1978 Michigan gubernatorial election
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November 7, 1978
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 County results Milliken: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Fitzgerald: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Michigan |
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The 1978 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican William Milliken defeated Democrat William B. Fitzgerald to win a third full term as governor.
As of 2026, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which Wayne County has voted Republican and one of only two such instances since 1928.[a]
Primary election
[edit]Michigan held primary elections on August 8, 1978.
Republican party
[edit]Incumbent governor William Milliken was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Candidates
[edit]- William Milliken, incumbent Governor
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William Milliken (inc.) | 393,010 | 99.98% | |
| Republican | Scattering | 89 | 0.02% | |
| Total votes | 393,099 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic party
[edit]State senator William B. Fitzgerald defeated three other candidates including law professor and perennial candidate Zolton Ferency.
Candidates
[edit]- Zolton Ferency, Michigan State University law professor and Democratic nominee in 1966
- William B. Fitzgerald, member of Michigan Senate and former Senate Majority Leader
- Patrick McCollough, member of Michigan Senate[2]
- William Ralls, former member of Michigan Public Service Commission[3]
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William B. Fitzgerald | 240,641 | 39.79% | |
| Democratic | Zolton Ferency | 151,062 | 24.97% | |
| Democratic | Patrick McCollough | 108,742 | 17.98% | |
| Democratic | William Ralls | 104,364 | 17.25% | |
| Democratic | Scattering | 52 | 0.01% | |
| Total votes | 604,861 | 100.00% | ||
General election
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- William Milliken & James H. Brickley, Republican
- William B. Fitzgerald & Olivia P. Maynard, Democratic
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William Milliken (inc.) | 1,628,485 | 56.80% | +5.73% | |
| Democratic | William B. Fitzgerald | 1,237,256 | 43.15% | −3.60% | |
| Scattering | 1,471 | 0.05% | |||
| Majority | 391,229 | 13.64% | |||
| Total votes | 2,867,212 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | +9.33% | |||
Results by county
[edit]Despite his defeat, Fitzgerald flipped several counties that had not voted Democratic in a very long time. Before this election, Alcona County had not voted Democratic since 1878, Oscoda County had not since 1888, and Missaukee County had not since 1890.
| County[4] | William Milliken Republican |
William B. Fitzgerald Democratic |
Scattering Write-in |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Alcona | 1,868 | 49.93% | 1,870 | 49.99% | 3 | 0.08% | -2 | -0.05% | 3,741 |
| Alger | 1,237 | 35.90% | 2,209 | 64.10% | 0 | 0.00% | -972 | -28.21% | 3,446 |
| Allegan | 12,181 | 52.63% | 10,958 | 47.35% | 4 | 0.02% | 1,223 | 5.28% | 23,143 |
| Alpena | 5,501 | 50.21% | 5,454 | 49.79% | 0 | 0.00% | 47 | 0.43% | 10,955 |
| Antrim | 3,656 | 57.30% | 2,725 | 42.70% | 0 | 0.00% | 931 | 14.59% | 6,381 |
| Arenac | 2,272 | 48.84% | 2,379 | 51.14% | 1 | 0.02% | -107 | -2.30% | 4,652 |
| Baraga | 1,396 | 47.65% | 1,534 | 52.35% | 0 | 0.00% | -138 | -4.71% | 2,930 |
| Barry | 8,377 | 54.83% | 6,889 | 45.09% | 13 | 0.09% | 1,488 | 9.74% | 15,279 |
| Bay | 18,762 | 45.02% | 22,915 | 54.98% | 0 | 0.00% | -4,153 | -9.96% | 41,677 |
| Benzie | 2,704 | 61.68% | 1,676 | 38.23% | 4 | 0.09% | 1,028 | 23.45% | 4,384 |
| Berrien | 29,577 | 63.92% | 16,694 | 36.08% | 3 | 0.01% | 12,883 | 27.84% | 46,274 |
| Branch | 6,968 | 59.97% | 4,651 | 40.03% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,317 | 19.94% | 11,619 |
| Calhoun | 23,998 | 54.47% | 20,038 | 45.48% | 19 | 0.04% | 3,960 | 8.99% | 44,055 |
| Cass | 7,572 | 60.50% | 4,941 | 39.48% | 2 | 0.02% | 2,631 | 21.02% | 12,515 |
| Charlevoix | 3,883 | 52.22% | 3,550 | 47.74% | 3 | 0.04% | 333 | 4.48% | 7,436 |
| Cheboygan | 3,688 | 50.90% | 3,558 | 49.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 130 | 1.79% | 7,246 |
| Chippewa | 5,489 | 53.95% | 4,686 | 46.05% | 0 | 0.00% | 803 | 7.89% | 10,175 |
| Clare | 3,729 | 48.23% | 3,999 | 51.73% | 3 | 0.04% | -270 | -3.49% | 7,731 |
| Clinton | 11,026 | 59.73% | 7,420 | 40.20% | 13 | 0.07% | 3,606 | 19.54% | 18,459 |
| Crawford | 1,834 | 53.08% | 1,621 | 46.92% | 0 | 0.00% | 213 | 6.16% | 3,455 |
| Delta | 5,693 | 43.80% | 7,304 | 56.19% | 1 | 0.01% | -1,611 | -12.39% | 12,998 |
| Dickinson | 4,595 | 47.62% | 5,053 | 52.37% | 1 | 0.01% | -458 | -4.75% | 9,649 |
| Eaton | 19,015 | 64.17% | 10,618 | 35.83% | 0 | 0.00% | 8,397 | 28.34% | 29,633 |
| Emmet | 4,995 | 59.24% | 3,437 | 40.76% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,558 | 18.48% | 8,432 |
| Genesee | 65,936 | 50.62% | 64,292 | 49.36% | 18 | 0.01% | 1,644 | 1.26% | 130,246 |
| Gladwin | 2,894 | 46.19% | 3,371 | 53.81% | 0 | 0.00% | -477 | -7.61% | 6,265 |
| Gogebic | 3,344 | 40.24% | 4,966 | 59.76% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,622 | -19.52% | 8,310 |
| Grand Traverse | 11,990 | 66.46% | 6,042 | 33.49% | 8 | 0.04% | 5,948 | 32.97% | 18,040 |
| Gratiot | 7,215 | 60.69% | 4,670 | 39.28% | 4 | 0.03% | 2,545 | 21.41% | 11,889 |
| Hillsdale | 7,372 | 61.79% | 4,559 | 38.21% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,813 | 23.58% | 11,931 |
| Houghton | 6,729 | 54.15% | 5,698 | 45.85% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,031 | 8.30% | 12,427 |
| Huron | 7,444 | 58.19% | 5,349 | 41.81% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,095 | 16.38% | 12,793 |
| Ingham | 68,334 | 69.77% | 29,356 | 29.97% | 256 | 0.26% | 38,978 | 39.80% | 97,946 |
| Ionia | 8,500 | 53.75% | 7,311 | 46.23% | 3 | 0.02% | 1,189 | 7.52% | 15,814 |
| Iosco | 4,423 | 53.35% | 3,858 | 46.54% | 9 | 0.11% | 565 | 6.82% | 8,290 |
| Iron | 2,563 | 42.36% | 3,488 | 57.64% | 0 | 0.00% | -925 | -15.29% | 6,051 |
| Isabella | 9,030 | 59.80% | 6,054 | 40.09% | 16 | 0.11% | 2,976 | 19.71% | 15,100 |
| Jackson | 27,474 | 57.21% | 20,513 | 42.72% | 34 | 0.07% | 6,961 | 14.50% | 48,021 |
| Kalamazoo | 44,825 | 64.88% | 24,220 | 35.06% | 42 | 0.06% | 20,605 | 29.82% | 69,087 |
| Kalkaska | 1,642 | 46.24% | 1,906 | 53.68% | 3 | 0.08% | -264 | -7.43% | 3,551 |
| Kent | 85,292 | 57.81% | 62,153 | 42.13% | 82 | 0.06% | 23,139 | 15.68% | 147,527 |
| Keweenaw | 546 | 48.19% | 587 | 51.81% | 0 | 0.00% | -41 | -3.62% | 1,133 |
| Lake | 1,148 | 39.53% | 1,753 | 60.37% | 3 | 0.10% | -605 | -20.83% | 2,904 |
| Lapeer | 10,853 | 56.97% | 8,198 | 43.03% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,655 | 13.94% | 19,051 |
| Leelanau | 3,882 | 62.80% | 2,296 | 37.14% | 4 | 0.06% | 1,586 | 25.66% | 6,182 |
| Lenawee | 14,784 | 57.45% | 10,936 | 42.50% | 14 | 0.05% | 3,848 | 14.95% | 25,734 |
| Livingston | 19,011 | 67.16% | 9,292 | 32.82% | 5 | 0.02% | 9,719 | 34.33% | 28,308 |
| Luce | 1,168 | 59.38% | 799 | 40.62% | 0 | 0.00% | 369 | 18.76% | 1,967 |
| Mackinac | 2,328 | 53.59% | 2,016 | 46.41% | 0 | 0.00% | 312 | 7.18% | 4,344 |
| Macomb | 119,334 | 56.39% | 92,241 | 43.59% | 43 | 0.02% | 27,093 | 12.80% | 211,618 |
| Manistee | 4,263 | 53.45% | 3,712 | 46.55% | 0 | 0.00% | 551 | 6.91% | 7,975 |
| Marquette | 10,201 | 48.47% | 10,847 | 51.53% | 0 | 0.00% | -646 | -3.07% | 21,048 |
| Mason | 5,323 | 56.68% | 4,065 | 43.29% | 3 | 0.03% | 1,258 | 13.40% | 9,391 |
| Mecosta | 6,151 | 56.58% | 4,721 | 43.42% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,430 | 13.15% | 10,872 |
| Menominee | 3,565 | 43.27% | 4,674 | 56.73% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,109 | -13.46% | 8,239 |
| Midland | 16,886 | 64.33% | 9,346 | 35.60% | 19 | 0.07% | 7,540 | 28.72% | 26,251 |
| Missaukee | 1,765 | 43.21% | 2,313 | 56.62% | 7 | 0.17% | -548 | -13.41% | 4,085 |
| Monroe | 16,933 | 51.80% | 15,750 | 48.18% | 7 | 0.02% | 1,183 | 3.62% | 32,690 |
| Montcalm | 7,782 | 55.78% | 6,167 | 44.20% | 3 | 0.02% | 1,615 | 11.58% | 13,952 |
| Montmorency | 1,473 | 48.37% | 1,572 | 51.63% | 0 | 0.00% | -99 | -3.25% | 3,045 |
| Muskegon | 27,960 | 52.65% | 25,141 | 47.34% | 3 | 0.01% | 2,819 | 5.31% | 53,104 |
| Newaygo | 6,061 | 53.15% | 5,342 | 46.85% | 0 | 0.00% | 719 | 6.31% | 11,403 |
| Oakland | 225,870 | 67.66% | 107,830 | 32.30% | 115 | 0.03% | 118,040 | 35.36% | 333,815 |
| Oceana | 3,711 | 51.09% | 3,549 | 48.86% | 3 | 0.04% | 162 | 2.23% | 7,263 |
| Ogemaw | 2,545 | 41.72% | 3,549 | 58.18% | 6 | 0.10% | -1,004 | -16.46% | 6,100 |
| Ontonagon | 1,828 | 41.91% | 2,534 | 58.09% | 0 | 0.00% | -706 | -16.19% | 4,362 |
| Osceola | 3,113 | 51.78% | 2,863 | 47.62% | 36 | 0.30% | 250 | 4.16% | 6,012 |
| Oscoda | 610 | 23.41% | 1,996 | 76.59% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,386 | -53.18% | 2,606 |
| Otsego | 3,151 | 58.31% | 2,253 | 41.69% | 0 | 0.00% | 898 | 16.62% | 5,404 |
| Ottawa | 32,271 | 60.42% | 21,132 | 39.56% | 9 | 0.02% | 11,139 | 20.85% | 53,412 |
| Presque Isle | 2,785 | 46.76% | 3,165 | 53.14% | 6 | 0.10% | -380 | -6.38% | 5,956 |
| Roscommon | 3,604 | 49.98% | 3,607 | 50.02% | 0 | 0.00% | -3 | -0.04% | 7,211 |
| Saginaw | 35,491 | 53.02% | 31,448 | 46.98% | 4 | 0.01% | 4,043 | 6.04% | 66,943 |
| Sanilac | 9,099 | 64.44% | 5,007 | 35.46% | 15 | 0.11% | 4,092 | 28.98% | 14,121 |
| Schoolcraft | 1,629 | 48.18% | 1,751 | 51.79% | 1 | 0.03% | -122 | -3.61% | 3,381 |
| Shiawassee | 12,594 | 54.60% | 10,461 | 45.35% | 11 | 0.05% | 2,133 | 9.25% | 23,066 |
| St. Clair | 23,287 | 56.90% | 17,640 | 43.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 5,647 | 13.80% | 40,927 |
| St. Joseph | 9,083 | 64.39% | 5,013 | 35.54% | 10 | 0.07% | 4,070 | 28.85% | 14,106 |
| Tuscola | 9,558 | 56.86% | 7,252 | 43.14% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,306 | 13.72% | 16,810 |
| Van Buren | 10,174 | 55.04% | 8,311 | 44.96% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,863 | 10.08% | 18,485 |
| Washtenaw | 57,601 | 70.41% | 23,808 | 29.10% | 403 | 0.49% | 33,793 | 41.31% | 81,812 |
| Wayne | 339,884 | 50.40% | 334,248 | 49.57% | 188 | 0.03% | 5,636 | 0.84% | 674,320 |
| Wexford | 4,157 | 50.38% | 4,086 | 49.52% | 8 | 0.10% | 71 | 0.86% | 8,251 |
| Total | 1,628,485 | 56.80% | 1,237,256 | 43.15% | 1,471 | 0.05% | 391,229 | 13.64% | 2,867,212 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
[edit]Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Official Canvass of Votes, Primary Election, August 8, 1978". Michigan Manual 1979-1980. Lansing: Michigan Department of Management and Budget. 1979. pp. 533–535.
- ↑ "Legislator Details". Library of Michigan. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ "28 Dem Lawmakers Back McCollough Bid". The Bay City Times. Bay City. July 27, 1978. p. 5-A. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- 1 2 "Official Canvass of Votes, General Election, November 7, 1978". Michigan Manual 1979-1980. Lansing: Michigan Department of Management and Budget. 1979. pp. 609–610.
