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 County results Curb: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Dymally: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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The1978 California lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978.Republican nomineeMike Curb defeatedDemocratic incumbentMervyn Dymally with 51.64% of the vote. As of 2025, this was the last time a Republican was electedlieutenant governor of California.
Primary elections were held on June 6, 1978.[1]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mervyn Dymally (incumbent) | 1,749,227 | 55.33 | |
| Democratic | Patricia E. "Penny" Raven | 686,157 | 21.71 | |
| Democratic | Patrick Matthew Fitzpatrick | 551,896 | 17.46 | |
| Democratic | Abe Tapia | 173,924 | 5.50 | |
| Total votes | 3,161,204 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Curb | 1,250,096 | 53.66 | |
| Republican | Michael D. Antonovich | 1,079,587 | 46.34 | |
| Total votes | 2,329,683 | 100.00 | ||
Major party candidates
Other candidates
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Curb | 3,493,980 | 51.64% | +5.32% | |
| Democratic | Mervyn Dymally (incumbent) | 2,928,329 | 43.28% | −5.91% | |
| American Independent | Houston Myers | 180,922 | 2.67% | +0.74% | |
| Peace and Freedom | Jan B. Tucker | 162,341 | 2.40% | −0.14% | |
| Majority | 565,651 | ||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | Swing | ||||
