| Election Name: | 1978 Kansas gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Kansas |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 Kansas gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1982 Kansas gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Election Date: | November 7, 1978 |
| Image1: | File:John Carlin.jpg |
| Nominee1: | John W. Carlin |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Paul Dugan |
| Popular Vote1: | 363,835 |
| Percentage1: | 49.4% |
| Nominee2: | Robert F. Bennett |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate2: | Larry Montgomery |
| Popular Vote2: | 348,015 |
| Percentage2: | 47.3% |
| Map Size: | 270px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Robert Frederick Bennett |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John W. Carlin |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1978 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Democratic nominee John W. Carlin defeated incumbent Republican Robert Frederick Bennett with 49.4% of the vote.
As of, this marks the last occasion in which the following counties have voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election: Gray, Hamilton, and Ness and until 2022, this was the last gubernatorial election where a Democratic governor was elected during the tenure of a Democratic president.
Primary elections were held on August 1, 1978.[1]
Major party candidates
Other candidates