1978 Idaho gubernatorial election
November 7, 1978
 
Nominee John Evans Allan Larsen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 169,540 114,149
Percentage 58.75% 39.56%
County results
Evans:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Larsen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

John Evans
Democratic

 Elected Governor

John V. Evans
Democratic

The 1978 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 7, and incumbent Democrat John Evans defeated Republican nominee Allan Larsen with 58.75% of the vote.[1][2][3] It was the third consecutive win for the Democrats (1970, 1974, 1978), but the only significant victory for the party in Idaho in 1978.[3]

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on Tuesday, August 8, 1978.[4][5][6]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Evans ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[5][6][7] Elected lieutenant governor in 1974, he succeeded Cecil Andrus in January 1977,[8][9] who left to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior in the new Carter Administration.[10]

Republican primary

Entering the primary, Vern Ravenscroft and Butch Otter were the apparent front runners,[11][12] but were upset by Larsen.[5][7]

Candidates

Source:[17][18]

Results

Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Allan Larsen 33,778 28.73
Republican Vern Ravenscroft 32,455 27.61
Republican Butch Otter 30,523 25.97
Republican Larry Jackson 13,510 11.49
Republican James Crowe 4,447 3.78
Republican Jay S. Amyx 2,842 2.42
Total votes 117,555 100.00

General election

The election was notable as it was the first time Idaho elected a governor from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both major candidates were members,[19] and through 2020, Evans remains the only Mormon to be elected governor in the state.

Candidates

Major party candidates

  • John Evans, Democratic
  • Allan Larsen, Republican

Other candidates

  • Wayne Loveless, American

Results

1978 Idaho gubernatorial election[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Evans (incumbent) 169,540 58.75%
Republican Allan Larsen 114,149 39.56%
American Wayne Loveless 4,877 1.69%
Majority 55,391
Turnout 288,566
Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ "Foley, Evans, Batt, Symms, 1%". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 8, 1978. p. 1A.
  2. ↑ "Party balance in high posts". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. November 8, 1978. p. 3.
  3. 1 2 "Evans is lone Demo to survive in Idaho". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. November 9, 1978. p. 9.
  4. 1 2 Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Larsen upsets Ravenscroft". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. August 9, 1978. p. 1A.
  6. 1 2 "Mormons win Idaho governor primary". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Associated Press. August 9, 1978. p. 20.
  7. 1 2 "Win close for Larsen". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. August 9, 1978. p. 23.
  8. ↑ Hall, Bill (January 25, 1977). "Meet Gov. John Evans". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 1A.
  9. ↑ "New Idaho governor pledges openness". Spokesman-Review. January 25, 1977. p. 1.
  10. ↑ "Andrus joins cabinet". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. January 24, 1977. p. 1A.
  11. ↑ "Otter gnawing into Ravenscroft's lead". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. July 31, 1978. p. 7A.
  12. 1 2 Roche, Kevin (August 7, 1978). "Ravenscroft isn't letting up despite his lead status". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 9A.
  13. ↑ "Vern Ravenscroft". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (advertisement). August 6, 1978. p. 7B.
  14. ↑ "Butch Otter". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (advertisement). August 6, 1978. p. 5B.
  15. ↑ "Crowe tags energy as top issue in 1978 campaign". Lewiston Morning Tribune. August 5, 1978. p. 5A.
  16. ↑ "Candidates: Amyx denounces 1% initiative". Lewiston Morning Tribune. August 3, 1978. p. 8A.
  17. ↑ Hall, Bill (August 6, 1978). "See how they run". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (editorial). p. 4A.
  18. ↑ Shelledy, Jay (August 6, 1978). "What's in a billboard?". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
  19. ↑ "Religion's the key issue in Evans-Larsen race". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Los Angeles Times). November 1, 1978. p. 1A.
  20. ↑ Cook, Rhodes (November 5, 2013). America Votes 30: 2011-2012, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781452290171. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
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