1978 Nebraska gubernatorial election#Republican primary

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1978 Nebraska gubernatorial election

| country = Nebraska

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1974 Nebraska gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 1974

| next_election = 1982 Nebraska gubernatorial election

| next_year = 1982

| election_date = November 7, 1978

| image1 = File:Charles Thone 1977 congressional photo.jpg

| image_size = 150x150px

| nominee1 = Charles Thone

| running_mate1 = Roland Luedtke

| party1 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 275,473

| percentage1 = 55.9%

| image2 = File:Gerald T. Whelan (cropped).png

| nominee2 = Gerald T. Whelan

| running_mate2 = Orval Keyes

| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 216,754

| percentage2 = 44.0%

| map_image = 1978 Nebraska gubernatorial election results map by county.svg

| map_caption = County results
Thone: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
{{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}}
Whelan: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}

| map_size = 300px

| title = Governor

| before_election = J. James Exon

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Charles Thone

| after_party = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{ElectionsNE}}

The 1978 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978, and featured U.S. Representative Charles Thone, a Republican, defeating Democratic nominee, Lieutenant Governor Gerald T. Whelan. Incumbent Governor J. James Exon, a Democrat, was barred from seeking a third term. Exon was elected to the U.S. Senate that same day.

Democratic primary

=Governor=

==Candidates==

==Results==

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic gubernatorial primary results{{cite web |title=Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska - Primary Election, May 9, 1978 & General Election, November 7, 1978 |url=http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1978prim_gen.pdf |publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party=Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Gerald T. Whelan

| votes = 104,178

| percentage = 79.43

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Robert V. Hansen

| votes = 26,509

| percentage = 20.21

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Write-in

| votes = 475

| percentage = 0.36

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Lieutenant governor=

==Candidates==

Orval Keyes ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.{{cite news|title=Orval Keyes Is Unopposed|newspaper=Chadron Record|date=May 3, 1978|page=29|access-date=June 20, 2023|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/674368407/}} He was a member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 3 since 1969 from Springfield, Nebraska.{{citation|title=2020-21 Nebraska Blue Book|pages=317–378|author=State of Nebraska|access-date=May 29, 2023|url=http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/l3000/D001-202021.pdf}}

==Results==

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party=Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Orval Keyes

| votes = 102,935

| percentage = 99.49

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Write-in

| votes = 531

| percentage = 0.51

}}

{{Election box end}}

Republican primary

=Governor=

==Candidates==

  • Richard Hedrick
  • Stan Juelfs
  • Robert A. Phares, former Mayor of North Platte{{cite news |url=http://journalstar.com/special-section/news/who-is-bob-phares/article_20495663-491d-5aaf-a34f-19c46a938c5f.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Nebraska |last=Harnik |first=Nati |title=Who is Bob Plares? |date=August 3, 2006 |access-date= September 19, 2017}}
  • Vance D. Rogers
  • Charles Thone, U.S. Representative

==Results==

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican gubernatorial primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Charles Thone

| votes = 89,378

| percentage = 45.32

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Robert A. Phares

| votes = 48,402

| percentage = 24.55

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Stan Juelfs

| votes = 43,828

| percentage= 22.23

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Vance D. Rogers

| votes = 14,076

| percentage= 7.14

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Richard Hedrick

| votes = 1,470

| percentage= 0.75

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Write-in

| votes = 43

| percentage = 0.02

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Lieutenant governor=

==Candidates==

==Results==

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Roland A. Luedtke

| votes = 53,762

| percentage = 30.85

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Dennis L. Rasmussen

| votes = 50,627

| percentage = 29.05

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Rosemary M. Skrupa

| votes = 28,532

| percentage= 16.37

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Don Stenberg

| votes = 22,592

| percentage= 12.96

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Herbert J. Duis

| votes = 18,736

| percentage= 10.75

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party=Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Write-in

| votes = 48

| percentage = 0.03

}}

{{Election box end}}

General election

=Results=

{{Election box begin no change| title=Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1978}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Charles Thone

|votes = 275,473

|percentage = 55.94%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Gerald T. Whelan

|votes = 216,754

|percentage = 44.02%

}}

{{Election box candidate no change|

|party = Write-in

|candidate = Others

|votes = 196

|percentage = 0.04%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 492,423

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no change|

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

|loser = Democratic Party (United States)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{United States elections, 1978}}

Gubernatorial

1978

Nebraska

Category:November 1978 in the United States

{{Nebraska-election-stub}}