1978 Arizona gubernatorial election

none related races 1978 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 1978 Arizona gubernatorial election Arizona presidential no 1974 Arizona gubernatorial election 1974 1982 Arizona gubernatorial election 1982 November 7, 1978 File:Bruce babbitt.jpg 150x150px Bruce Babbitt Democratic Party (United States) 282,605 52.47% File:Evan Mecham (Arizona governor).jpg Evan Mecham Republican Party (United States) 241,093 44.77% 1978 Arizona gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 220px County resultsBabbitt: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Mecham: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% Governor Bruce Babbitt Democratic Party (United States) Bruce Babbitt Democratic Party (United States) The 1978 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978, for the post of Governor of Arizona. Democrat Bruce Babbitt defeated Republican nominee Evan Mecham. Babbitt was the former Attorney General of Arizona, but after the death of Governor Wesley Bolin, Babbit became governor. Bolin himself ascended to office from the position of Secretary of State, meaning his replacement, Rose Mofford was not eligible to the office as she was not elected. This drama of exchanging office would continue after Babbitt's term came to an end, as Mofford would become governor and succeeded Evan Mecham, Babbitt's challenger, in 1988. Democratic primary Candidates Bruce Babbitt, incumbent Governor Dave Moss, perennial candidate Withdrew Bill Schulz, businessman (endorsed Babbitt) Results Democratic primary results https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/102674 Official Canvass State of Arizona Primary Election - September 12, 1978 Arizona Secretary of State 2024-07-14 Democratic Party (United States) Bruce Babbitt (incumbent) 108,548 76.80% Democratic Party (United States) Dave Moss 32,785 23.20% 141,333 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Charles King Jack Londen, businessman Evan Mecham, perennial candidate Results Republican primary results Republican Party (United States) Evan Mecham 50,713 44.07% Republican Party (United States) Jack Londen 40,116 34.86% Republican Party (United States) Charles King 24,253 21.08% 115,082 100.00% General election Results Arizona gubernatorial election, 1978https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/102673 Official Canvass State of Arizona General Election - November 7, 1978 Arizona Secretary of State 2024-07-14 Democratic Party (United States) Bruce Babbitt (incumbent) 282,605 52.47% +2.06% Republican Party (United States) Evan Mecham 241,093 44.77% -4.79% Arizona Libertarian Party V. Gene Lewter 10,421 1.93% +1.93% Socialist Workers Party (US) Jessica Sampson 4,437 0.82% +0.82% 41,512 7.71% 538,556 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) +6.86% Results by county County Bruce BabbittDemocratic Evan MechamRepublican V. Gene LewterLibertarian Jessica SampsonSocialist Workers Margin Total votescast # % # % # % # % # %Apache4,49867.90%1,76126.59%1962.96%1692.55%2,73741.32%6,624Cochise8,96357.96%6,25140.42%940.61%1571.02%2,71217.54%15,465Coconino10,44667.74%4,41128.60%3882.52%1761.14%6,03539.13%15,421Gila5,71559.39%3,66838.12%1601.66%800.83%2,04721.27%9,623Graham2,56544.41%3,08553.41%631.09%631.09%-520-9.00%5,776Greenlee2,22969.25%91728.49%310.96%421.30%1,31240.76%3,219Maricopa141,17746.82%151,07950.10%6,9822.32%2,2910.76%-9,902-3.28%301,529Mohave6,04248.24%6,13348.96%2772.21%740.59%-91-0.73%12,526Navajo6,26956.47%4,51840.70%1791.61%1361.23%1,75115.77%11,102Pima67,90464.03%36,19734.13%1,1651.10%7850.74%31,70729.90%106,051Pinal9,06454.42%7,15142.93%2841.70%1580.95%1,91311.48%16,657Santa Cruz2,81468.28%1,22929.82%330.80%451.09%1,58538.46%4,121Yavapai8,38646.85%8,97850.16%4082.28%1260.70%-592-3.31%17,898Yuma6,53352.08%5,71545.56%1611.28%1351.08%8186.52%12,544Totals282,60552.47%241,09344.77%10,4211.93%4,4370.82%41,5127.71%538,556 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Yuma Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Mohave References 1978 Category:1978 United States gubernatorial elections Gubernatorial Category:November 1978 in the United States