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

      Iowa Governor

      Winner
      REP
      Robert E. Ray
      58.3%491,713 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Jerome Fitzgerald
      41.0%345,519 votes
      Margin
      R+17.3
      843,190 total votes
      3 candidates843,190 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Robert E. RayREP✓
      		REP491,71358.3%
      Jerome FitzgeraldDEM
      		DEM345,51941.0%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH5,9580.7%

      Seat History

      Governor in Iowa

      2022
      Kim ReynoldsREP
      R+18.5
      2018
      Kim ReynoldsREP
      R+2.7
      2014
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+21.7
      2010
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+9.6
      2006
      Chet CulverDEM
      D+9.7
      2002
      Tom VilsackDEM
      D+8.2
      1998
      Tom VilsackDEM
      D+5.8
      1994
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+15.2
      1990
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+21.8
      1986
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+3.9
      1982
      Terry Edward BranstadREP
      R+6.3
      1974
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+17.1
      1972
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+18.2
      1970
      Robert E. RayREP
      R+4.4
      View all Governor history for Iowa →

      Candidates

      Robert E. RayREP
      Record5W-0L
      Avg MarginR+13.0
      Career1968-1978
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Jerome FitzgeraldDEM
      Record3W-1L
      Avg MarginD+38.2
      Career1972-1978
      Governor / State House
      Full profile →

      Also in Iowa, 1978

      US Senate1 contest →US House6 contests →
      ← All 1978 Governor races1978 overviewIowa profileAll elections