1978 Iowa gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1978 Iowa gubernatorial election
| country = Iowa
| flag_image = Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg
| type = Presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1974 Iowa gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1974
| next_election = 1982 Iowa gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1982
| election_date = November 7, 1978
| image1 = File:Robert Ray official.jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Robert D. Ray
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 491,713
| percentage1 = 58.3%
| image2 = File:Jerry Fitzgerald.jpg
| nominee2 = Jerome D. Fitzgerald
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 345,519
| percentage2 = 41.0%
| map_image = 1978 Iowa gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 240px
| map_caption = County results
Ray: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
Fitzgerald: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Robert D. Ray
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Robert D. Ray
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsIA}}
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.
Primary elections
=Democratic primary=
==Candidates==
- Jerome D. Fitzgerald, State Representative
- Tom Whitney
- Warren D. Strait
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jerome D. Fitzgerald
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 58,039
| percentage = 55.47
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tom Whitney
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 37,132
| percentage = 35.49
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Warren D. Strait
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 9,443
| percentage = 9.03
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-ins
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 12
| percentage = 0.01
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 104,626
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Republican primary=
==Candidates==
- Robert D. Ray, incumbent Governor
- Donovan D. Nelson
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Robert D. Ray (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 136,517
| percentage = 87.51
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Donovan D. Nelson
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 19,486
| percentage = 12.49
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-ins
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 7
| percentage = 0.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 156,010
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
=Candidates=
Major party candidates
- Robert D. Ray, Republican
- Jerome D. Fitzgerald, Democratic
Other candidates
- John Ball, Libertarian
- Joseph Grant, Socialist
=Results=
{{Election box begin | title=1978 Iowa gubernatorial election{{cite web|url=https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/results/70s/1978gencanv.pdf |title=Summary of Official Canvass of Votes Cast in Iowa General Election |publisher=Secretary of State of Iowa |year=1978 |access-date=December 29, 2018}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Robert D. Ray (incumbent)
| votes = 491,713
| percentage = 58.32%
| change = +0.25%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Jerome D. Fitzgerald
| votes = 345,519
| percentage = 40.98%
| change = -0.04%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate = John Ball
| votes = 3,947
| percentage = 0.47%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
| party = Socialist Party USA
| candidate = Joseph Grant
| votes = 1,935
| percentage = 0.23%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate|
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 76
| percentage = 0.01%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority|
| votes = 146,194
| percentage = 17.34%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
| votes = 843,190
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}