1978 Maine gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1978 Maine gubernatorial election
| country = Maine
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1974 Maine gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1974
| next_election = 1982 Maine gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1982
| election_date = November 7, 1978
| image1 = Image:Joseph E. Brennan (ME).png
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Joseph Brennan
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 176,493
| percentage1 = 47.8%
| image2 = Image:Linwood Palmer.jpg
| nominee2 = Linwood E. Palmer Jr.
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 126,862
| percentage2 = 34.4%
| image3 = 3x4.svg
| nominee3 = Herman C. Frankland
| party3 = Independent
| popular_vote3 = 65,889
| percentage3 = 17.8%
| map_image = {{switcher
|280px|County results
|280px|Municipality results}}
| map_size =
| map_caption = Brennan: {{legend0|#BDD3FF|30–40%}} {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
Palmer: {{legend0|#FFC8CD|30–40%}} {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
Frankland: {{legend0|#E6E6E6|30–40%}} {{legend0|#D9D9D9|40–50%}} {{legend0|#BDBDBD|50–60%}} {{legend0|#969696|60–70%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#DECDE6|30-40%}} {{legend0|#D2B1D9|40–50%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = James B. Longley
| before_party = Independent
| after_election = Joseph Brennan
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
The 1978 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Independent Governor James B. Longley had promised to not seek a second term when he was elected in 1974, and held true to his pledge. Attorney General Joseph E. Brennan of the Democratic Party defeated both challenger Republican Linwood E. Palmer Jr. and right-wing independent candidate Herman Frankland. Richard Carey unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination, while Charles Cragin unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination.
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
- Joseph E. Brennan, Maine Attorney General, of Portland
- Richard Carey, state representative, of Waterville
- Philip L. Merrill, state senator, of Portland
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joseph E. Brennan
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 38,631
| percentage = 52.19
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Philip L. Merrill
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 26,803
| percentage = 36.21
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Richard Carey
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 8,588
| percentage = 11.60
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 74,022
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
=Candidates=
- Charles Cragin, attorney, of Falmouth
- Linwood E. Palmer Jr., state representative, of Nobleboro
- Jerrold Speers, state senator, of Winthrop
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Linwood E. Palmer Jr.
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 35,976
| percentage = 48.73
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Charles Cragin
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 28,244
| percentage = 38.26
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jerrold Speers
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 9,603
| percentage = 13.01
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 73,826
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
Results
{{Election box begin | title=1978 Gubernatorial Election, Maine{{cite book
|title = Guide to US Elections
|edition = Fifth
|volume = II
|publisher = CQ Press
|date = 2005
|pages = [https://archive.org/details/guidetouselectio00cqpr/page/1497 1497]–1499
|url = https://archive.org/details/guidetouselectio00cqpr
|isbn = 978-1-56802-981-8
|access-date = 2009-05-06
|url-access = registration
}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| |party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Joseph Brennan
|votes = 176,493
|percentage = 47.80%
|change = -
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| |party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Linwood E. Palmer Jr.
|votes = 126,862
|percentage = 34.36%
|change = -
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent
|candidate = Herman C. Frankland
|votes = 65,889
|percentage = 17.84%
|change = -
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 49,631
|percentage = 13.44%
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Independent politician
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
== Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic ==
== Counties that flipped from Independent to Republican ==
- Hancock (largest municipality: Ellsworth)
- Knox (largest municipality: Rockland)
- Lincoln (largest city: Waldoboro)
- Piscataquis (largest municipality: Dover-Foxcroft)
- Waldo (largest city: Belfast)
Notes
{{Reflist}}
{{1978 United States elections}}
{{Maine gubernatorial elections|state=expanded}}
{{US Third Party Election}}
Category:November 1978 in the United States
{{Maine-election-stub}}