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1978 Kansas gubernatorial election
	County results ; Carlin: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%; Bennett: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
Governor before election; Robert Frederick Bennett; Republican	Elected Governor ; John W. Carlin; Democratic

The 1978 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Democratic nominee John W. Carlin defeated incumbent Republican Robert Frederick Bennett with 49.4% of the vote.

As of 2024, this marks the last occasion in which the following counties have voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election: Gray, Hamilton, and Ness^{[original research?]} and until 2022, this was the last gubernatorial election where a Democratic governor was elected during the tenure of a Democratic president.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 1, 1978.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

John W. Carlin, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
Bert Chaney
Harry G. Wiles

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John W. Carlin	71,366	55.21
	Democratic	Bert Chaney	34,132	26.41
	Democratic	Harry G. Wiles	23,762	18.38
Total votes			129,260	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Robert Frederick Bennett, incumbent Governor
Robert R. "Bob" Sanders
Harold Knight

Results

Republican primary results^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert Frederick Bennett (incumbent)	142,239	69.23
	Republican	Robert R. "Bob" Sanders	40,542	19.73
	Republican	Harold Knight	22,671	11.04
Total votes			205,452	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

John W. Carlin, Democratic
Robert Frederick Bennett, Republican

Other candidates

Frank W. Shelton Jr., American
Berry Beets, Prohibition

Results

1978 Kansas gubernatorial election^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John W. Carlin	363,835	49.42%
	Republican	Robert Frederick Bennett (incumbent)	348,015	47.27%
	American	Frank W. Shelton Jr.	17,053	2.32%
	Prohibition	Berry Beets	7,343	1.00%
Majority			15,820
Turnout			736,246
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
^ Cook, Rhodes (November 17, 2015). America Votes 31: 2013-2014, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781483383026. Retrieved January 9, 2019.

[google1-1] Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved January 9, 2019.

[2] Cook, Rhodes (November 17, 2015). America Votes 31: 2013-2014, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781483383026. Retrieved January 9, 2019.

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