1978 Saskatchewan general election

The 1978 Saskatchewan general election was the nineteenth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on October 18, 1978, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.

1978 Saskatchewan general election

October 18, 1978 (1978-10-18)
61 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan 32 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   PC LIB Leader Allan Blakeney Richard Collver Ted Malone Party New Democratic Progressive Conservative Liberal Leader since July 4, 1970 March 18, 1973 December 11, 1976 Leader's seat Regina Elphinstone Nipawin Regina Lakeview (lost re-election) Last election 39 7 15 Seats before 39 11 11 Seats won 44 17 0 Seat change 5 6 11 Popular vote 228,791 181,045 65,498 Percentage 48.12% 38.08% 13.78% Swing 8.05pp 10.46pp 17.89pp
Premier before election Allan Blakeney New Democratic Premier after election Allan Blakeney New Democratic

The New Democratic government of Premier Allan Blakeney was returned for a third consecutive term with an increased majority in the legislature, and a larger share of the popular vote.

The Progressive Conservative Party of Richard Collver continued to increase its share of the popular vote in this election. They were the only other party to win seats and became the official opposition to the Blakeney government.

Fierce political infighting in the Liberal Party after the resignation of leader David Steuart led to electoral disaster in 1978. The Liberals had lost two of the 15 seats they won in 1975 to by-elections and two more Grits crossed the floor to the Tories prior to the 1978 election. Under the disputed leadership of Ted Malone, the Liberals lost all of the 11 seats they still held in the legislature and more than half the votes it had won in the 1975 election.