1978 Oregon gubernatorial election

1978 Oregon gubernatorial election

←  1974 November 7, 1978 1982  →

Nominee Victor Atiyeh Robert Straub Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 498,452 409,411 Percentage 54.9% 45.1%

County results Atiyeh:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Straub:     50–60%

Governor before election Robert Straub Democratic Elected Governor Victor Atiyeh Republican

The 1978 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. In a rematch of the 1974 contest, Republican nominee Victor Atiyeh defeated Democratic incumbent Robert Straub to win the election.

As of 2025, this is the last time that an incumbent Governor of Oregon lost re-election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Robert W. Straub, incumbent Governor of Oregon

Eliminated in primary

• Marvin J. Hollingsworth
• Emily Ashworth, teacher ^[1]
• William L. Patrick
• James R. Smith
• E. "Buck" Lambert
• E. Allen Propst, candidate for governor in 1970 ^[2]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Straub	144,761	51.71%
	Democratic	Marvin J. Hollingsworth	52,901	18.90%
	Democratic	Emily Ashworth	49,201	17.58%
	Democratic	William L. Patrick	11,232	4.01%
	Democratic	James R. Smith	8,195	2.93%
	Democratic	E. "Buck" Lambert	8,005	2.86%
	Democratic	E. Allen Propst	5,649	2.02%
Total votes			279,944	100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Victor G. Atiyeh, state senator and nominee in 1974

Eliminated in primary

• Tom McCall, former Governor of Oregon
• Roger E. Martin, state representative
• William A. Jolley
• L.E. "Bud" Kretsinger, tavern owner ^[4]
• Gerald Wayne "Jerry" Todd
• William Desmond Hewitt, pianist and marijuana legalization advocate ^[5]

Results

Republican primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Victor Atiyeh	115,593	46.42%
	Republican	Tom McCall	83,568	33.56%
	Republican	Roger Martin	42,644	17.13%
	Republican	William A. Jolley	3,133	1.26%
	Republican	L.E. "Bud" Kretsinger	2,332	0.94%
	Republican	Gerald Wayne "Jerry" Todd	989	0.40%
	Republican	William Desmond Hewitt	741	0.30%
Total votes			249,000	100.0%

Election results

1978 Oregon gubernatorial election ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Victor G. Atiyeh	498,452	54.90%
	Democratic	Robert W. Straub (incumbent)	409,411	45.10%
Total votes			907,863	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

References

1. "Emily Ashworth featured at Gallery By the Bay July and August". The Coos Bay World. June 9, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
2. "1970 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Oregon". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
3. "Official Abstract of Votes, Primary Election, May 23, 1978". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
4. Dillon, Dave (June 19, 2008). "Remembering Bud". Tillamook Headlight-Herald. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
5. "William Hewitt Obituary (1932 - 2023) - Portland, OR - The Oregonian". Legacy.com. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
6. "OR Governor Race - Nov 7, 1978". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 11, 2010.