1979 United States gubernatorial elections

1979 United States gubernatorial elections
← 1978 October 27, November 6, and December 8, 1979 1980 →
4 governorships
3 states; 1 territory
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before 32 18
Seats after 31 19
Seat change Decrease1 Increase1
Seats up 3 0
Seats won 2 1
1979 Kentucky gubernatorial election1979 Louisiana gubernatorial election1979 Mississippi gubernatorial election
  Democratic hold
  Republican gain

United States gubernatorial elections were held in the fall of 1979, in three states and one territory.

Republicans gained one gubernatorial seat in this year with Dave Treen's victory in Louisiana, who as a result became the first Republican Governor of that state since the Reconstruction era (1865-1877). Treen led a field of six major candidates in the October 27 primary, and narrowly edged state senator Louis Lambert in the December 8 general election (or "runoff").

Democrats held control of the governor's mansions in Kentucky and Mississippi in the November 6 general elections.