1978 Iowa gubernatorial election

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, this was the last time Johnson County voted for the Republican candidate.[original research?]

1978 Iowa gubernatorial election

← 1974 November 7, 1978 1982 →
 
Nominee Robert D. Ray Jerome D. Fitzgerald
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 491,713 345,519
Percentage 58.3% 41.0%

County results
Ray:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Fitzgerald:      50–60%

Governor before election

Robert D. Ray
Republican

Elected Governor

Robert D. Ray
Republican

Primary elections

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Primary elections were held on June 6, 1978.[1]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
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

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[1]
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

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Candidates

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Major party candidates

  • Robert D. Ray, Republican
  • Jerome D. Fitzgerald, Democratic

Other candidates

  • John Ball, Libertarian
  • Joseph Grant, Socialist

Results

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1978 Iowa gubernatorial election[2]
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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Summary of Official Canvass of Votes Cast in Iowa General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of Iowa. 1978. Retrieved December 29, 2018.