1998Final results
1998 election for Arizona's 5th District
U.S. House · Arizona
James Kolbe (R) won with 51.6% of the vote, defeating Tom Volgy (D) by 6.4 points.
James KolbeRepublican · winner
51.6%103,952
Tom VolgyDemocrat
45.2%91,030
Phil MurphyLibertarian
2.5%4,946
Robert "bob" Connery Sr.Reform
0.8%1,545
201,473 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1998
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Tom VolgyJames Kolbe
$268.6K
Raised by the campaign
$755.5K
$257.7K
Spent by the campaign
$707.8K
$10.9K
Cash on hand
$93K
Other candidates' campaigns: Phil Murphy $15.7K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
James Kolbe (R)Tom Volgy (D)
Also on the ballot: Phil Murphy (Libertarian), 2.5%; Robert "bob" Connery Sr. (Reform), 0.8%