Governor and lieutenant governor
Seven tickets ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida. Jim Williams, the lieutenant governor, ran for governor with former state Senator Betty Castor of Florida, as his running mate. Hans Tanzler, the mayor of Jacksonville, ran with Manuel "Manolo" Arques, a Cuban-American real estate and insurance executive from Miami. State Secretary of State Bruce Smathers (who resigned to run) ran with state Representative Charles W. Boyd.
Claude R. Kirk, Jr. of Palm Beach, who was the Republican governor of Florida from 1967 to 1971, returned to the party he left 28 years prior, switching his party affiliation to Democratic on July 5, 1978 (the month prior to re-registering as an independent and launching an abortive signature drive to get on the ballot as an independent. He chose as his running mate Mary Singleton, the former director of the state Division of Elections and the first black woman to sit on the Jacksonville City Council.Slaughter, Thomas E. "Shevin TV Ad Kills Truce." Associated Press, October 3, 1978.
General election Bob Graham/Wayne Mixson (DEM) - 1,406,580 (55.59%) Jack Eckerd/Paula Hawkins (REP) - 1,123,888 (44.41%)
Attorney general
Democratic primary Alan Becker - 232,416 (26.7%) Barry Richard - 231,518 (26.6%) Jim Smith - 407,579 (46.8%)
Democratic primary runoff Alan Becker - 329,455 (39.9%) Jim Smith - 497,255 (60.1%)
Secretary of state
Democratic primary Beverly F. Dozier - 224,990 (25.4%) Jim Fair - 81,389 (9.2%) George Firestone - 253,395 (28.7%) Joe Little - 103,275 (11.7%) Richard "Dick" Renick - 221,022 (25.0%)
Democratic primary runoff Beverly F. Dozier - 342,661 (42.1%) George Firestone - 472,072 (57.9%)
General election George Firestone (DEM) - 1,278,658 (55.0%) Ander Crenshaw (REP) - 1,045,703 (45.0%)
Comptroller
Democratic primary Don Dansby - 159,238 (18.7%) Gerald (Jerry) Lewis - 691,583 (81.3%)
Treasurer
Democratic primary Bill Gunter - 735,523 (80.1%) Don Hazelton - 182,907 (19.9%)
General election Bill Gunter (DEM) - 1,758,435 (74.8%) Jeffrey L. Latham (REP) - 591,730 (25.2%)
Commissioner of Education
Ralph Turlington (DEM) - 1,436,240 (63.9%) Herman B. Williams (REP) - 811,770 (36.1%)
United States House of Representatives
1st congressional district Democratic primary - Runoff Indicated Curtis Golden - 29,692 (31.4%) Earl Hutto - 39,982 (42.3%) Jerry Melvin - 21,186 (22.4%) Lewis H. "Ike" Williams - 3,687 (3.9%)
Democratic primary runoff Curtis Golden - 35,721 (38.0%) Earl Hutto - 58,352 (62.0%)
General election Earl Hutto (DEM) - 85,608 (63.3%) Warren Briggs (REP) - 49,715 (36.7%)
2nd congressional district Democratic primary Don Fuqua - 83,308 (85.5%) Anthony P. (Tony) Wesolowski - 14,081 (14.5%)
General election Don Fuqua (DEM) - 112,649 (81.7%) Pete Brathwaite (REP) - 25,148 (18.3%)
4th congressional district Bill Chappell (DEM) - 113,302 (73.1%) Tom Boney (REP) - 41,647 (26.9%)
5th congressional district Democratic primary - Runoff Indicated Adrian Bell, Jr. - 12,942 (20.8%) David Best - 21,410 (34.5%) Mike Olson - 18,805 (30.3%) Don Poindexter - 8,981 (14.5%)
Democratic primary runoff David Best - 32,573 (56.6%) Mike Olson - 24,945 (43.4%)
General election David Best (DEM) - 101,867 (48.9%) Richard Kelly (REP) - 106,319 (51.1%)
6th congressional district Jim Christison (DEM) - 40,654 (21.2%) C. W. Bill Young (REP) - 150,694 (78.8%)
7th congressional district Democratic primary Sam M. Gibbons - 49,766 (69.1%) Don Gore - 1,928 (2.7%) Richard Salem - 20,338 (28.2%)
9th congressional district Democratic primary Bill Nelson - 36,565 (86.0%) Curtis R. Sears - 5,955 (14.0%)
Republican primary Frank Daley - 10,417 (29.5%) Edward Gurney - 24,844 (70.5%)
General election' Bill Nelson (DEM) - 89,543 (61.5%) Edward J. Gurney (REP) - 56,074 (38.5%)
11th congressional district Democratic primary John J. Considine - 20,689 (31.4%) Robert E. Lockwood - 9,286 (14.1%) Dan Mica - 35,947 (54.5%)
General election Dan Mica (DEM) - 123,346 (55.3%) Bill James (REP) - 99,757 (44.7%)
12th congressional district Democratic primary - Runoff Indicated John Adams - 17,955 (30.6%) Edward "Ed" J. Stack - 27,923 (47.6%) Gerald F. "Jerry" Thompson - 12,812 (21.8%)
Democratic primary runoff' John Adams - 22,816 (46.8%) Edward "Ed" J. Stack - 25,985 (53.2%)
Republican primary J. Herbert Burke - 16,675 (58.3%) Anthony Lewis Campenni - 11,903 (41.7%)
General election Edward "Ed" J. Stack (DEM) - 25,985 (53.2%) J. Herbert Burke (REP) - 66,610 (61.6%)
14th congressional district Democratic primary Marcus Ambrose - 2,901 (7.4%) Sam Brenner - 4,513 (11.6%) Claude Pepper - 31,597 (81.0%)
Republican primary Al Cardenas - 7,390 (80.0%) Evelio S. Estrella - 1,847 (20.0%)
General election Claude Pepper (DEM) - 65,202 (63.1%) Al Cardenas (REP) - 38,081 (36.9%)
15th congressional district Dante B. Fascell (DEM) - 108,837 (74.2%) Herbert J. Hoodwin (REP) - 37,897 (25.8%)
State senate District 2 Edmond M. "Ed" Fortune (DEM) - 45,645 (47.3%) Tom Tobiassen (REP) - 50,791 (52.7%)
District 11 A. H. "Gus" Craig (DEM) - 28,886 (47.1%) Vince Fechtel, Jr. (REP) - 32,388 (52.9%)
District 14 George Stuart, Jr. (DEM) - 60,407 (63.3%) Johnny Bremer (REP) - 35,024 (36.7%)
District 16 Bill Beck (DEM) - 50,928 (43.2%) Clark Maxwell, Jr. (REP) - 67,051 (56.8%)
District 18 Beverly Roberts (DEM) - 93,629 (42.1%) John T. Ware (REP) - 128,870 (57.9%)
District 20 T. F. "Tom" Thompson (DEM) - 76,592 (34.0%) Mary Grizzle (REP) - 148,389 (66.0%)
District 23 Pat Frank (DEM) - 91,746 (62.6%) David Ray (REP) - 54,727 (37.4%)
District 24 Patrick K. "Pat" Neal (DEM) - 35,896 (52.7%) Andrew Jackson (REP) - 32,242 (47.3%)
District 36 Harry A. Johnston, II (DEM) - 123,133 (56.6%) William Samuel "Bill" Riker (REP) - 94,533 (43.4%)
District 28 Don Childers (DEM) - 140,857 (66.7%) B. E. "Billie" Brooks (REP) - 70,243 (33.3%)
District 30 Marcia Beach (DEM) - 104,168 (43.1%) Van Poole (REP) - 137,570 (56.9%)
District 32 Ken Jenne (DEM) - 43,798 (74.2%) Ernette Haring (REP) - 15,231 (25.8%)
District 36 Paul B. Steinberg (DEM) - 100,626 (80.7%) L. D. G. (Lou) O'Hara (REP) - 23,991 (19.3%)
District 38 Bob McKnight (DEM) - 88,099 (60.0%) Don J. Gruber (REP) - 58,742 (40.0%)
District 40 Dick Anderson (DEM) - 106,143 (71.2%) Larry Wicks (REP) - 42,960 (28.8%)
State House District 2 Democratic primary Fermon Minshew - 9,364 (39.5%) Tom Patterson - 14,365 (60.5%)
District 3 Democratic primary Clyde H. (Jack) Hagler - 16,006 (63.0%) Jack Kenney - 9,410 (37.0%)
District 3 Clyde H. (Jack) Hagler (DEM) - 30,676 (76.2%) Charles E. Frederickson (REP) - 9,573 (23.8%)
District 4 Democratic primary Jim Harkins - 6,900 (21.0%) Bolley "Bo" Johnson - 10,974 (33.3%) David Neal - 8,560 (26.0%) Lynn Toney - 6,498 (19.7%)
District 4 Democratic runoff Bolley "Bo" Johnson - 18,407 (56.1%) David Neal - 14,410 (43.9%)
District 5 Democratic primary Ken Boles - 7,820 (24.4%) Olivia S. Elmore - 6,404 (20.0%) Peter R. Gindl - 6,900 (21.5%) Mike Jones - 6,657 (20.8%) Mac McDaniels - 4,275 (13.3%)
District 5 Democratic runoff Ken Boles - 19,972 (62.0%) Peter R. Grindl - 12,250 (38.0%)
District 5 Ken Boles (DEM) - 29,646 (58.6%) Jack Gardner (REP) - 20,910 (41.4%)
District 6 James G. Ward (DEM) - 35,815 (70.9%) John C. Franklin Jr. (REP) - 14,673 (29.1%)
District 8 Ron Johnson (DEM) - 11,073 (59.1%) Rick Seltzer (REP) - 7,674 (40.9%)
District 19 Andrew E. (Andy) Johnson (DEM) - 38,712 (69.4%) Janis Betz Lampe (REP) - 17,068 (30.6%)
District 23 Ronnie Bloom (DEM) - 26,582 (43.9%) Fred Tygart (REP) - 33,983 (56.1%)
District 24 Buck Cochran (DEM) - 28,107 (47.5%) William "Bill" Bankhead (REP) - 31,082 (52.5%)
District 25 Frank Williams (DEM) - 12,737 (60.9%) Howard Dunn (REP) - 8,167 (39.1%)
District 26 Sidney Martin (DEM) - 25,948 (79.6%) David Liberman (REP) - 6,645 (20.4%)
District 28 Hamilton Upchurch (DEM) - 12,739 (65.8%) Pat Malone (REP) - 6,616 (34.2%)
District 33 Bob Hattaway (DEM) - 11,696 (59.0%) Jean E. Doyle (REP) - 8,130 (41.0%)
District 34 Charles Joseph Knowles (DEM) - 10,654 (42.0%) Bobby Brantley (REP) - 14,713 (58.0%)
District 35 Everett Kelly (DEM) - 12,273 (54.2%) J. M. (Jim) Hoskinson (REP) - 10,353 (45.8%)
District 38 Bob Wattles (DEM) - 42,584 (48.4%) Lawrence R. "Larry" Kirkwood (REP) - 45,410 (51.6%)
District 39 Fred Turner (DEM) - 33,427 (38.1%) John L. Mica (REP) - 54,422 (61.9%)
District 40 Terry Hadley (DEM) - 43,275 (49.6%) Richard Crotty (REP) - 43,934 (50.4%)
District 41 Fran Carlton (DEM) - 48,651 (53.7%) Jim Huckeba (REP) - 41,988 (46.3%)
District 42 Suzanne Campbell (DEM) - 34,133 (38.9%) Toni Jennings (REP) - 53,575 (61.1%)
District 43 Dick J. Batchelor (DEM) - 62,277 (69.2%) Robert N. Webster (REP) - 27,672 (30.8%)
District 44 David L. Barrett (DEM) - 39,594 (56.9%) Craig A. Brosius (REP) - 29,945 (43.1%)
District 45 Winston Gardner (DEM) - 36,139 (51.4%) John Moore (REP) - 34,148 (48.6%)
District 46 Phil Austin (DEM) - 21,389 (30.0%) Marilyn Evans-Jones (REP) - 49,858 (70.0%)
District 47 Hartzel "Bud" Jennings (DEM) - 25,867 (36.4%) Tim Deratany (REP) - 31,576 (44.4%) Glenn A. Blanchard - 13,717 (19.3%)
District 53 Michael "Mike" Tagarelli (DEM) - 38,743 (35.4%) Peter Dunbar (REP) - 70,585 (64.6%)
District 55 Tom R. Moore (DEM) - 53,344 (47.8%) Jim Smith (REP) - 58,148 (52.2%)
District 57 Rick Escarraz (DEM) - 45,807 (42.7%) Dennis Jones (REP) - 61,351 (57.3%)
District 58 Kent G. Whittemore (DEM) - 40,566 (39.0%) George Hieber (REP) - 63,576 (61.0%)
District 59 Eddie Mills (DEM) - 50,394 (47.7%) Bob Melby (REP) - 55,193 (52.3%)
District 61 Don O'Leary (DEM) - 45,932 (42.4%) Dorothy Eaton Sample (REP) - 62,401 (57.6%)
District 62 Carl Carpenter, Jr. (DEM) - 45,984 (62.1%) Allan R. Stone (REP) - 28,090 (37.9%)
District 65 Jim Foster (DEM) - 38,450 (51.1%) John Grant (REP) - 36,811 (48.9%) District 72 Larry Shackelford (DEM) - 28,399 (60.6%) Barbara Shepherd (REP) - 18,467 (39.4%)
District 73 Clyde C. Council (DEM) - 18,547 (34.1%) Thomas E. Danson, Jr. (REP) - 35,922 (65.9%)
District 75 Wayne H. Duncan (DEM) - 10,674 (33.9%) Fred Burrall (REP) - 20,848 (66.1%)
District 76 Dale Cassens (DEM) - 10,870 (47.6%) Charles (Chuck) Nergard (REP) - 11,988 (52.4%).
District 77 William J. "Bill" Taylor (DEM) - 14,080 (48.3%) William G. (Doc) Myers (REP) - 15,075 (51.7%)
District 78 Ray Liberti (DEM) - 78,095 (50.9%) Frank Messersmith (REP) - 75,380 (49.1%)
District 79 Eleanor Weinstock (DEM) - 80,222 (50.6%) Reid Moore (REP) - 78,456 (49.4%)
District 80 Carol A. Roberts (DEM) - 76,797 (49.3%) Jim Watt (REP) - 79,094 (50.7%)
District 81 Edward J. Healey (DEM) - 78,776 (51.0%) R. S. "Bob" Nichols (REP) - 75,615 (49.0%)
District 82 Gene Campbell (DEM) - 79,738 (52.3%) Anita K. Mitchell (REP) - 72,753 (47.7%)
District 83 J. Justin "J J." Findley (DEM) - 56,306 (37.0%) Tom Lewis (REP) - 95,864 (63.0%)
District 84 Republican primary Douglas C. "Doug" Brown - 11,342 (45.2%) Tom Bush - 13,745 (54.8%)
District 84 Mitch Ceasar (DEM) - 63,697 (46.0%) Tom Bush (REP) - 74,721 (54.0%)
District 85 Terry O'Malley (DEM) - 84,987 (60.6%) Stuart L. Stein (REP) - 55,368 (39.4%)
District 86 Linda Cox (DEM) - 79,533 (57.9%) Marty Sacks (REP) - 57,793 (42.1%)
District 87 Steve Warner (DEM) - 81,105 (59.0%) Jim Todd (REP) - 56,281 (41.0%)
District 88 Republican primary Richard Badame - 11,430 (47.1%) Jeanne E. Faiks - 12,816 (52.9%)
District 88 general election Tom Gustafson (DEM) - 93,373 (65.2%) Jeanne E. Faiks (REP) - 49,746 (34.8%)
District 89 Republican primary Dave Danziger - 940 (14.6%) Mary Ellen Hawkins - 5,506 (85.4%)
District 89 general election Nelson A. Faerber, Jr. (DEM) - 7,305 (27.6%) Mary Ellen Hawkins (REP) - 19,174 (72.4%)
District 90 Franklin B. (Frank) Mann (DEM) - 37,853 (58.0%) Bob Privette (REP) - 27,454 (42.0%)
District 91 Isaac "Ike" Anderson, Jr. (DEM) - 17,999 (27.4%) Hugh Paul Nuckolls (REP) - 47,622 (72.6%)
District 95 Walter C. "Walt" Young (DEM) - 79,500 (71.9%)