 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 County results Herschler: 50–60% 60–70% Ostlund: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
.JPEG)
| Elections in Wyoming | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||
| Federal government | ||||||||||||
State government
|
||||||||||||
Local government
|
||||||||||||
The 1978 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler ran for re-election to a second term. After winning a contested Democratic primary, he advanced to the general election, where he faced former State Senator John Ostlund, the Republican nominee. Despite the strong Republican performance nationwide, Herschler's personal popularity allowed him to narrowly win re-election to Ostlund, making him the first Democratic Governor to win re-election since Lester C. Hunt in 1946.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Edgar Herschler, incumbent Governor
- Margaret McKinstry, member of the Laramie County Community College Board of Trustees
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Edgar Herschler (incumbent) | 28,406 | 65.28% | |
| Democratic | Margaret McKinstry | 15,111 | 34.72% | |
| Total votes | 43,517 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Ostlund, former State Senator
- Gus Fleischli, former State Representative
- Jim Bace, real estate agent
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Ostlund | 40,251 | 58.95% | |
| Republican | Gus Fleischli | 24,824 | 36.35% | |
| Republican | Jim Bace | 3,209 | 4.70% | |
| Total votes | 68,284 | 100.00% | ||
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Edgar Herschler (incumbent) | 69,972 | 50.86% | −5.02% | |
| Republican | John Ostlund | 67,595 | 49.14% | +5.02% | |
| Majority | 2,377 | 1.73% | −10.03% | ||
| Turnout | 137,567 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||
References
- "UW home economist will run for governor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. June 17, 1978. p. 11.
- ^ Thomson, Thyra (1979). 1979 Wyoming Official Directory and 1978 Election Returns. pp. 132, 201.
- McAuley, Phil (May 10, 1978). "Ostlund announces for governor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. p. 1.
- "Fleischli tosses his hat in the ring". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. February 8, 1978. p. 1.
- "Realtor eyes governorship". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. March 28, 1978. p. 11.