| Election Name: | 1979 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | No |
| Previous Election: | 1978 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Previous Year: | 1978 |
| Next Election: | 1980 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Next Year: | 1980 |
| Seats For Election: | 4 governorships 3 states; 1 territory |
| Election Date: | October 27, November 6, and December 8, 1979 |
| 1Blank: | Seats up |
| 2Blank: | Seats won |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Seats Before1: | 32 |
| Seats After1: | 31 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| 1Data1: | 3 |
| 2Data1: | 2 |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Seats Before2: | 18 |
| Seats After2: | 19 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| 1Data2: | 0 |
| 2Data2: | 1 |
| Map Size: | 324px |
United States gubernatorial elections were held in the fall of 1979, in three states and one territory.
Republicans gained one gubernatorial seat in this year with Dave Treen's victory in Louisiana, who as a result became the first Republican Governor of that state since the Reconstruction era (1865-1877). Treen led a field of six major candidates in the October 27 primary, and narrowly edged state senator Louis Lambert in the December 8 general election (or "runoff").
Democrats held control of the governor's mansions in Kentucky and Mississippi in the November 6 general elections.
A bolded state name features an article about the specific election.
| State | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky[1] | Julian Carroll | 1974 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. | nowrap |
| |||
| Louisiana | Edwin Edwards | 1972 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. | nowrap |
| |||
| Mississippi | Cliff Finch | 1975 | Incumbent term-limited.[2] New governor elected. Democratic hold. | nowrap |
|