General elections were held in Guam on 7 November 1978 to elect the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the Legislature, the island's United States House of Representatives delegate and members of the Territorial Board of Education, as well as determining whether Judge Richard H. Benson from the Superior Court should remain in place.Election Comparative Analysis Report Guam Election Commission, pvii Primary elections were held on 2 September.
Electoral system The electoral system for the legislature was changed prior to the elections. Previously voters had elected all 21 members of the legislature from a single national district. The 1978 elections saw the island split into several districts, with five elected in the First District, seven in the Second District, four in the Third District and five in the Fourth District.
Results Primary elections Governor and Lieutenant GovernorPartyCandidateLieutenant candidateVotes%Democratic PartyRicardo BordalloPedro C. Sanchez6,99534.2Rudy SablanJose Iglesias Leon Guerrero5,15325.2Republican PartyPaul McDonald CalvoJoseph Franklin Ada7,52536.8IndependentCarl GutierrezJoseph Dizon7623.7Invalid/blank votes2,845–Total23,280100Registered voters/turnout29,80978.1Source: Guam Election Commission
DelegateCandidatePartyVotes%Antonio Borja Won PatDemocratic Party19,36795.3Write-in9514.7Invalid/blank votes2,757–Total23,075100Registered voters/turnout29,80977.4Source: Guam Election Commission
Governor CandidateLieutenant candidatePartyVotes%Republican PartyPaul McDonald CalvoJoseph Franklin Ada13,64952.1Democratic PartyRicardo BordalloPedro C. Sanchez12,54047.9Invalid/blank votes1,090–Total27,279100Registered voters/turnout32,17084.8Source: Guam Election Commission
Legislature PartyVotes%SeatsRepublican Party72,67855.014Democratic Party59,46845.07Total132,14610021Source: Guam Election Commission
Delegate CandidatePartyVotes%Antonio Borja Won PatDemocratic Party21,12391.0Write-in2,0889.0Invalid/blank votes3,957–Total27,168100Registered voters/turnout32,17084.5Source: Guam Election Commission
Judicial question
ChoiceVotes%For20,47680.8Against4,87619.2Invalid/blank votes1,822–Total27,174100Registered voters/turnout32,17084.5Source: Guam Election Commission
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