1978 Kansas gubernatorial election

Summary

The 1978 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Democratic nominee John W. Carlin defeated incumbent Republican Robert Frederick Bennett with 49.4% of the vote.

1978 Kansas gubernatorial election

← 1974 November 7, 1978 1982 →
 
Nominee John W. Carlin Robert F. Bennett
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Paul Dugan Larry Montgomery
Popular vote 363,835 348,015
Percentage 49.4% 47.3%

County results
Carlin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Bennett:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Robert Frederick Bennett
Republican

Elected Governor

John W. Carlin
Democratic

As of 2024, this marks the last occasion in which the following counties have voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election: Gray, Hamilton, and Ness[original research?] and until 2022, this was the last gubernatorial election where a Democratic governor was elected during the tenure of a Democratic president.

Primary elections edit

Primary elections were held on August 1, 1978.[1]

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John W. Carlin 71,366 55.21
Democratic Bert Chaney 34,132 26.41
Democratic Harry G. Wiles 23,762 18.38
Total votes 129,260 100.00

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Frederick Bennett (incumbent) 142,239 69.23
Republican Robert R. "Bob" Sanders 40,542 19.73
Republican Harold Knight 22,671 11.04
Total votes 205,452 100.00

General election edit

Candidates edit

Major party candidates

  • John W. Carlin, Democratic
  • Robert Frederick Bennett, Republican

Other candidates

  • Frank W. Shelton Jr., American
  • Berry Beets, Prohibition

Results edit

1978 Kansas gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John W. Carlin 363,835 49.42%
Republican Robert Frederick Bennett (incumbent) 348,015 47.27%
American Frank W. Shelton Jr. 17,053 2.32%
Prohibition Berry Beets 7,343 1.00%
Majority 15,820
Turnout 736,246
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  2. ^ Cook, Rhodes (November 17, 2015). America Votes 31: 2013-2014, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781483383026. Retrieved January 9, 2019.