1998Final results
1998 election for Illinois's 2nd District
U.S. House · Illinois
Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D) won with 89.4% of the vote, defeating Robert Gordon III (R) by 79.7 points.
Jesse L. Jackson Jr.Democrat · winner
89.4%148,985
Robert Gordon IIIRepublican
9.6%16,075
Matthew Joseph BeauchampLibertarian
1.0%1,608
166,668 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.
Jesse L. Jackson Jr.No Republican
$484K
Raised by the campaign
—
$247.9K
Spent by the campaign
—
$245.4K
Cash on hand
—
Other candidates' campaigns: Matthew Joseph Beauchamp $13.5K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D)Robert Gordon III (R)
Also on the ballot: Matthew Joseph Beauchamp (Libertarian), 1.0%