1978 Maine gubernatorial election

1978 Maine gubernatorial election
	Brennan: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%; Palmer: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%; Frankland: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%; Tie: 30-40% 40–50%
Governor before election; James B. Longley ; Independent	Elected Governor; Joseph Brennan ; Democratic

Last updated August 24, 2025

The 1978 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Independent Governor James B. Longley chose not to run for re-election, holding himself to the one-term pledge he made when he was elected in 1974. 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

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph E. Brennan	38,631	52.19
	Democratic	Philip L. Merrill	26,803	36.21
	Democratic	Richard Carey	8,588	11.60
Total votes			74,022	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Charles Cragin, attorney, of Falmouth
Linwood E. Palmer Jr., state representative, of Nobleboro
Jerrold Speers, state senator, of Winthrop

Results

Republican primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Linwood E. Palmer Jr.	35,976	48.73
	Republican	Charles Cragin	28,244	38.26
	Republican	Jerrold Speers	9,603	13.01
Total votes			73,826	100.00

Results

1978 Gubernatorial Election, Maine^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Joseph Brennan	176,493	47.80%	−
	Republican	Linwood E. Palmer Jr.	126,862	34.36%	−
	Independent	Herman C. Frankland	65,889	17.84%	−
Majority			49,631	13.44%
	Democratic gain from Independent		Swing

Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic

Androscoggin (largest city: Lewiston)
Franklin (largest town: Farmington)
Kennebec (largest city: Augusta)
Oxford (largest town: Rumford)
Penobscot (largest city: Bangor)
Sagadahoc (largest town: Bath)
Somerset (largest town: Skowhegan)
Washington (largest city: Calais)

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

↑ Guide to US Elections . Vol. II (Fifth ed.). CQ Press. 2005. pp. 1497–1499. ISBN 978-1-56802-981-8 . Retrieved May 6, 2009.

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[1] Guide to US Elections . Vol. II (Fifth ed.). CQ Press. 2005. pp. 1497–1499. ISBN 978-1-56802-981-8 . Retrieved May 6, 2009.

[1]

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1978 Maine gubernatorial election

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Results

Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Independent to Republican

Notes