| Election Name: | 1978 Tennessee gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Tennessee |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1982 Tennessee gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Election Date: | November 7, 1978 |
| Image1: | File:Lamar Alexander (TN) (cropped).png |
| Nominee1: | Lamar Alexander |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 661,959 |
| Percentage1: | 55.84% |
| Nominee2: | Jake Butcher |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 523,495 |
| Percentage2: | 44.16% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Ray Blanton |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Lamar Alexander |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1978 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Although the Tennessee State Constitution had been amended in early 1978 to allow a governor to succeed himself, Incumbent Democratic governor Ray Blanton chose not to seek re-election. Republican Lamar Alexander once again ran for governor. In the general election, Alexander defeated Democratic nominee Jake Butcher with 55.8% of the vote.
Primary elections were held on August 3, 1978.[1]