The 1978 Alaska gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978, for the post of governor of Alaska. Republican incumbent Jay Hammond defeated four opponents: former Governor of Alaska and write-in candidate Wally Hickel, Alaska Senator and Democratic nominee Chancy Croft, former Commissioner of Natural Resources and Independent candidate Tom Kelly and Alaskan Independence Party nominee Don Wright. After losing to Hammond in the Republican primary, Hickel ran as a write-in candidate and was able to outperform Croft. Republican Tom Fink and Democrat Jay Kerttula also ran in the open primary.

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1978 Alaska gubernatorial election

← 1974 November 7, 1978 1982 →

Nominee Jay Hammond Wally Hickel Party Republican Write-In Running mate Terry Miller None Popular vote 49,580 33,555 Percentage 39.07% 26.44%   Nominee Chancy Croft Tom Kelly Party Democratic Independent Running mate Katie Hurley Kathryn Poland Popular vote 25,656 15,656 Percentage 20.22% 12.34%

Results by state house district Hammond:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60% Hickel:      30–40% Croft:      30–40%

Governor before election Jay Hammond Republican Elected Governor Jay Hammond Republican

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This is the first time an incumbent Republican governor was re-elected for a second term, and this would not occur again until 2022.