# 1978 Wyoming gubernatorial election

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The 1978 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler ran for re-election to a second term. After winning a contested Democratic primary, he advanced to the general election, where he faced former State Senator John Ostlund, the Republican nominee. Despite the strong Republican performance nationwide, Herschler's personal popularity allowed him to narrowly win re-election to Ostlund, making him the first Democratic Governor to win re-election since Lester C. Hunt in 1946.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Edgar Herschler, incumbent Governor
* Margaret McKinstry, member of the Laramie County Community College Board of Trustees

### Results

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edgar Herschler (incumbent) | 28,406 | 65.28% |
| | Democratic | Margaret McKinstry | 15,111 | 34.72% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,517 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* John Ostlund, former State Senator
* Gus Fleischli, former State Representative
* Jim Bace, real estate agent

### Results

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Ostlund | 40,251 | 58.95% |
| | Republican | Gus Fleischli | 24,824 | 36.35% |
| | Republican | Jim Bace | 3,209 | 4.70% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 68,284 | 100.00% |

## Results

1978 Wyoming gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Edgar Herschler (incumbent) | 69,972 | 50.86% | −5.02% |
| | Republican | John Ostlund | 67,595 | 49.14% | +5.02% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,377 | 1.73% | −10.03% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 137,567 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |