1978 Michigan gubernatorial election

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1978 Michigan gubernatorial election
Flag of Michigan.svg
  1974 November 2, 1978 1982  
  William Milliken 1977.png William B. Fitzgerald Jr.png
Nominee William Milliken William B. Fitzgerald Jr.
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,628,4851,237,256
Percentage56.8%43.1%

1978 Michigan gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Milliken:     50–60%     60–70%     70-80%
Fitzgerald:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

William Milliken
Republican

Elected Governor

William Milliken
Republican

The 1978 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican William Milliken was elected to a third term as Michigan Governor.

Contents

As of 2023, this remains the last election in which the Republican candidate for Governor carried Wayne County.

The primary elections occurred on August 8, 1978. [1] Milliken was unopposed, while Fitzgerald defeated a four-man field including law professor and perennial candidate Zolton Ferency.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Michigan gubernatorial Republican primary, 1978 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William Milliken (incumbent) 393,010 99.98
Republican Write-ins 890.02
Total votes393,099 100.00

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Michigan gubernatorial Democratic primary, 1978 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic William B. Fitzgerald Jr. 240,641 39.79%
Democratic Zolton Ferency 151,06224.98%
Democratic Patrick McCollough108,74217.98%
Democratic William Ralls104,36417.25%
Democratic Write-ins 520.01
Total votes604,861 100.00

General election

Results

Michigan gubernatorial election, 1978 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William Milliken (incumbent) 1,628,485 56.80
Democratic William B. Fitzgerald Jr. 1,237,25643.15
Write-ins 1,4710.05
Majority2,867,212
Republican hold

References

  1. 1 2 3 Michigan (1981). Michigan manual. 1979/1980 via HathiTrust.
  2. Parker, Randy (June 6, 2010). "Our Campaigns: MI Governor". Our Campaigns.