# 1978 Idaho gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 1978 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 7, and incumbent Democrat John Evans defeated Republican nominee Allan Larsen with 58.75% of the vote. It was the third consecutive win for the Democrats (1970, 1974, 1978), but the only significant victory for the party in Idaho in 1978.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on Tuesday, August 8, 1978.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* John Evans, Malad, incumbent

#### Results

Evans ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Elected lieutenant governor in 1974, he succeeded Cecil Andrus in January 1977, who left to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior in the new Carter Administration.

### Republican primary

Entering the primary, Vern Ravenscroft and Butch Otter were the apparent front runners, but were upset by Larsen.

#### Candidates

* Allan Larsen, Blackfoot, Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives
* Vern Ravenscroft, Tuttle, former state representative
* Butch Otter, Caldwell, former state representative
* Larry Jackson, Boise, state representative, former MLB pitcher
* James Crowe, Coeur d'Alene, home builder
* Jay Amyx, Boise, former mayor
    Source:

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Allan Larsen | 33,778 | 28.73 |
| | Republican | Vern Ravenscroft | 32,455 | 27.61 |
| | Republican | Butch Otter | 30,523 | 25.97 |
| | Republican | Larry Jackson | 13,510 | 11.49 |
| | Republican | James Crowe | 4,447 | 3.78 |
| | Republican | Jay S. Amyx | 2,842 | 2.42 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 117,555 | 100.00 |

## General election

The election was notable as it was the first time Idaho elected a governor from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both major candidates were members, and through 2023, Evans remains the only Mormon to be elected governor in the state.

### Candidates

Major party candidates
* John Evans, Democratic
* Allan Larsen, Republican
Other candidates
* Wayne Loveless, American

### Results

1978 Idaho gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Evans (incumbent) | 169,540 | 58.75% |
| | Republican | Allan Larsen | 114,149 | 39.56% |
| | American | Wayne Loveless | 4,877 | 1.69% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 55,391 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 288,566 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | |