# 1978 Colorado gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 1978 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Democrat Richard Lamm defeated Republican nominee Ted L. Strickland with 58.76% of the vote.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 12, 1978.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Richard Lamm, incumbent Governor

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Lamm (incumbent) | 94,292 | 100.00 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Ted L. Strickland, State Senator
* Richard H. Plock Jr., State Senator

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ted L. Strickland | 87,248 | 59.01 |
| | Republican | Richard H. Plock Jr. | 60,597 | 40.99 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 147,845 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

Major party candidates
* Richard Lamm, Democratic
* Ted L. Strickland, Republican
Other candidates
* Roy Peister, Independent
* Elsa Blum, Socialist Workers
* Sal A. Mander, Independent
* Earl F. Dodge Jr., National Statesman

### Results

1978 Colorado gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Richard Lamm (incumbent) | 483,985 | 58.76% | +5.54% |
| | Republican | Ted L. Strickland | 317,292 | 38.53% | −5.18% |
| | Independent | Roy Peister | 13,990 | 1.70% | |
| | Socialist Workers | Elsa Blum | 3,690 | 0.45% | |
| | Independent | Sal A. Mander | 2,452 | 0.30% | N/A |
| | Prohibition | Earl Dodge | 2,198 | 0.27% | −0.50% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 166,693 | 20.23% | +12.72% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 823,807 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |