To run for U.S. Senate : Harris Fawell : Jim Bunning: To run for U.S. Senate : Michael Parker: To run for Governor : Jon Christensen: To run for Governor : John Ensign: To run for U.S. Senate : Gerald Solomon : Bill Paxon : Bob Smith : Joseph M. McDade : Bob Inglis: To run for U.S. Senate : Linda Smith: To run for U.S. Senate : Mark Neumann: To run for U.S. Senate : Scott Klug
Incumbents defeated
In primary elections This remains the most recent election as of 2026 where no Democratic incumbent lost to a Democratic challenger. Republicans who lost to a Republican challenger : Jay Kim lost to Gary Miller who later won the general election
In the general election
Democrats who lost to a Republican challenger : Jay Johnson lost to Mark Green
Republicans who lost to a Democratic challenger : Vince Snowbarger lost to Dennis Moore : Mike Pappas lost to Rush Holt Jr. : Bill Redmond lost to Tom Udall : Jon D. Fox lost to Joe Hoeffel : Rick White lost to Jay Inslee
Closest races Forty-three races were decided by 10% or lower.
District Winner Margin data-sort-value=1 0.30% data-sort-value=1 1.49% data-sort-value=-1 1.49% data-sort-value=1 2.22% data-sort-value=0.5 (flip) 2.32% data-sort-value=-1 2.43% data-sort-value=0.5 (flip) 2.54% data-sort-value=-1 2.83% data-sort-value=-0.5 (flip) 2.87% data-sort-value=-1 2.99% data-sort-value=-1 3.12% data-sort-value=-0.5 (flip) 3.59% data-sort-value=-1 3.98% data-sort-value=1 4.00 data-sort-value=1 4.29% data-sort-value=-0.5 (flip) 4.78% data-sort-value=-1 4.98% data-sort-value=-0.5 (flip) 5.66% data-sort-value=-0.5 (flip) 5.79% data-sort-value=1 5.97% data-sort-value=-1 5.99% data-sort-value=-1 6.13% data-sort-value=1 6.41% data-sort-value=-1 6.55% data-sort-value=-0.5 (flip) 6.82% data-sort-value=-1 7.10% data-sort-value=0.5 (flip) 7.15% data-sort-value=0.5 (flip) 7.37% data-sort-value=1 7.82% data-sort-value=1 8.09% data-sort-value=-1 8.29% data-sort-value=1 8.38% data-sort-value=-0.5 (flip) 8.53% data-sort-value=1 8.37% data-sort-value=1 8.65% data-sort-value=0.5 (flip) 9.21% data-sort-value=1 9.30% data-sort-value=-1 9.30% data-sort-value=0.5 (flip) 9.31% data-sort-value=1 9.37% data-sort-value=1 9.51% data-sort-value=-0.5 (flip) 9.89% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 9.97%
Special elections
District Incumbent Party Firstelected Results Candidates Floyd Flake Democratic 1986 Incumbent resigned November 17, 1997 to work at his church full-time.New member elected February 3, 1998.Democratic hold.Winner was re-elected in November, see below. Walter Capps Democratic 1996 Incumbent died October 28, 1997.New member elected March 10, 1998.Democratic hold.Winner was re-elected in November, see below. Ron Dellums Democratic 1970 Incumbent resigned February 6, 1998.New member elected April 7, 1998.Democratic hold.Winner was re-elected in November, see below. Sonny Bono Republican 1994 Incumbent died January 5, 1998.New member elected April 7, 1998.Republican hold.Winner was re-elected in November, see below. Thomas M. Foglietta Democratic 1980 Incumbent resigned November 11, 1997, to become U.S. Ambassador to Italy.New member elected May 19, 1998.Democratic hold.Winner was re-elected in November, see below. Steven Schiff Republican 1988 Incumbent died March 25, 1998.New member elected June 23, 1998.Republican hold.Winner was re-elected in November, see below.
Alabama
District Incumbent Candidates Location 1997 PVI Member Party Firstelected Status Sonny Callahan Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected. Terry Everett Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Riley Republican 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Robert Aderholt Republican 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Bud Cramer Democratic 1990 Incumbent re-elected. Spencer Bachus Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Earl Hilliard Democratic 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
Alaska
District Incumbent Candidates Location 1997 PVI Member Party Firstelected Status Don Young Republican 1973 Incumbent re-elected.
Arizona
District Incumbent Candidates Location 1997 PVI Member Party Firstelected Status Matt Salmon Republican 1994 Incumbent re-elected. Ed Pastor Democratic 1991 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Stump Republican 1976 Incumbent re-elected. John Shadegg Republican 1994 Incumbent re-elected. Jim Kolbe Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected. J. D. Hayworth Republican 1994 Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas
District Incumbent Candidates Location 1997 PVI Member Party Firstelected Status Marion Berry Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Vic Snyder Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Asa Hutchinson Republican 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Jay Dickey Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
California
District Incumbent Candidates Location 1997 PVI Member Party Firstelected Status Frank Riggs Republican 19901992 1994 Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator.Democratic gain. Wally Herger Republican 1988 Incumbent re-elected. Vic Fazio Democratic 1978 Incumbent retired.Republican gain. John Doolittle Republican 1990 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Matsui Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Lynn Woolsey Democratic 1992 Incumbent re-elected. George Miller Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Nancy Pelosi Democratic 1987 Incumbent re-elected. Barbara Lee Democratic April 7, 1998(special) Incumbent re-elected. Ellen Tauscher Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Richard Pombo Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Tom Lantos Democratic 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Pete Stark Democratic 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Anna Eshoo Democratic 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Tom Campbell Republican 19881992 1995 Incumbent re-elected. Zoe Lofgren Democratic 1994 Incumbent re-elected. Sam Farr Democratic 1993 Incumbent re-elected. Gary Condit Democratic 1989 Incumbent re-elected. George Radanovich Republican 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Cal Dooley Democratic 1990 Incumbent re-elected. Bill Thomas Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Lois Capps Democratic March 10, 1998(special) Incumbent re-elected. Elton Gallegly Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Brad Sherman Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Buck McKeon Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Howard Berman Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. James E. Rogan Republican 1996 Incumbent re-elected. David Dreier Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Henry Waxman Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Xavier Becerra Democratic 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Matthew G. Martínez Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Julian Dixon Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Lucille Roybal-Allard Democratic 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Esteban Edward Torres Democratic 1982 Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Maxine Waters Democratic 1990 Incumbent re-elected. Jane Harman Democratic 1992 Incumbent retired to run for Governor.Republican gain. Juanita Millender-McDonald Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Steve Horn Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Ed Royce Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Jerry Lewis Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Jay Kim Republican 1992 Incumbent lost renomination.Republican hold. George Brown Jr. Democratic 19621970 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Ken Calvert Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Mary Bono Republican April 7, 1998(special) Incumbent re-elected. Dana Rohrabacher Republican 1988 Incumbent re-elected. Loretta Sanchez Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Christopher Cox Republican 1988 Incumbent re-elected. Ron Packard Republican 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Brian Bilbray Republican 1994 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Filner Democratic 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Filner (Democratic)Uncontested Duke Cunningham Republican 1990 Incumbent re-elected. Duncan L. Hunter Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected.
Colorado
District Incumbent Candidates Location 1997 PVI Member Party Firstelected Status Diana DeGette Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. David Skaggs Democratic 1986 Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Scott McInnis Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Schaffer Republican 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Joel Hefley Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Daniel Schaefer Republican 1983 Incumbent retired.Republican hold.
Connecticut
District Incumbent Candidates Location 1997 PVI Member Party Firstelected Status Barbara B. Kennelly Democratic 1982 Incumbent retired to run for Governor.Democratic hold. Sam Gejdenson Democratic 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Rosa DeLauro Democratic 1990 Incumbent re-elected. Chris Shays Republican 1987 Incumbent re-elected. James H. Maloney Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Nancy Johnson Republican 1982 Incumbent re-elected.
Delaware
District Incumbent Candidates Location 1997 PVI Member Party Firstelected Status Mike Castle Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
Florida