1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election

1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election
	County results ; Quie: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%; Perpich: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
Governor before election; Rudy Perpich; Democratic (DFL)	Elected Governor ; Al Quie; Ind.-Republican

The 1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. Independent-Republican Party candidate Al Quie defeated Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party incumbent Rudy Perpich.

Primary elections were held on September 12. Perpich and Quie each won their party's nomination easily over Alice Tripp and Robert W. Johnson, respectively. Richard Pedersen was unopposed for the minor American Party nomination.

DFL primary

Candidates

Rudy Perpich, incumbent Governor of Minnesota since 1976^[1]
- Running mate: Alec G. Olson, incumbent Lieutenant Governor since 1976
Alice Tripp, Belgrade farmer and anti-power line activist^[1]
- Running mate: Mike Casper, professor of physics

Results

1986 DFL gubernatorial primary
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Rudy Perpich (incumbent)	390,069	80.04%
	Democratic (DFL)	Alice Tripp	97,247	19.96%
Total votes			487,316	100.00%

Independent-Republican primary

Candidates

Bob Johnson, former State Representative from St. Paul
- Running mate: Roger Hanson, former State Senator from Vergas
Al Quie, U.S. Representative from Dennison
- Running mate: Lou Wangberg, Bemidji school superintendent

Results

1986 Ind.-Republican gubernatorial primary
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Ind.-Republican	Al Quie	174,799	83.55%
	Ind.-Republican	Bob Johnson	34,406	16.45%
Total votes			209,205	100.00%

American primary

Candidates

Richard Pedersen, New Brighton electronics engineer
- Running mate: Joyce M. Baier, Minneapolis resident

Results

1986 DFL gubernatorial primary
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	American	Richard Pedersen	4,277	100.00%
Total votes			4,277	100.00%

General election

Candidates

Jill Lakowske, Minneapolis resident (Socialist Workers)
- Marc Shaver, St. Paul steelworker
Tom McDonald, perennial candidate from Minneapolis (Honest Government)
- Running mate: Russ Payzant, Minneapolis resident
Robin E. Miller, Anoka computer analyst (Libertarian)
- Mary Rosenbauer, Bloomington resident
Richard Pedersen, New Brighton electronics engineer (American)
- Running mate: Joyce M. Baier, Minneapolis resident
Rudy Perpich, incumbent Governor of Minnesota since 1976 (DFL)
- Running mate: Alec G. Olson, incumbent Lieutenant Governor since 1976
Edwin Pommerening, Randolph farmer (Savings Account)
- Robert m. Stegmaier, Lakeville resident
Al Quie, U.S. Representative from Dennison (Independent-Republican)
- Running mate: Lou Wangberg, Bemidji school superintendent

Results

1978 Gubernatorial Election, Minnesota
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Ind.-Republican	Al Quie	830,019	52.35%	+22.99%
	Democratic (DFL)	Rudy Perpich (incumbent)	718,244	45.30%	−17.51%
	American	Richard Pedersen	21,058	1.33%	N/A
	Socialist Workers	Jill Lakowske	6,287	0.40%	−0.34%
	Independent	Tom McDonald	4,254	0.27%	n/a
	Libertarian	Robin E. Miller	3,689	0.23%	+0.06%
	Independent	Edwin Pommerening	2,043	0.13%	n/a
Majority			111,775	7.05%
Turnout			1,585,594
	Ind.-Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)		Swing

References

^ ^a ^b Libraries, University of Minnesota. "Minnesota Historical Election Archive". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved March 18, 2023.

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[:0-1] Libraries, University of Minnesota. "Minnesota Historical Election Archive". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved March 18, 2023.

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