The 1978 Iowa gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican Robert D. Ray defeated Democratic nominee Jerome D. Fitzgerald with 58.32% of the vote. As of 2022[update], this was the last time Johnson County voted for the Republican candidate.[original research?]
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 County results Ray: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Fitzgerald: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Primary elections
editPrimary elections were held on June 6, 1978.[1]
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Jerome D. Fitzgerald, State Representative
- Tom Whitney
- Warren D. Strait
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jerome D. Fitzgerald | 58,039 | 55.47 | |
| Democratic | Tom Whitney | 37,132 | 35.49 | |
| Democratic | Warren D. Strait | 9,443 | 9.03 | |
| Democratic | Write-ins | 12 | 0.01 | |
| Total votes | 104,626 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Robert D. Ray, incumbent Governor
- Donovan D. Nelson
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert D. Ray (incumbent) | 136,517 | 87.51 | |
| Republican | Donovan D. Nelson | 19,486 | 12.49 | |
| Republican | Write-ins | 7 | 0.00 | |
| Total votes | 156,010 | 100.00 | ||
General election
editCandidates
editMajor party candidates
- Robert D. Ray, Republican
- Jerome D. Fitzgerald, Democratic
Other candidates
- John Ball, Libertarian
- Joseph Grant, Socialist
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert D. Ray (incumbent) | 491,713 | 58.32% | +0.25% | |
| Democratic | Jerome D. Fitzgerald | 345,519 | 40.98% | −0.04% | |
| Libertarian | John Ball | 3,947 | 0.47% | ||
| Socialist | Joseph Grant | 1,935 | 0.23% | ||
| Write-ins | 76 | 0.01% | |||
| Majority | 146,194 | 17.34% | |||
| Turnout | 843,190 | ||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
References
edit- ^ a b c "Summary of Official Canvass of Votes Cast in Iowa Primary Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of Iowa. 1978. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
- ^ "Summary of Official Canvass of Votes Cast in Iowa General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of Iowa. 1978. Retrieved December 29, 2018.