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This is the 1978 race. The latest: 2026 →

1978Final results

1978 election for Tennessee's 5th District

U.S. House · Tennessee

Bill Boner (D) won with 51.4% of the vote, defeating William Dean Goodwin (R) by 16.0 points.

Bill BonerDemocrat · winner
51.4%68,608
William Dean GoodwinRepublican
35.4%47,288
Henry HaileIndependent
13.2%17,674
133,608 votes

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 1978

Races before and after

EvenD+60.31982D+18.01986D+40.41992D+21.51994D+48.51996D+48.02000

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

The candidates

Bill Boner (D)William Dean Goodwin (R)Henry Haile (I)