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.

Candidates

Democratic

• Robert W. Straub, incumbent Governor of Oregon

Republican

• Victor G. Atiyeh, State senator and nominee in 1974
• Tom McCall, former Governor of Oregon
• Roger E. Martin, State Representative

Election results

1978 Oregon gubernatorial election ^[1]

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. "OR Governor Race - Nov 7, 1978". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 11, 2010.