1978 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1978 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election Pennsylvania presidential 1978 11 7 no 1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election 1974 1982 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election 1982 145x145px File:Dick Thornburgh 1978 (cropped).jpg Dick Thornburgh Bill Scranton III Republican Party (United States) 1,966,042 52.54% File:Peter F. Flaherty (PA mayor) (cropped).png Pete Flaherty Robert P. Casey Democratic Party (United States) 1,737,888 46.44% 1978 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 260px County results Thornburgh: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Flaherty: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Governor Milton Shapp Democratic Party (United States) Dick Thornburgh Republican Party (United States) The 1978 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Governor Milton Shapp was constitutionally ineligible to run for a third consecutive term in office. Republican Dick Thornburgh defeated Democrat Pete Flaherty in the general election. Democratic primary Candidates Bob Casey, Auditor General (from Lackawanna County) Pete Flaherty, United States Deputy Attorney General and former mayor of Pittsburgh (from Allegheny County) Ernie Kline, Lieutenant Governor (from Westmoreland County) Jennifer Wesner, mayor of Knox (from Clarion County) Campaign The race began with a primary that slated an impressive field of candidates. Flaherty, the former Mayor of Pittsburgh who was known for providing a progressive challenge to urban machine politics, bested State Auditor General Bob Casey, who had lost the Democratic nomination for this office twice before. Casey's campaign was greatly hurt by the presence of another Bob Casey who was running on the ballot for Lieutenant Governor; voters believed they were selecting a ticket of Flaherty and the Auditor General when they chose the Pittsburgh teacher as the Democratic running mate. Lieutenant Governor Ernie Kline, who was frequently known as "assistant governor" during his time in office due to his policy skills, was endorsed by outgoing governor Milton Shapp, but finished a distant third. Results Pennsylvania gubernatorial Democratic primary election, 1978http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=43852. Our Campaigns - PA Governor - D Primary Race - May 16, 1978 Democratic Party (United States) Pete Flaherty 574,899 44.89 Democratic Party (United States) Bob Casey 445,146 34.76 Democratic Party (United States) Ernie Kline 223,811 17.48 Democratic Party (United States) Jennifer Wesner 36,770 2.87 1,280,626 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Bob Butera, former State House Minority Leader (from Montgomery County) Henry Hager, State Senate Minority Leader (from Lycoming County) Alvin Jacobson, a disabled former soldier (from Adams County) David W. Marston, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (from Montgomery County) Arlen Specter, former Philadelphia District Attorney (from Philadelphia County) Dick Thornburgh, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania (from Allegheny County) Andrew Watson Campaign Thornburgh's win came over the Republican leaders of both houses of the state legislature (House Minority Leader Bob Butera and Senate Minority Leader Henry Hager), as well as a former US Attorney, Dave Marston. Former Philadelphia District Attorney and future senator Arlen Specter was considered the front-runner in the months preceding the primary, but the moderate urban Republican's campaign faded as Thornburgh presented himself as a leader that could bridge both wings of the party.Kennedy John J. Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests From 1950-2004 2006 University Press of America 9780761832799 https://books.google.com/books?id=1J_9q-lIWRkC&q=1998+ridge+itkin Results 1978 Republican gubernatorial primaryhttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=43859. Our Campaigns - PA Governor - R Primary Race - May 16, 1978 Republican Party (United States) Dick Thornburgh 325,376 32.63 Republican Party (United States) Arlen Specter 206,802 20.74 Republican Party (United States) Bob Butera 190,653 19.12 Republican Party (United States) David W. Marston 161,813 16.23 Republican Party (United States) Henry Hager 57,119 5.73 Republican Party (United States) Andrew Watson 48,460 4.86 Republican Party (United States) Alvin Jacobson 7101 0.71 997,324 100.00 General election Candidates Pete Flaherty, United States Deputy Attorney General and former Mayor of Pittsburgh (Democratic) Running mate: Robert P. Casey, teacher Lee Frissell (Consumer) Running mate: Betty Burkett Dick Thornburgh, former US Attorney (Republican) Running mate: Bill Scranton III, newspaper publisher and son of former governor Bill Scranton Mark Zola (Socialist Workers) Running mate: Naomi Berman Campaign Flaherty out-polled Thornburgh by double-digit margins for much of the campaign, but the Republican candidate used highly effective strategies to close the gap in the weeks leading up to election night. Thornburgh was successful in recruiting suburban moderates, as fellow moderate Republican Specter encouraged his metro Philadelphia supporters to rally behind Thornburgh. In contrast, the liberal Flaherty had trouble reaching out to conservative Democrats outside of his Western Pennsylvania base, a problem hindered by Casey's tepid support for the candidate over the lieutenant gubernatorial issue. Thornburgh also aggressively courted traditionally Democratic-leaning groups and gained the endorsements of the NAACP and several labor unions. Democratic support slowly waned under this strategy, which allowed Thornburgh to take a close victory. Results thumb|300px|Percentage of each county that voted for the Socialist Workers ticketGeneral Election November 7, 1978 Governor and Lieutenant Governor – via the Pennsylvania State Archives. #CD3700 Socialist Workers #31170e >0.9% #452013 0.8–0.9% #622E1B 0.7–0.8% #973714 0.6–0.7% #CD3700 0.5–0.6% #F8581E 0.4–0.5% #FF7644 0.3–0.4% #FF8E65 0.2–0.3% #FFAC8E 0.1–0.2% #FFD3C3 0–0.1% #808080 No votes Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1978The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 728.The Pennsylvania Manual, p. 727.PartyCandidateRunning mateVotesPercentage Republican Dick Thornburgh Bill Scranton III 1,996,042 52.54% Democratic Pete Flaherty Bob Casey 1,737,888 46.44% Socialist Workers Mark Zola Naomi Berman 20,062 0.54% Consumer Lee Frissell Betty Burkett 17,593 0.47% Write-ins Write-in 384 0.01% Totals 3,741,969 100.00% Voter turnout (Voting age population) 64.60% Notes References Ackley Gayle Arcuri Patricia D 1979 The Pennsylvania Manual 104 Harrisburg Pennsylvania Department of General Services 1978 Gubernatorial Pennsylvania Category:November 1978 in the United States