1978 Minnesota Attorney General election

{{short description|none}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1978 Minnesota Attorney General election

| country = Minnesota

| flag_image = File:Flag of Minnesota (1957–1983).svg

| flag_year = 1957

| type = Presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1974 Minnesota Attorney General election

| previous_year = 1974

| next_election = 1982 Minnesota Attorney General election

| next_year = 1982

| election_date = 7 November 1978

| image1 = 125px

| nominee1 = Warren Spannaus

| party1 = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| popular_vote1 = 858,547

| percentage1 = 55.90%

| image2 = 125px

| nominee2 = Howard A. Knutson

| party2 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 612,122

| percentage2 = 39.85%

| map_image = 1978 Minnesota Attorney General election.svg

| map_size =

| map_caption = County results
Spannaus: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Knutson: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}}

| title = Attorney General

| before_election = Warren Spannaus

| before_party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| after_election = Warren Spannaus

| after_party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

}}

{{ElectionsMN}}

The 1978 Minnesota Attorney General election was held on 7 November 1978 in order to elect the attorney general of Minnesota. Democratic–Farmer–Labor nominee and incumbent attorney general Warren Spannaus defeated Republican nominee and incumbent member of the Minnesota Senate Howard A. Knutson and American Party nominee Arnold P. Olsen.{{cite web |url=https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/election/2319781099923600/ |title=Attorney General, 1978 Election |publisher=electionarchives.lib.umn.edu |date= |access-date=9 October 2024}}