1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election
| country = Minnesota
| flag_year = 1957
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1974 Minnesota gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1974
| next_election = 1982 Minnesota gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1982
| election_date = November 7, 1978
| image1 = File:Al Quie 1977 congressional photo.jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Al Quie
| running_mate1 = Lou Wangberg
| party1 = Independent-Republican Party
| popular_vote1 = 830,019
| percentage1 = 52.35%
| image2 = File:Rudy Perpich (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Rudy Perpich
| running_mate2 = Alec Olson
| party2 = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| popular_vote2 = 718,244
| percentage2 = 45.30%
| image3 =
| nominee3 =
| party3 =
| popular_vote3 =
| percentage3 =
| map_image = 1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 280px
| map_caption = County results
Quie: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#D75D5D |60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}}
Perpich: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Rudy Perpich
| before_party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| after_election = Al Quie
| after_party = Independent-Republican Party
}}
{{ElectionsMN}}
The 1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. Independent-Republican Party candidate U.S. House Rep Al Quie defeated Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party incumbent Rudy Perpich.
Primary elections were held on September 12. Perpich and Quie each won their party's nomination easily over Alice Tripp and Robert W. Johnson, respectively. Richard Pedersen was unopposed for the minor American Party nomination.
DFL primary
= Candidates =
- Rudy Perpich, incumbent Governor of Minnesota since 1976{{Cite web |last=Libraries |first=University of Minnesota |title=Minnesota Historical Election Archive |url=https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Minnesota Historical Election Archive |language=en}}
- Running mate: Alec G. Olson, incumbent Lieutenant Governor since 1976
- Alice Tripp, Belgrade farmer and anti-power line activist
- Running mate: Mike Casper, professor of physics
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change| title=1986 DFL gubernatorial primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
|candidate = Rudy Perpich (incumbent)
|votes = 390,069
|percentage = 80.04%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
|candidate = Alice Tripp
|votes = 97,247
|percentage = 19.96%
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 487,316
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
Independent-Republican primary
= Candidates =
- Bob Johnson, former State Representative from St. Paul
- Running mate: Roger Hanson, former State Senator from Vergas
- Al Quie, U.S. Representative from Dennison
- Running mate: Lou Wangberg, Bemidji school superintendent
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change| title=1986 Ind.-Republican gubernatorial primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Independent-Republican Party
|candidate = Al Quie
|votes = 174,799
|percentage = 83.55%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Independent-Republican Party
|candidate = Bob Johnson
|votes = 34,406
|percentage = 16.45%
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 209,205
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
American primary
= Candidates =
- Richard Pedersen, New Brighton electronics engineer
- Running mate: Joyce M. Baier, Minneapolis resident
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change| title=1986 DFL gubernatorial primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = American Party (1969)
|candidate = Richard Pedersen
|votes = 4,277
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 4,277
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
= Candidates =
- Jill Lakowske, Minneapolis resident (Socialist Workers)
- Marc Shaver, St. Paul steelworker
- Tom McDonald, perennial candidate from Minneapolis (Honest Government)
- Running mate: Russ Payzant, Minneapolis resident
- Robin E. Miller, Anoka computer analyst (Libertarian)
- Mary Rosenbauer, Bloomington resident
- Richard Pedersen, New Brighton electronics engineer (American)
- Running mate: Joyce M. Baier, Minneapolis resident
- Rudy Perpich, incumbent Governor of Minnesota since 1976 (DFL)
- Running mate: Alec G. Olson, incumbent Lieutenant Governor since 1976
- Edwin Pommerening, Randolph farmer (Savings Account)
- Robert m. Stegmaier, Lakeville resident
- Al Quie, U.S. Representative from Dennison (Independent-Republican)
- Running mate: Lou Wangberg, Bemidji school superintendent
= Results =
{{Election box begin | title=1978 Gubernatorial Election, Minnesota}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Independent-Republican Party
|candidate = Al Quie
|votes = 830,019
|percentage = 52.35%
|change = +22.99%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
|candidate = Rudy Perpich (incumbent)
|votes = 718,244
|percentage = 45.30%
|change = -17.51%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = American Party (1969)
|candidate = Richard Pedersen
|votes = 21,058
|percentage = 1.33%
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Socialist Workers Party (United States)
|candidate = Jill Lakowske
|votes = 6,287
|percentage = 0.40%
|change = -0.34%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Tom McDonald
|votes = 4,254
|percentage = 0.27%
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Robin E. Miller
|votes = 3,689
|percentage = 0.23%
|change = +0.06%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Edwin Pommerening
|votes = 2,043
|percentage = 0.13%
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 111,775
|percentage = 7.05%
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 1,585,594
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner = Independent-Republican Party
|loser = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{United States elections, 1978}}
{{Minnesota elections}}
Category:November 1978 in the United States
{{Minnesota-election-stub}}