The 1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. Independent-Republican Party candidate U.S. House Rep Al Quie defeated Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party incumbent Rudy Perpich.
Primary elections were held on September 12. Perpich and Quie each won their party's nomination easily over Alice Tripp and Robert W. Johnson, respectively. Richard Pedersen was unopposed for the minor American Party nomination.
Known as the "Minnesota Massacre", DFL candidates drew criticism when Wendell R. Anderson resigned so that Perpich could appoint him to fill Walter Mondale's vacant senate seat after Mondale was elected vice president. Anderson and Perpich were both defeated in their respective races.
This was the last election a male was elected Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota until 2026.
DFL primary
Candidates
- Rudy Perpich, incumbent governor of Minnesota since 1976
- Running mate: Alec G. Olson, incumbent lieutenant governor since 1976
- Alice Tripp, Belgrade farmer and anti-power line activist
- Running mate: Mike Casper, professor of physics
Independent-Republican primary
Candidates
- Bob Johnson, former state representative from St. Paul
- Running mate: Roger Hanson, former state senator from Vergas
- Al Quie, U.S. representative from Dennison
- Running mate: Lou Wangberg, Bemidji school superintendent
American primary
Candidates
- Richard Pedersen, New Brighton electronics engineer
- Running mate: Joyce M. Baier, Minneapolis resident
General election
Candidates
- Jill Lakowske, Minneapolis resident (Socialist Workers)
- Marc Shaver, St. Paul steelworker
- Tom McDonald, perennial candidate from Minneapolis (Honest Government)
- Running mate: Russ Payzant, Minneapolis resident
- Robin E. Miller, Anoka computer analyst (Libertarian)
- Mary Rosenbauer, Bloomington resident
- Richard Pedersen, New Brighton electronics engineer (American)
- Running mate: Joyce M. Baier, Minneapolis resident
- Rudy Perpich, incumbent governor of Minnesota since 1976 (DFL)
- Running mate: Alec G. Olson, incumbent lieutenant governor since 1976
- Edwin Pommerening, Randolph farmer (Savings Account)
- Robert m. Stegmaier, Lakeville resident
- Al Quie, U.S. representative from Dennison (Independent-Republican)
- Running mate: Lou Wangberg, Bemidji school superintendent