# 1979 Mississippi gubernatorial election

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The 1979 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1979, in order to elect the Governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Democrat Cliff Finch was term-limited, and could not run for reelection to a second term. As of 2020, this was the most recent election in which a Democrat won over 60 percent of the statewide vote in a gubernatorial election in the state.

## Democratic primary

No candidate received a majority in the Democratic primary, which featured 6 contenders, so a runoff was held between the top two candidates. The runoff election was won by former Lieutenant Governor William Winter, who defeated Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Gandy.

### Results

Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1979 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Evelyn Gandy | 224,746 | 30.49 |
| | Democratic | William Winter | 183,944 | 24.25 |
| | Democratic | John Arthur Eaves | 143,411 | 19.45 |
| | Democratic | Jim Herring | 135,812 | 18.42 |
| | Democratic | Charles M. Deaton | 34,700 | 4.71 |
| | Democratic | Richard Barrett | 14,550 | 1.97 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 737,163 | 100.00 |

### Runoff

Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff, 1979 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | William Winter | 386,174 | 56.62 |
| | Democratic | Evelyn Gandy | 295,835 | 43.38 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 682,009 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary

In the Republican primary, businessman and 1975 nominee Gil Carmichael defeated farmer and businessman Leon Bramlett.

### Results

Mississippi Republican gubernatorial primary, 1979 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gil Carmichael | 17,216 | 53.05 |
| | Republican | Leon Bramlett | 15,236 | 46.95 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,452 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

Mississippi gubernatorial election, 1979 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | William Winter | 413,620 | 61.07 |
| | Republican | Gil Carmichael | 263,702 | 38.93 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 677,322 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |