1998Final results
1998 election for Michigan's 3rd District
U.S. House · Michigan
Vernon Ehlers (R) won with 73.1% of the vote, defeating John Ferguson Jr. (D) by 48.4 points.
Vernon EhlersRepublican · winner
73.1%146,364
John Ferguson Jr.Democrat
24.7%49,489
Erwin J. HaasLibertarian
1.3%2,537
Lucille WigginsNatural Law
0.9%1,861
200,251 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.
John Ferguson Jr.Vernon Ehlers
$13.2K
Raised by the campaign
$411.4K
$10.4K
Spent by the campaign
$346.3K
$2.8K
Cash on hand
$205.2K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
Vernon Ehlers (R)John Ferguson Jr. (D)
Also on the ballot: Erwin J. Haas (Libertarian), 1.3%; Lucille Wiggins (Natural Law), 0.9%