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1978 Iowa gubernatorial election

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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

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?]

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.