Colonel William A. Phillips

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The 1978 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican William Milliken was elected to a third term as Michigan Governor.

As of 2023, this remains the last election in which the Republican candidate for Governor carried Wayne County.

The primary elections occurred on August 8, 1978.[1] Milliken was unopposed, while Fitzgerald defeated a four-man field including law professor and perennial candidate Zolton Ferency.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Michigan gubernatorial Republican primary, 1978[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Milliken (incumbent) 393,010 99.98
Republican Write-ins 89 0.02
Total votes 393,099 100.00

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Michigan gubernatorial Democratic primary, 1978[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William B. Fitzgerald Jr. 240,641 39.79%
Democratic Zolton Ferency 151,062 24.98%
Democratic Patrick McCollough 108,742 17.98%
Democratic William Ralls 104,364 17.25%
Democratic Write-ins 52 0.01
Total votes 604,861 100.00

General election

Results

Michigan gubernatorial election, 1978[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Milliken (incumbent) 1,628,485 56.80
Democratic William B. Fitzgerald Jr. 1,237,256 43.15
Write-ins 1,471 0.05
Majority 2,867,212
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ a b c Michigan (1981). Michigan manual. 1979/1980 – via HathiTrust.
  2. ^ Parker, Randy (June 6, 2010). "Our Campaigns: MI Governor". Our Campaigns.