1978 Massachusetts elections

1978 Massachusetts general election

* * *

| <- 1976 | November 7, 1978 | 1980 ->

|
|

* * *

Part of the
1978 United States elections

Elections in
Massachusetts

General

* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

Federal government

|  U.S. President

* 1788–89
* 1792
* 1796
* 1800
* 1804
* 1808
* 1812
* 1816
* 1820
* 1824
* 1828
* 1832
* 1836
* 1840
* 1844
* 1848
* 1852
* 1856
* 1860
* 1864
* 1868
* 1872
* 1876
* 1880
* 1884
* 1888
* 1892
* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1916
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1940
* 1944
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* Dem
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* Dem
* 2004
* Dem
* GOP
* 2008
* Dem
* GOP
* 2012
* 2016
* Dem
* GOP
* 2020
* Dem
* GOP
* 2024
* Dem
* GOP

U.S. Senate

* Class 1: 1788
* 1790
* 1796 (S)
* 1796
* 1798
* 1800 (S)
* 1803
* 1808 (S)
* 1810 (S)
* 1811
* 1813 (S)
* 1815
* 1815 (S)
* 1816 (S)
* 1818 (S)
* 1820
* 1820 (S)
* 1822
* 1826
* 1827
* 1829 (S)
* 1833
* 1839
* February 1841 (S)
* 1845
* 1851
* 1851 (S)
* 1857
* 1863
* 1869
* 1874 (S)
* 1875
* 1881
* 1887
* 1893
* 1899
* 1905
* 1911
* 1916
* 1922
* 1928
* 1934
* 1940
* 1946
* 1952
* 1958
* 1962 (S)
* 1964
* 1970
* 1976
* 1982
* 1988
* 1994
* 2000
* 2006
* 2010 (S)
* 2012
* 2018
* 2024

* Class 2: 1788
* 1793
* 1796
* 1800 (S)
* 1803 (S)
* 1805
* 1810
* 1811 (S)
* 1816
* 1822 (S)
* 1826 (S)
* 1828
* 1835
* January 1841 (S)
* 1841
* 1845 (S)
* 1847
* 1853
* 1855 (S)
* 1859
* 1865
* 1871
* 1873 (S)
* 1877
* 1883
* 1889
* 1895
* 1901
* 1905 (S)
* 1907
* 1913
* 1918
* 1924
* 1930
* 1936
* 1942
* 1944 (S)
* 1948
* 1954
* 1960
* 1966
* 1972
* 1978
* 1984
* 1990
* 1996
* 2002
* 2008
* 2013 (S)
* 2014
* 2020

U.S. House

* 1788/1789
* 1790/1792
* 1792/1793
* 1794/1795
* 1796/1797
* 1798/1799
* 1800/1801
* 1802/1803
* 1804
* 1806
* 1808
* 1810/1811
* 1812/1813
* 1814/1815
* 3rd
* 1816/1817
* 1818/1819
* 1820/1821
* 1822/1823
* 1824/1825
* 1826/1827
* 1828
* 1830/1832
* 1833/1834
* 1834/1835
* 1836
* 1838/1839
* 1840/1841
* 1842/1844
* 1844/1846
* 1846
* 1848/1850
* 1850/1851
* 1852
* 1854
* 1856
* 1858
* 1860
* 1862
* 1864
* 1866
* 1868
* 1870
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1878
* 1880
* 1882
* 1884
* 1886
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1894
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991 (1st)
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2001 (9th)
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007 (5th)
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2013 (5th)
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

State government

|  Governor

* 1780
* 1781
* 1782
* 1783
* 1784
* 1785
* 1786
* 1787
* 1788
* 1789
* 1790
* 1791
* 1792
* 1793
* 1794
* 1795
* 1796
* 1797
* 1798
* 1799
* 1800
* 1801
* 1802
* 1803
* 1804
* 1805
* 1806
* 1807
* 1808
* 1809
* 1810
* 1811
* 1812
* 1813
* 1814
* 1815
* 1816
* 1817
* 1818
* 1819
* 1820
* 1821
* 1822
* 1823
* 1824
* 1825
* 1826
* 1827
* 1828
* 1829
* 1830
* Apr. 1831
* Nov. 1831
* 1832
* 1833
* 1834
* 1835
* 1836
* 1837
* 1838
* 1839
* 1840
* 1841
* 1842
* 1843
* 1844
* 1845
* 1846
* 1847
* 1848
* 1849
* 1850
* 1851
* 1852
* 1853
* 1854
* 1855
* 1856
* 1857
* 1858
* 1859
* 1860
* 1861
* 1862
* 1863
* 1864
* 1865
* 1866
* 1867
* 1868
* 1869
* 1870
* 1871
* 1872
* 1873
* 1874
* 1875
* 1876
* 1877
* 1878
* 1879
* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1883
* 1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

State Senate

* 1787
* 1824
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

State House

* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

Governor's Council

* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2024

Ballot measures

* 1980: Proposition 2½

* 2002: English Language Education in Public Schools

* 2006: 2008
* Greyhound Protection
* Sensible Marijuana Policy
* State Income Tax Repeal

* 2010: No Sales Tax for Alcohol
* Sales Tax Relief
* Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning

* 2012: Right to Repair
* Death with Dignity
* Medical Marijuana

* 2014: Automatic Gas Tax Increase Repeal
* Expansion of Bottle Deposits
* Casino Repeal
* Paid Sick Days

* 2016: Expand Slot Machine Gaming
* Charter School Expansion
* Farm Animal Confinement
* Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana

* 2018: Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination

* 2020: pending

Boston

|  Mayor

* 1822
* 1823
* 1824
* Apr 1825
* Dec 1825
* 1826
* 1827
* 1828
* 1829
* 1830
* 1831
* 1832
* 1833
* 1834
* 1835
* 1836
* 1837
* 1838
* 1839
* 1840
* 1841
* 1842
* 1843
* 1844–45
* Dec 1845
* 1846
* 1847
* 1848
* 1849
* 1850
* 1851
* 1852
* 1853–54
* Dec 1854
* 1855
* 1856
* 1857
* 1858
* 1859
* 1860
* 1861
* 1862
* 1863
* 1864
* 1865
* 1866
* 1867
* 1868
* 1869
* 1871
* 1872
* 1873
* 1874
* 1875
* 1876
* 1877
* 1878
* 1879
* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1883
* 1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1897
* 1899
* 1901
* 1903
* 1905
* 1907
* 1910
* 1914
* 1917
* 1921
* 1925
* 1929
* 1933
* 1937
* 1941
* 1945
* 1949
* 1951
* 1955
* 1959
* 1963
* 1967
* 1971
* 1975
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021
* 2025

City council

* 1977
* 1979
* 1981
* 1983
* 1985
* 1987
* 1989
* 1991
* 1993
* 1995
* 1997
* 1999
* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023
* 2025

Springfield

|  Mayor

* 1953
* 1955
* 1957
* 1959
* 1961
* 1963
* 1965
* 1967
* 1969
* 1971
* 1973 (S)
* 1973
* 1975
* 1977
* 1979
* 1983
* 1981
* 1985
* 1987
* 1989 (S)
* 1989
* 1991
* 1993
* 1995
* 1997
* 1999
* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Worcester

|  Mayor

* 1987
* 1989
* 1991
* 1993
* 1995
* 1997
* 1999
* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023

Massachusetts portal

* v
* t
* e

A Massachusetts general election was held on November 7, 1978 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The election included:

* statewide elections for United States Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, and Auditor;
* district elections for U.S. Representatives, State Representatives, State Senators, and Governor's Councillors; and
* ballot questions at the state and local levels.

Democratic and Republican candidates were selected in party primaries held September 14, 1978.

## Governor and lieutenant governor

[edit]

Further information: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 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.

## Attorney general

[edit]

1978 Massachusetts Attorney General election

<- 1974

1982 ->

|  |  |

|
|

Nominee  | Francis Bellotti | Bill Weld |
Party  | Democratic | Republican
Popular vote  | 1,532,835 | 421,417
Percentage  | 78.4% | 21.6%

* * *

| Attorney General before election

Francis Bellotti
Democratic

| Elected Attorney General

Francis Bellotti
Democratic

|

Democrat Francis X. Belotti was elected Attorney General. He defeated Republican Bill Weld in the general election.

Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 1978 [1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Francis X. Belotti (incumbent)  | 1,532,835  | 78.43%  | 28.76
| Republican | Bill Weld | 421,417  | 21.56%  | 27.15
| Write-in | 64  | 0.01%  |  0.01
Total votes | 1,954,316  | 100.00%

## Secretary of the Commonwealth

[edit]

1978 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth election

<- 1974

1982 ->

|  |  |

|
|

Nominee  | Michael J. Connolly | John W. Sears |
Party  | Democratic | Republican
Popular vote  | 1,115,409 | 744,488
Percentage  | 60.0% | 40.0%

* * *

| Secretary of the Commonwealth before election

Paul Guzzi
Democratic

| Elected Secretary of the Commonwealth

Michael J. Connolly
Democratic

|

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.

### Democratic primary

[edit]

### Candidates

[edit]

* Michael J. Connolly, State Representative from Roslindale
* David E. Crosby
* John Fulham
* William J. Galvin Jr., son of former Boston City Council President William J. Galvin
* James W. Hennigan Jr., former State Senator from Jamaica Plain and member of the Boston School Committee
* Lois Pines, State Representative from Newton
* Anthony J. Vigliotti, Worcester County Registrar of Deeds

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Democratic Primary, 1978 [2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Michael J. Connolly | 192,641  | 25.81%
| Democratic | Lois Pines | 185,504  | 24.85%
| Democratic | Anthony J. Vigliotti  | 103,895  | 13.91%
| Democratic | James Hennigan | 80,402  | 10.77%
| Democratic | David E. Crosby  | 78,372  | 10.50%
| Democratic | William J. Galvin Jr. | 67,180  | 9.00%
| Democratic | John Fulham  | 38,337  | 5.13%
| Write-in | 12  | 0.00%
Total votes | 746,383  | 100.00%
| Blank  | {{{candidate}}}  | 156,876  | —
Turnout | 903,259  | 100.00%

### General election

[edit]

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 1978 [3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Michael J. Connolly | 1,115,409  | 59.96%  |  4.53
| Republican | John W. Sears | 744,488  | 40.02%  |  4.53
| Write-in | 169  | 0.02%  |  0.02

## Treasurer and Receiver-General

[edit]

1978 Massachusetts Treasurer election

<- 1974

1982 ->

|  |  |

|
|

Nominee  | Robert Q. Crane | Lewis Crampton |
Party  | Democratic | Republican
Popular vote  | 1,125,960 | 743,231
Percentage  | 60.2% | 39.76%

* * *

| Treasurer and Receiver-General before election

Robert Q. Crane
Democratic

| Elected Treasurer and Receiver-General

Robert Q. Crane
Republican

|

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.

### Democratic primary

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Lawrence Blacke
* Paul Cacchiotti
* Robert Q. Crane, incumbent Treasurer and Receiver-General since 1964
* Lawrence DiCara, President of the Boston City Council
* Thomas Lopes, State Representative from New Bedford
* Dayce Moore

#### Results

[edit]

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Democratic Primary, 1978 [4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Robert Q. Crane (incumbent)  | 375,688  | 49.04%
| Democratic | Lawrence DiCara | 231,315  | 30.19%
| Democratic | Paul Cacchiotti  | 45,029  | 5.88%
| Democratic | Dayce Moore  | 43,466  | 5.67%
| Democratic | Thomas Lopes  | 39,691  | 5.18%
| Democratic | Lawrence Blacke  | 30,930  | 4.04%
| Write-in | 24  | 0.00%
Total votes | 766,143  | 100.00%
Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General Election, 1978 [5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Robert Q. Crane (incumbent)  | 1,125,960  | 60.24%  | 39.72
| Republican | Lewis Crampton | 743,231  | 39.76%  | N/A
| Write-in | 67  | 0.00%  |  0.03
Total votes | 1,869,258  | 100.00%  |

## Auditor

[edit]

1978 Massachusetts Auditor election

<- 1974

1982 ->

|  |  |

|
|

Nominee  | Thaddeus Buczko | Timothy O'Brien  |
Party  | Democratic | Republican
Popular vote  | 1,189,562 | 643,096
Percentage  | 64.9% | 35.1%

* * *

| Auditor before election

Thaddeus M. Buczko
Democratic

| Elected Auditor

Thaddeus M. Buczko
Democratic

|

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.[6]

O'Brien was selected by the State Committee over attorney Ralph Barbagallo, Jr. and William Sargent, the son of former Governor Francis W. Sargent.[6]

### Democratic primary

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Thaddeus M. Buczko, incumbent Auditor
* Peter Meade, former Boston Parks Commissioner

#### Results

[edit]

Massachusetts Auditor Democratic Primary, 1978 [7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Thaddeus M. Buczko (incumbent)  | 448,294  | 59.57%
| Democratic | Peter Meade | 304,218  | 40.43%
| Write-in | 10  | 0.00%
Total votes | 752,522  | 100.00%

### General election

[edit]

Massachusetts Auditor General Election, 1978 [8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | Thaddeus M. Buczko (incumbent)  | 1,189,562  | 64.91%  | 35.08
| Republican | Timothy F. O'Brien  | 643,096  | 35.09%  | N/A
| Write-in | 48  | 0.00%  | 0.01
Total votes | 1,832,658  | 100.00%

## United States Senator

[edit]

Further information: Massachusetts United States Senate election, 1978

Democratic Democratic Congressman Paul E. Tsongas was elected over incumbent Republican Edward Brooke.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1978.
2. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1978.
3. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1978.
4. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1978.
5. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1978.
6. ^ a b Brown, Thomas S. (September 26, 1978). "Republicans Seek Casey Replacement". Associated Press. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
7. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1978.
8. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1978.

* v
* t
* e

State elections in Massachusetts

General|

* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

Governor|

* 1780
* 1781
* 1782
* 1783
* 1784
* 1785
* 1786
* 1787
* 1788
* 1789
* 1790
* 1791
* 1792
* 1793
* 1794
* 1795
* 1796
* 1797
* 1798
* 1799
* 1800
* 1801
* 1802
* 1803
* 1804
* 1805
* 1806
* 1807
* 1808
* 1809
* 1810
* 1811
* 1812
* 1813
* 1814
* 1815
* 1816
* 1817
* 1818
* 1819
* 1820
* 1821
* 1822
* 1823
* 1824
* 1825
* 1826
* 1827
* 1828
* 1829
* 1830
* 1831 (April)
* 1831 (November)
* 1832
* 1833
* 1834
* 1835
* 1836
* 1837
* 1838
* 1839
* 1840
* 1841
* 1842
* 1843
* 1844
* 1845
* 1846
* 1847
* 1848
* 1849
* 1850
* 1851
* 1852
* 1853
* 1854
* 1855
* 1856
* 1857
* 1858
* 1859
* 1860
* 1861
* 1862
* 1863
* 1864
* 1865
* 1866
* 1868
* 1869
* 1870
* 1871
* 1871
* 1872
* 1873
* 1874
* 1875
* 1876
* 1877
* 1878
* 1879
* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1883
* 1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Mass. Senate|

* 1787
* 1788
* ...
* 1824
* ...
* 1908
* ...
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

Mass. House|

* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

Gov.'s Council|

* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

"s/" = Special election

See also: Political party strength in Massachusetts

For federal elections, see Template:Federal elections in Massachusetts footer.
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template