1978 Georgia gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1978 Georgia gubernatorial election
Country:Georgia (U.S. state)
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1974 Georgia gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1974
Next Election:1982 Georgia gubernatorial election
Next Year:1982
Election Date:November 7, 1978
Flag Year:1956
Image1:File:George Busbee (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:George Busbee
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:534,572
Percentage1:80.7%
Nominee2:Rodney Mims Cook Sr.
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:128,139
Percentage2:19.3%
Map Size:250px
Governor
Before Election:George Busbee
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:George Busbee
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1978 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. George Busbee was re-elected, the first time a Governor of Georgia was re-elected for a second four-year term under the amendment made to the constitution in 1976 and the first time overall after serving a complete first four-year term.

Democratic nomination

Governor Busbee won the primary with 503,875 votes (72.41%), defeating Roscoe Dean, Jr and his 111,901 votes (16.08%). Notable segregationist J. B. Stoner finished 3rd with 37,654 votes (5.41%).

Republican nomination

Rodney Cook, who had served in the Georgia House of Representatives defeated Bud Herrin with 23,231 votes (87.32%) to his 3,374 votes (12.68%).

General election results

This election was a contest between the Democratic Governor Busbee and civil rights icon Rodney Cook who ran on the Republican ticket. Despite fewer votes from the previous election four years earlier, Busbee defeated Cook in every single county and by over 400,000 votes.