1978 Arizona gubernatorial election

The 1978 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Democrat Bruce Babbitt defeated Republican nominee Evan Mecham. Babbitt was the former Attorney General of Arizona, but after the death of Governor Wesley Bolin, Babbit became governor. Bolin himself ascended to office from the position of Secretary of State, meaning his replacement, Rose Mofford was not eligible to the office as she was not elected. This drama of exchanging office would continue after Babbitt's term came to an end, as Mofford would become governor and succeeded Evan Mecham, Babbitt's challenger, in 1988.

1978 Arizona gubernatorial election

← 1974 November 7, 1978 1982 →
 
Nominee Bruce Babbitt Evan Mecham
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 282,605 241,093
Percentage 52.5% 44.8%

County results
Babbitt:      50–60%      60–70%
Mecham:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Bruce Babbitt
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bruce Babbitt
Democratic

Until 2022, this was the last gubernatorial election where a Democratic governor was elected during the tenure of a Democratic president.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Withdrew

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Results

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Democratic primary results [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bruce Babbitt (incumbent) 108,548 76.80%
Democratic Dave Moss 32,785 23.20%
Total votes 141,333 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Charles King
  • Jack Londen, businessman
  • Evan Mecham, perennial candidate

Results

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Republican primary results [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Evan Mecham 50,713 44.07%
Republican Jack Londen 40,116 34.86%
Republican Charles King 24,253 21.08%
Total votes 115,082 100.00%

General election

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Results

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Arizona gubernatorial election, 1978[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bruce Babbitt (incumbent) 282,605 52.47% +2.06%
Republican Evan Mecham 241,093 44.77% −4.79%
Libertarian V. Gene Lewter 10,421 1.93% +1.93%
Socialist Workers Jessica Sampson 4,437 0.82% +0.82%
Majority 41,512 7.71%
Total votes 538,556 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing +6.86%

Results by county

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County Bruce Babbitt
Democratic
Evan Mecham
Republican
V. Gene Lewter
Libertarian
Jessica Sampson
Socialist Workers
Margin Total votes
cast[2]
# % # % # % # % # %
Apache 4,498 67.90% 1,761 26.59% 196 2.96% 169 2.55% 2,737 41.32% 6,624
Cochise 8,963 57.96% 6,251 40.42% 94 0.61% 157 1.02% 2,712 17.54% 15,465
Coconino 10,446 67.74% 4,411 28.60% 388 2.52% 176 1.14% 6,035 39.13% 15,421
Gila 5,715 59.39% 3,668 38.12% 160 1.66% 80 0.83% 2,047 21.27% 9,623
Graham 2,565 44.41% 3,085 53.41% 63 1.09% 63 1.09% -520 -9.00% 5,776
Greenlee 2,229 69.25% 917 28.49% 31 0.96% 42 1.30% 1,312 40.76% 3,219
Maricopa 141,177 46.82% 151,079 50.10% 6,982 2.32% 2,291 0.76% -9,902 -3.28% 301,529
Mohave 6,042 48.24% 6,133 48.96% 277 2.21% 74 0.59% -91 -0.73% 12,526
Navajo 6,269 56.47% 4,518 40.70% 179 1.61% 136 1.23% 1,751 15.77% 11,102
Pima 67,904 64.03% 36,197 34.13% 1,165 1.10% 785 0.74% 31,707 29.90% 106,051
Pinal 9,064 54.42% 7,151 42.93% 284 1.70% 158 0.95% 1,913 11.48% 16,657
Santa Cruz 2,814 68.28% 1,229 29.82% 33 0.80% 45 1.09% 1,585 38.46% 4,121
Yavapai 8,386 46.85% 8,978 50.16% 408 2.28% 126 0.70% -592 -3.31% 17,898
Yuma 6,533 52.08% 5,715 45.56% 161 1.28% 135 1.08% 818 6.52% 12,544
Totals 282,605 52.47% 241,093 44.77% 10,421 1.93% 4,437 0.82% 41,512 7.71% 538,556

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Official Canvass State of Arizona Primary Election - September 12, 1978". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Official Canvass State of Arizona General Election - November 7, 1978". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 14, 2024.