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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1978/Governor/Pennsylvania
      1978·Governor·Pennsylvania

      Pennsylvania Governor

      Winner
      REP
      Richard Thornburgh
      52.5%1,966,042 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Peter Flaherty
      46.4%1,737,888 votes
      Margin
      R+6.1
      3,741,969 total votes
      3 candidates3,741,969 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Richard ThornburghREP✓
      		REP1,966,04252.5%
      Peter FlahertyDEM
      		DEM1,737,88846.4%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH38,0391.0%

      Seat History

      Governor in Pennsylvania

      2022
      Josh ShapiroDEM
      D+14.8
      2018
      Thomas W. WolfDEM
      D+17.1
      2014
      Thomas W. WolfDEM
      D+9.9
      2010
      Tom CorbettREP
      R+9.0
      2006
      Edward G. RendellDEM
      D+20.7
      2002
      Edward G. RendellDEM
      D+9.0
      1998
      Thomas J RidgeREP
      R+26.4
      1994
      Thomas J RidgeREP
      R+5.4
      1990
      Robert CaseyDEM
      D+35.3
      1986
      Robert CaseyDEM
      D+2.3
      1982
      Richard ThornburghREP
      R+2.7
      1974
      Milton J. ShappDEM
      D+8.6
      1970
      Milton J. ShappDEM
      D+13.5
      1966
      Raymond P. ShaferREP
      R+6.0
      View all Governor history for Pennsylvania →

      Candidates

      Peter FlahertyDEM
      Record0W-3L
      Avg MarginR+5.2
      Career1974-1980
      US Senate / Governor
      Full profile →
      Richard ThornburghREP
      Record2W-1L
      Avg MarginD+0.4
      Career1978-1991
      US Senate / Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in Pennsylvania, 1978

      US House25 contests →
      ← All 1978 Governor races1978 overviewPennsylvania profileAll elections