1978 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

The 1978 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Republican Lee S. Dreyfus won the election with 54% of the vote, winning his first term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating incumbent Democrat Martin J. Schreiber. Bob Kasten unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination. As of 2024, this is the last occasion that Florence County has voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election. The primary election was held on September 12, 1978. Nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were selected in separate primaries before running on a joint ticket in the general election. == Democratic party == === Governor === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Martin J. Schreiber, incumbent governor ===== Eliminated in primary ===== David Carley, nominee for lieutenant governor in 1962 Edmond Hou-Seye, American party nominee for United States Senate in 1970 ==== Results ==== === Lieutenant Governor === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Doug La Follette, Secretary of State of Wisconsin ===== Eliminated in primary ===== Robert A. Anderson Dale T. McKenna, State senator from the 13th district Paul Offner, State senator from the 32nd district Harout Sanasarian, former state representative Charles E. Smith Monroe Swan, State senator from the 6th district ==== Results ==== == Republican party == === Governor === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Lee S. Dreyfus, Chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point ===== Eliminated in primary ===== Robert W. Kasten, member of United States House of Representatives from the 9th district ===== Declined ===== Stanley York, former state representative from the Buffalo–Pepin–Pierce Assembly district (1967–1970) ==== Results ==== === Lieutenant Governor === ==== Candidates ==== ===== Nominee ===== Russell A. Olson, member of Wisconsin State Assembly ===== Eliminated in primary ===== La Verne Ausman, member of Wisconsin State Assembly ==== Results ==== == Conservative party == === Governor === ==== Candidates ==== Eugene R. Zimmerman, American party nominee for Secretary of State in 1974 ==== Results ==== === Lieutenant Governor === ==== Candidates ==== George Reed, American party nominee for Secretary of State in 1970 ==== Results ==== == Independent nominations == === Candidates === John C. Doherty & Marion A. Doherty Adrienne Kaplan & William Breihan Henry A. Ochsner & Robert E. Nordlander === Results === == General election == === Candidates === Martin J. Schreiber & Douglas J. La Follette, Democrat Lee S. Dreyfus & Russell A. Olson, Republican Eugene R. Zimmerman & George Reed, Conservative John C. Doherty & Marion A. Doherty, Independent Adrienne Kaplan & William Breihan, Independent Henry A. Ochsner & Robert E. Nordlander, Independent === Results === === Results by county === Dreyfus was the first Republican since Walter J. Kohler Jr. in 1952 to win Forest County, Portage County, and Rusk County. St. Croix County backed the losing candidate for the first time since 1892, breaking a bellwether streak of 40 consecutive gubernatorial elections. Barron County, Buffalo County, Pepin County, and Washburn County would not vote for the losing candidate again until 2018. ==== Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican ==== Brown Calumet Chippewa Clark Crawford Dane Eau Claire Forest Langlade Lincoln Marathon Marinette Outagamie Ozaukee Portage Price Racine Rock Rusk Sawyer Sheboygan Taylor Trempealeau Washington Waukesha Wood == References ==