1976 Delaware gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1976 United States gubernatorial elections.

1976 Delaware gubernatorial election

November 2, 1976

x150px Nominee Pete du Pont Sherman W. Tribbitt Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 130,531 97,480 Percentage 56.86% 42.46%

110px County results duPont:      50–60%      60–70% Tribbitt:      50–60%

Governor before election Sherman W. Tribbitt Democratic Elected Governor Pete du Pont Republican

The 1976 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976. Republican nominee Pete du Pont defeated incumbent Democratic Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt with 56.86% of the vote. As of 2022, this was the last time that an incumbent governor of Delaware lost re-election.

Nominations

From 1972 to 1992 Delaware used a system of “challenge” primaries, in which a candidate for statewide office who received at least 35 percent of the convention vote could challenge the endorsed candidate in a primary. No such primaries were held in 1976.

General election

Candidates

• Sherman W. Tribbitt, Democratic, incumbent Governor
• Pete du Pont, Republican, U.S. Representative for Delaware's at-large congressional district
• George W. Cripps, American, former Delaware Auditor of Accounts
• Harry Conner, Prohibition

Results

1976 Delaware gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Pierre S. duPont IV	130,531	56.86%
	Democratic	Sherman W. Tribbitt (incumbent)	97,480	42.46%
	American	George W. Cripps	1,255	0.55%
	Prohibition	Harry Conner	297	0.13%
Majority			33,051	14.40%
Turnout			229,563	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing