The Maryland county executive elections of 1978 took place on November 7, 1978. Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County elected county executives.
Anne Arundel County Republican primary Candidates Nominee Robert A. Pascal, incumbent county executive (previously ran for governor)
Eliminated in primary Daniel J. Bedsole, barber shop owner
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Elmer E. Dunn Sr., accountant
Eliminated in primary Charles G. Taylor, administrative hearing officer Marvin O. Morris, perennial candidate Frederick R. Poole, retired business consultant and perennial candidate
Results
General election Results
Baltimore County Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Donald P. Hutchinson, state senator
Eliminated in primary Lorraine F. Chircus, county school board member John C. Coolahan, state senator S. Eric DiNenna, county zoning commissioner Edward A. Griffith, real estate broker John V. Murphy, county councilmember Howard J. Needle, state delegate
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Eugene L. Kibbe Jr., county councilmember
Eliminated in primary Joan L. Edwards Clarence E. Ritter, county councilmember
Results
General election Results
Harford County Democratic primary Candidates Nominee J. Thomas Barranger, candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1974
Eliminated in primary Charles B. Anderson Jr., incumbent county executive William Cooper Jr., county councilmember
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee William B. Davidson Jr., former chair of the Harford County Economic Development Commission
Eliminated in primary C. Joseph Bernardo, history professor
Results
General election Results
Howard County Democratic primary Candidates Nominee J. Hugh Nichols, state delegate
Eliminated in primary Edward L. Cochran, incumbent county executive William B. Davidson Jr., former justice of the peace
Results
Republican primary Candidates James S. Ansell, lawyer and candidate for Howard County Executive in 1970
Results
General election Results
Montgomery County Republican primary Candidates Nominee Richmond M. Keeney, former county councilmember
Eliminated in primary Albert Ceccone, real estate and insurance broker Gerald C. Warren
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Charles W. Gilchrist, state senator
Eliminated in primary Royce Hanson, chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board John L. Menke, county councilmember
Results
General election Results
Prince George's County Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Winfield M. Kelly Jr., incumbent county executive
Eliminated in primary John Lee Ball Jr., newspaper ad salesman Vincent Goodsell, former director of the Prince George's County Aging Programs John Eugene Sellner, real estate sales associate
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Lawrence Hogan, former U.S. representative from
Eliminated in primary Martin Aragona, real estate developer Dale Everett
Results
General election Results
References