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1978 Iowa Gubernatorial Election

Iowa · 2 candidates · See every 1978 Governor race

Who won the 1978 Iowa Gubernatorial Election?

Robert D. Ray won the 1978 Iowa Gubernatorial Election. Robert D. Ray received 491,713 popular votes (58.3%). The main challenger was Jerome D. Fitzgerald (41%).

See the full head-to-head between Ray and Fitzgerald

Ray +17.3 pts · won by 146,194 votes
Robert D. RayRepublicanWINNER58.3%
491,713 votes
Jerome D. FitzgeraldDemocratic41%
345,519 votes
Popular-vote totals for governor elections are compiled from official state results (via Wikipedia); Louisiana shows the decisive round of its jungle primary.

Data last verified July 28, 2026.