# 1978 Nebraska gubernatorial election

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The 1978 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978, and featured U.S. Representative Charles Thone, a Republican, defeating Democratic nominee, Lieutenant Governor Gerald T. Whelan. Incumbent Governor J. James Exon, a Democrat, was barred from seeking a third term. Exon was elected to the U.S. Senate that same day.

## Democratic primary
### Governor
#### Candidates

* Robert V. Hansen
* Gerald T. Whelan, Lieutenant Governor

#### Results

Democratic gubernatorial primary results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Gerald T. Whelan | 104,178 | 79.43 |
| Democratic | Robert V. Hansen | 26,509 | 20.21 |
| Democratic | Write-in | 475 | 0.36 |

### Lieutenant governor
#### Candidates

Orval Keyes ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. He was a member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 3 since 1969 from Springfield, Nebraska.

#### Results

Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Orval Keyes | 102,935 | 99.49 |
| | Democratic | Write-in | 531 | 0.51 |

## Republican primary
### Governor
#### Candidates

* Richard Hedrick
* Stan Juelfs
* Robert A. Phares, former Mayor of North Platte
* Vance D. Rogers
* Charles Thone, U.S. Representative

#### Results

Republican gubernatorial primary results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Charles Thone | 89,378 | 45.32 |
| Republican | Robert A. Phares | 48,402 | 24.55 |
| Republican | Stan Juelfs | 43,828 | 22.23 |
| Republican | Vance D. Rogers | 14,076 | 7.14 |
| Republican | Richard Hedrick | 1,470 | 0.75 |
| Republican | Write-in | 43 | 0.02 |

### Lieutenant governor
#### Candidates

* Herbert J. Duis, member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 39 since 1969 and previously from 1951 to 1955 from Gothenburg, Nebraska.
* Roland A. Luedtke, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature since 1977 and member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 28 since 1967 from Lincoln, Nebraska.
* Dennis L. Rasmussen, member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 41 since 1973 from Scotia, Nebraska.
* Rosemary M. Skrupa, member of the Omaha Public Power District board from Omaha, Nebraska
* Don Stenberg, lawyer from Lincoln, Nebraska

#### Results

Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Roland A. Luedtke | 53,762 | 30.85 |
| Republican | Dennis L. Rasmussen | 50,627 | 29.05 |
| Republican | Rosemary M. Skrupa | 28,532 | 16.37 |
| Republican | Don Stenberg | 22,592 | 12.96 |
| Republican | Herbert J. Duis | 18,736 | 10.75 |
| Republican | Write-in | 48 | 0.03 |

## General election
### Results

Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Charles Thone | 275,473 | 55.94% |
| | Democratic | Gerald T. Whelan | 216,754 | 44.02% |
| | Write-in | Others | 196 | 0.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 492,423 | 100.0% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |