The 1978 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978, to elect the next governor of Oklahoma. Incumbent Democratic governor David Boren chose not to run for re-election to a second term in office. Instead, Boren decided to run for the United States Senate. Former governor, and sitting lieutenant governor George Nigh was elected, defeating Republican nominee Ron Shotts.

Primary election Primary elections were held on August 22, 1978 with runoffs occurring on September 19, 1978.

Democratic party Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma George Nigh, who briefly served as governor in January of 1963, received just under an outright majority of votes in the primary, necessitating a runoff against Attorney General of Oklahoma Larry Derryberry. Candidates Larry Derryberry, Attorney General of Oklahoma Bob Funston, member of Oklahoma Senate George Nigh, Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma

Results

Republican party Candidates Jim Head Jerry L. Mash Ron Shotts, former Oklahoma Sooners football player

Results

General election Candidates Major party candidates George Nigh, Democratic Ron Shotts, Republican

Other candidates Billy Joe Clegg, Independent Jim McCuiston, Independent Floyd Shealy, Independent

Results

Results by county County George NighDemocratic Ron ShottsRepublican All OthersIndependent Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # %Adair2,74654.00%2,22343.72%1162.28%52310.29%5,085Alfalfa1,21537.86%1,97461.51%200.62%-759-23.65%3,209Atoka2,34167.84%1,07931.27%310.90%1,26236.57%3,451Beaver1,12545.88%1,30853.34%190.77%-183-7.46%2,452Beckham2,32548.61%2,44151.03%170.36%-116-2.43%4,783Blaine1,44533.25%2,88666.41%150.35%-1,441-33.16%4,346Bryan4,59475.29%1,47524.17%330.54%3,11951.11%6,102Caddo4,64653.65%3,95745.69%570.66%6897.96%8,660Canadian5,43239.87%8,08559.34%1080.79%-2,653-19.47%13,625Carter6,04455.95%4,69043.42%680.63%1,35412.53%10,802Cherokee5,14363.86%2,86235.54%480.60%2,28128.32%8,053Choctaw2,92073.40%99825.09%601.51%1,92248.32%3,978Cimarron65445.17%75151.86%432.97%-97-6.70%1,448Cleveland13,50145.13%16,12453.89%2940.98%-2,623-8.77%29,919Coal1,09168.92%47830.20%140.88%61338.72%1,583Comanche12,59264.75%6,76134.77%940.48%5,83129.98%19,447Cotton1,29762.24%77237.04%150.72%52525.19%2,084Craig2,90367.42%1,36831.77%350.81%1,53535.65%4,306Creek7,36358.96%5,04440.39%820.66%2,31918.57%12,489Custer3,08341.59%4,30258.03%280.38%-1,219-16.44%7,413Delaware4,51465.91%2,26833.11%670.98%2,24632.79%6,849Dewey95840.84%1,37458.57%140.60%-416-17.73%2,346Ellis86237.84%1,37360.27%431.89%-511-22.43%2,278Garfield6,77138.64%10,64360.73%1110.63%-3,872-22.09%17,525Garvin4,52557.13%3,35242.32%440.56%1,17314.81%7,921Grady4,97654.47%4,11445.03%460.50%8629.44%9,136Grant1,46848.72%1,52050.45%250.83%-52-1.73%3,013Greer1,35355.31%1,08444.32%90.37%26911.00%2,446Harmon90368.62%40730.93%60.46%49637.69%1,316Harper68737.20%1,14361.88%170.92%-456-24.69%1,847Haskell2,30269.59%98329.72%230.70%1,31939.87%3,308Hughes2,65964.59%1,41634.39%421.02%1,24330.19%4,117Jackson3,79864.21%2,07235.03%450.76%1,72629.18%5,915Jefferson1,38369.18%60930.47%70.35%77438.72%1,999Johnston1,65463.74%92835.76%130.50%72627.98%2,595Kay7,32343.34%9,45955.98%1150.68%-2,136-12.64%16,897Kingfisher1,95837.57%3,20961.57%450.86%-1,251-24.00%5,212Kiowa2,09454.23%1,75245.38%150.39%3428.86%3,861Latimer2,12371.31%82727.78%270.91%1,29643.53%2,977Le Flore6,85976.53%2,04522.82%590.66%4,81453.71%8,963Lincoln3,30748.25%3,50651.15%410.60%-199-2.90%6,854Logan3,34546.63%3,76352.46%650.91%-418-5.83%7,173Love1,20568.94%53130.38%120.69%67438.56%1,748Major85829.76%2,01169.75%140.49%-1,153-39.99%2,883Marshall1,69057.33%1,23741.96%210.71%45315.37%2,948Mayes4,93459.22%3,35540.27%420.50%1,57918.95%8,331McClain2,60454.48%2,12344.41%531.11%48110.06%4,780McCurtain4,93775.45%1,51723.19%891.36%3,42052.27%6,543McIntosh2,88465.89%1,46533.47%280.64%1,41932.42%4,377Murray2,03961.58%1,25737.96%150.45%78223.62%3,311Muskogee12,16765.62%6,25533.73%1200.65%5,91231.88%18,542Noble1,61640.10%2,39359.38%210.52%-777-19.28%4,030Nowata1,77853.54%1,52946.04%140.42%2497.50%3,321Okfuskee1,66356.70%1,24842.55%220.75%41514.15%2,933Oklahoma58,34841.38%79,09256.09%3,5752.54%-20,744-14.71%141,015Okmulgee6,80068.53%3,07230.96%510.51%3,72837.57%9,923Osage5,91258.75%4,10540.79%460.46%1,80717.96%10,063Ottawa5,61967.67%2,64231.82%420.51%2,97735.85%8,303Pawnee2,59054.60%2,11744.62%370.78%4739.97%4,744Payne8,53150.15%8,36649.18%1150.68%1650.97%17,012Pittsburg8,38970.55%3,42728.82%750.63%4,96241.73%11,891Pontotoc5,26056.45%3,98642.78%720.77%1,27413.67%9,318Pottawatomie8,07256.63%6,10642.84%760.53%1,96613.79%14,254Pushmataha2,34866.72%1,11631.71%551.56%1,23235.01%3.519Roger Mills84548.59%88150.66%130.75%-36-2.07%1,739Rogers6,39058.28%4,51041.13%640.58%1,88017.15%10,964Seminole4,51359.81%2,98539.56%480.64%1,52820.25%7,546Sequoyah5,40972.04%2,03127.05%680.91%3,37844.99%7,508Stephens7,11856.38%5,45943.24%490.39%1,65913.14%12,626Texas2,78756.84%2,06942.20%470.96%71814.64%4,903Tillman2,01862.96%1,16536.35%220.69%85326.61%3,205Tulsa57,48248.00%61,37551.25%9000.75%-3,893-3.25%119,757Wagoner4,84157.89%3,47841.59%430.51%1,36316.30%8,362Washington7,27545.51%8,64554.08%660.41%-1,370-8.57%15,986Washita1,70242.44%2,24756.03%611.52%-545-13.59%4,010Woods1,68337.84%2,75361.89%120.27%-1,070-24.06%4,448Woodward1,65134.48%3,08264.37%551.15%-1,431-29.89%4,788Totals402,24051.74%367,05547.21%8,1191.04%35,1854.53%777,414

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Nowata

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Alfalfa Beaver Beckham Blaine Canadian Cimarron Cleveland Custer Dewey Ellis Garfield Grant Harper Kay Kingfisher Lincoln Logan Noble Oklahoma Roger Mills Washita Woods Woodward

See also 1978 United States elections 1978 United States gubernatorial elections 1978 United States Senate elections

References