Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1978/Governor/California
      1978·Governor·California

      California Governor

      Winner
      DEM
      Edmund G. Brown
      56.0%3,878,812 votes
      Runner-up
      REP
      Evelle J. Younger
      36.5%2,526,534 votes
      Margin
      D+19.5
      6,921,273 total votes
      3 candidates6,921,273 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Edmund G. BrownDEM✓
      		DEM3,878,81256.0%
      Evelle J. YoungerREP
      		REP2,526,53436.5%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH515,9277.5%

      Seat History

      Governor in California

      2022
      Gavin NewsomDEM
      D+18.4
      2018
      Gavin NewsomDEM
      D+23.9
      2014
      Edmund G. BrownDEM
      D+19.9
      2010
      Edmund G. BrownDEM
      D+12.9
      2006
      Arnold SchwarzeneggerREP
      R+17.0
      2002
      Gray DavisDEM
      D+4.9
      1998
      Gray DavisDEM
      D+19.6
      1994
      Pete WilsonREP
      R+14.6
      1990
      Pete WilsonREP
      R+3.5
      1986
      George DeukmejianREP
      R+23.2
      1982
      George DeukmejianREP
      R+1.2
      1974
      Edmund G. BrownDEM
      D+2.9
      1970
      Ronald ReaganREP
      R+7.7
      1966
      Ronald ReaganREP
      R+15.3
      View all Governor history for California →

      Candidates

      Edmund G. BrownDEM
      Record6W-1L
      Avg MarginD+9.2
      Career1958-2014
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Evelle J. YoungerREP
      Record0W-1L
      Avg MarginD+19.5
      Career1978-1978
      Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in California, 1978

      US House43 contests →
      ← All 1978 Governor races1978 overviewCalifornia profileAll elections