# 1978 Kansas gubernatorial election

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The 1978 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Democratic nominee John W. Carlin defeated incumbent Republican Robert Frederick Bennett with 49.4% of the vote.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 1, 1978.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* John W. Carlin, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
* Bert Chaney
* Harry G. Wiles

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John W. Carlin | 71,366 | 55.21 |
| | Democratic | Bert Chaney | 34,132 | 26.41 |
| | Democratic | Harry G. Wiles | 23,762 | 18.38 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 129,260 | 100.00 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Robert Frederick Bennett, incumbent Governor
* Robert R. "Bob" Sanders
* Harold Knight

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert Frederick Bennett (incumbent) | 142,239 | 69.23 |
| | Republican | Robert R. "Bob" Sanders | 40,542 | 19.73 |
| | Republican | Harold Knight | 22,671 | 11.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 205,452 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

Major party candidates
* John W. Carlin, Democratic
* Robert Frederick Bennett, Republican
Other candidates
* Frank W. Shelton Jr., American
* Berry Beets, Prohibition

### Results

1978 Kansas gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John W. Carlin | 363,835 | 49.42% |
| | Republican | Robert Frederick Bennett (incumbent) | 348,015 | 47.27% |
| | American | Frank W. Shelton Jr. | 17,053 | 2.32% |
| | Prohibition | Berry Beets | 7,343 | 1.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,820 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 736,246 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | |