# 1978 Minnesota Attorney General election

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The 1978 Minnesota Attorney General election was held on 7 November 1978 in order to elect the attorney general of Minnesota. Democratic–Farmer–Labor nominee and incumbent attorney general Warren Spannaus defeated Republican nominee and incumbent member of the Minnesota Senate Howard A. Knutson and American Party nominee Arnold P. Olsen.

## General election

On election day, 7 November 1978, Democratic–Farmer–Labor nominee Warren Spannaus won re-election by a margin of 246,425 votes against his foremost opponent Republican nominee Howard A. Knutson, thereby retaining Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party control over the office of attorney general. Spannaus was sworn in for his third term on 2 January 1979.

### Results

Minnesota Attorney General election, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Warren Spannaus (incumbent) | 858,547 | 55.90 |
| | Republican | Howard A. Knutson | 612,122 | 39.85 |
| | American | Arnold P. Olsen | 65,256 | 4.25 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,535,925 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold |