| Election Name: | 1978 Massachusetts general election |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Country: | Massachusetts |
| Previous Election: | 1976 Massachusetts general election |
| Previous Year: | 1976 |
| Next Election: | 1980 Massachusetts general election |
| Next Year: | 1980 |
| Election Date: | November 7, 1978 |
| Seats For Election: | Part of the 1978 United States elections |
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 7, 1978 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The election included:
Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 14, 1978.
Democrats Edward J. King and Thomas P. O'Neill III were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, over Republican candidates Francis W. Hatch, Jr. and William I. Cowin.
| Election Name: | 1978 Massachusetts Attorney General election |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 Massachusetts elections#Attorney General |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1982 Massachusetts elections#Attorney General |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Nominee1: | Francis Bellotti |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,532,835 |
| Percentage1: | 78.4% |
| Nominee2: | Bill Weld |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 421,417 |
| Percentage2: | 21.6% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Attorney General | |
| Before Election: | Francis Bellotti |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Francis Bellotti |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Democrat Francis X. Belotti was elected Attorney General. He defeated Republican Bill Weld in the general election.
| Election Name: | 1978 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 Massachusetts elections#Secretary of the Commonwealth |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1982 Massachusetts elections#Secretary of the Commonwealth |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Image1: | Michael J. Connolly (1).png |
| Nominee1: | Michael J. Connolly |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,115,409 |
| Percentage1: | 60.0% |
| Nominee2: | John W. Sears |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 744,488 |
| Percentage2: | 40.0% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Secretary of the Commonwealth | |
| Before Election: | Paul Guzzi |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Michael J. Connolly |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Incumbent Secretary of the Commonwealth Paul Guzzi sought election to the U.S. Senate, leaving his office vacant for the next term.
State Representative Michael J. Connolly defeated Lois Pines, Anthony J. Vigliotti, James Hennigan, David E. Crosby, William J. Galvin Jr., and John Fulham in the Democratic primary and Republican John W. Sears in the general election.
| Election Name: | 1978 Massachusetts Treasurer election |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 Massachusetts elections#Treasurer and Receiver-General |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1982 Massachusetts elections#Treasurer and Receiver-General |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Nominee1: | Robert Q. Crane |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,125,960 |
| Percentage1: | 60.2% |
| Nominee2: | Lewis Crampton |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 743,231 |
| Percentage2: | 39.76% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Treasurer and Receiver-General | |
| Before Election: | Robert Q. Crane |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Robert Q. Crane |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
Incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General Robert Q. Crane defeated Lawrence DiCara, Paul Cacchiotti, Dayce Moore, Thomas Lopes, and Lawrence Blacke in the Democratic Primary and Republican Lewis Crampton in the general election.
| Election Name: | 1978 Massachusetts Auditor election |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 Massachusetts elections#Auditor |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1982 Massachusetts elections#Auditor |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Nominee1: | Thaddeus Buczko |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,189,562 |
| Percentage1: | 64.9% |
| Nominee2: | Timothy O'Brien |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 643,096 |
| Percentage2: | 35.1% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Auditor | |
| Before Election: | Thaddeus M. Buczko |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Thaddeus M. Buczko |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Incumbent Auditor Thaddeus M. Buczko defeated Peter Meade in the Democratic primary and Republican Timothy F. O'Brien in the general election.
O'Brien replaced William A. Casey as the Republican nominee after Casey dropped out of the race. After conservative Edward J. King defeated Michael Dukakis for the Democratic nomination for governor, Casey chose to drop-out and support the anti-abortion King over the pro-choice Republican nominee Francis Hatch.[1]
O'Brien was selected by the State Committee over attorney Ralph Barbagallo, Jr. and William Sargent, the son of former Governor Francis W. Sargent.
Democratic Democratic Congressman Paul E. Tsongas was elected over incumbent Republican Edward Brooke.