The 1978 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. In a rematch of the 1974 contest, Republican nominee Victor Atiyeh defeated Democratic incumbent Robert Straub. As of 2026, this is the last Oregon gubernatorial race where the incumbent was defeated.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee Robert W. Straub, incumbent Governor of Oregon
Eliminated in primary Marvin J. Hollingsworth, former state representative (1971-1972) Emily Ashworth, teacher William L. Patrick, car salesman James R. Smith E. "Buck" Lambert, car dealer E. Allen Propst, retired cropduster and candidate for governor in 1970
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee Victor G. Atiyeh, state senator and nominee in 1974
Eliminated in primary Tom McCall, former Governor of Oregon (1967-1975) Roger E. Martin, state representative William A. Jolley, refrigeration service engineer L.E. "Bud" Kretsinger, tavern owner Gerald Wayne "Jerry" Todd William Desmond Hewitt, pianist and marijuana legalization advocate
Results
General election Results
Results by county Lane County backed the losing candidate for the first time since 1930 and after this election, has voted for the winner in every subsequent gubernatorial election to date (as of 2026). This was also one of only two elections in the 20th century in which the winning gubernatorial candidate did not carry Multnomah County.
County Victor G. AtiyehRepublican Robert W. StraubDemocratic ScatteringWrite-in Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # %Baker3,73966.31%1,89633.62%40.07%1,84332.68%5,639Benton13,65855.20%10,98544.40%990.40%2,67310.80%24,742Clackamas48,70855.73%38,34943.88%3400.39%10,35911.85%87,397Clatsop6,78755.98%5,31143.81%250.21%1,47612.18%12,123Columbia6,14248.02%6,57651.42%720.56%-434-3.39%12,790Coos11,59753.80%9,94346.13%150.07%1,6547.67%21,555Crook2,61958.96%1,80640.66%170.38%81318.30%4,442Curry4,17067.23%2,02432.63%90.15%2,14634.60%6,203Deschutes11,22657.50%8,26542.33%340.17%2,96115.17%19,525Douglas19,03063.85%10,74036.03%350.12%8,29027.81%29,805Gilliam62767.56%30032.33%10.11%32735.24%928Grant1,95365.98%1,00433.92%30.10%94932.06%2,960Harney1,84664.05%1,02935.70%70.24%81728.35%2,882Hood River3,24656.83%2,44442.79%220.39%80214.04%5,712Jackson22,81455.32%18,38944.59%350.08%4,42510.73%41,238Jefferson2,32864.65%1,26535.13%80.22%1,06329.52%3,601Josephine13,51573.27%4,90826.61%220.12%8,60746.66%18,445Klamath12,06066.76%5,98533.13%190.11%6,07533.63%18,064Lake1,92965.66%1,00334.14%60.20%92631.52%2,938Lane40,44643.22%52,98556.62%1410.15%-12,539-13.40%93,572Lincoln7,28656.76%5,53143.09%190.15%1,75513.67%12,836Linn17,48262.48%10,44437.33%540.19%7,03825.15%27,980Malheur5,54672.55%2,09727.43%10.01%3,44945.12%7,644Marion41,11559.97%27,06739.48%3790.55%14,04820.49%68,561Morrow1,28760.42%83939.39%40.19%44821.03%2,130Multnomah100,53046.83%112,75452.52%1,3910.65%-12,224-5.69%214,675Polk9,75458.35%6,89941.27%640.38%2,85517.08%16,717Sherman62762.45%37136.95%60.60%25625.50%1,004Tillamook4,48854.26%3,74745.30%360.44%7418.96%8,271Umatilla9,27261.62%5,75938.27%160.11%3,51323.35%15,047Union5,63567.01%2,76332.86%110.13%2,87234.15%8,409Wallowa1,91970.50%79829.32%50.18%1,12141.18%2,722Wasco4,74258.82%3,30040.93%200.25%1,44217.89%8,062Washington49,91859.30%33,95540.34%3000.36%15,96318.96%84,173Wheeler35753.68%30746.17%10.15%507.52%665Yamhill10,05456.85%7,57342.82%590.33%2,48114.03%17,686Total498,45254.71%409,41144.93%3,2800.36%89,0419.77%911,143
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Baker Benton Clackamas Clatsop Coos Crook Curry Deschutes Douglas Grant Harney Hood River Jackson Lincoln Linn Marion Morrow Polk Tillamook Umatilla Wasco Washington Wheeler Yamhill
Notes
References