1998Final results
1998 election for Iowa's 1st District
U.S. House · Iowa
James Leach (R) won with 56.6% of the vote, defeating Bob Rush (D) by 14.3 points.
James LeachRepublican · winner
56.6%106,419
Bob RushDemocrat
42.3%79,529
Charles ThurstonReform
0.7%1,252
Jeffrey M. SmithNatural Law
0.5%932
188,132 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.
Bob RushJames Leach
$467.7K
Raised by the campaign
$663.3K
$468.5K
Spent by the campaign
$673.7K
$3.2K
Cash on hand
$349
Other candidates' campaigns: Charles Thurston $2.6K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
James Leach (R)Bob Rush (D)
Also on the ballot: Charles Thurston (Reform), 0.7%; Jeffrey M. Smith (Natural Law), 0.5%