1972 United States Senate elections
The 1972 United States Senate elections coincided with the landslide re-election of Republican President Richard Nixon. Despite Nixon's landslide victory, Democrats increased their majority by two seats. After the elections, Democrats held 56 seats and Republicans held 42 seats, with 1 Conservative and 1 independent senator. These were the first elections in which all citizens at least 18 years of age (instead of 21 and older) could vote due to the 1971 passage of the 26th Amendment. As of 2020, this is the last cycle in which a Republican won a Senate election in New Jersey.
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33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results of the elections: Democratic gain Republican gain Democratic hold Republican hold No election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results summary
56 | 1 | 1 | 42 |
Democratic | I | C | Republican |
Parties | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Republican | Conservative | Independent | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last election (1970) Before these elections |
54 | 44 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not up | 40 | 25 | 1 | 1 | — | 67 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Up Class 2 (1966→1972) |
14 | 19 | 0 | 0 | — | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent retired | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Held by same party | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Replaced by other party | 2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans |
— | — | — | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Result | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent ran | 11 | 16 | — | — | — | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Won re-election | 8 | 12 | — | — | — | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lost re-election | 4 Republicans replaced by 4 Democrats 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican |
— | — | — | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lost renomination, but held by same party |
1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lost renomination, and party lost |
1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | — | — | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Result | 13 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total elected | 16 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net gain/loss | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationwide vote | 17,199,567 | 19,821,203 | 42,348 | 318,238 | 427,742 | 37,809,098 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share | 45.49% | 52.42% | 0.11% | 0.84% | 1.13% | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Result | 56 | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (1973). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
Gains and losses
The Democrats picked up open seats in Kentucky and South Dakota, and defeated four incumbent senators: Gordon Allott of Colorado, J. Caleb Boggs of Delaware, Jack Miller of Iowa, and Margaret Chase Smith of Maine.
The Republicans picked up open seats in New Mexico, North Carolina and Oklahoma, and defeated one incumbent, William B. Spong Jr. of Virginia.
Change in composition
Before the elections
After the January 7, 1972 Vermont special election.
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 | D10 |
D20 | D19 | D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 |
D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 | D29 | D30 |
D40 | D39 | D38 | D37 | D36 | D35 | D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 |
D41 Ala. Ran |
D42 Ark. Ran |
D43 Ga. (sp) Ga. (reg) Ran |
D44 La. Retired |
D45 Minn. Ran |
D46 Miss. Ran |
D47 Mont. Ran |
D48 N.H. Ran |
D49 N.M. Ran |
D50 N.C. Ran |
Majority → | D51 Okla. Ran | ||||||||
R41 S.D. Ran |
R42 Tenn. Ran |
R43 Texas Retired |
R44 Wyo. Ran |
C1 | I1 | D54 W.Va. Ran |
D53 Va. Ran |
D52 R.I. Ran | |
R40 S.C. Ran |
R39 Ore. Ran |
R38 N.J. Ran |
R37 Neb. Ran |
R36 Mich. Ran |
R35 Mass. Ran |
R34 Maine Ran |
R33 Ky. Retired |
R32 Kan. Ran |
R31 Iowa Ran |
R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 Alaska Ran |
R27 Colo. Ran |
R28 Del. Ran |
R29 Idaho Ran |
R30 Ill. Ran |
R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 |
Elections results
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 | D10 |
D20 | D19 | D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 |
D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 | D29 | D30 |
D40 | D39 | D38 | D37 | D36 | D35 | D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 |
D41 Ala. Re-elected |
D42 Ark. Re-elected |
D43 Ga. (sp) Ga. (reg) Hold |
D44 La. Hold |
D45 Minn. Re-elected |
D46 Miss. Re-elected |
D47 Mont. Re-elected |
D48 N.H. Re-elected |
D49 R.I. Re-elected |
D50 W.Va. Re-elected |
Majority → | D51 Colo. Gain | ||||||||
R41 Okla. Gain |
R42 Va. Gain |
C1 | I1 | D56 S.D. Gain |
D55 Maine Gain |
D54 Ky. Gain |
D53 Iowa Gain |
D52 Del. Gain | |
R40 N.C. Gain |
R39 N.M. Gain |
R38 Wyo. Re-elected |
R37 Texas Re-elected |
R36 Tenn. Re-elected |
R35 S.C. Re-elected |
R34 Ore. Re-elected |
R33 N.J. Re-elected |
R32 Neb. Re-elected |
R31 Mich. Re-elected |
R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 Alaska Re-elected |
R27 Idaho Hold |
R28 Ill. Re-elected |
R29 Kan. Re-elected |
R30 Mass. Re-elected |
R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 |
Key: |
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Race summaries
Special elections during the 92nd Congress
In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1972 or before January 3, 1973; ordered by election date, then state.
State (linked to summaries below) |
Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Vermont (Class 1) |
Robert Stafford | Republican | 1971 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 7, 1972. |
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Georgia (Class 2) |
David H. Gambrell | Democratic | 1971 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost nomination. New senator elected November 7, 1972. Democratic hold. Winner also elected to the next term, see below. |
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Elections leading to the next Congress
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1973; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
State (linked to summaries below) |
Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama | John Sparkman | Democratic | 1946 (Special) 1948 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Alaska | Ted Stevens | Republican | 1968 (Appointed) 1970 (Special) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Arkansas | John L. McClellan | Democratic | 1942 1948 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Colorado | Gordon Allott | Republican | 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Delaware | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Georgia | David H. Gambrell | Democratic | 1971 (Appointed) | Incumbent lost nomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. Winner also elected to finish the term, see above. |
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Idaho | Leonard B. Jordan | Republican | 1962 (Appointed) 1962 (Special) 1966 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
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Illinois | Charles H. Percy | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Iowa | Jack Miller | Republican | 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Kansas | James B. Pearson | Republican | 1962 (Appointed) 1962 (Special) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Kentucky | John Sherman Cooper | Republican | 1946 (Special) 1948 (Lost) 1952 (Special) 1954 (Lost) 1956 (Special) 1960 1966 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Louisiana | Elaine Edwards | Democratic | 1972 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. Interim appointee resigned November 13, 1972 to give successor preferential seniority. Winner appointed November 14, 1972. |
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Maine | Margaret Chase Smith | Republican | 1948 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Massachusetts | Edward Brooke | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Michigan | Robert P. Griffin | Republican | 1966 (Appointed) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Minnesota | Walter Mondale | Democratic | 1964 (Appointed) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Mississippi | James Eastland | Democratic | 1942 1948 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Montana | Lee Metcalf | Democratic | 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Nebraska | Carl Curtis | Republican | 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Hampshire | Thomas J. McIntyre | Democratic | 1962 (Special) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Jersey | Clifford P. Case | Republican | 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Mexico | Clinton Anderson | Democratic | 1948 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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North Carolina | B. Everett Jordan | Democratic | 1958 (Appointed) 1958 (Special) 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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Oklahoma | Fred R. Harris | Democratic | 1964 (Special) 1966 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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Oregon | Mark Hatfield | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Rhode Island | Claiborne Pell | Democratic | 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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South Carolina | Strom Thurmond | Republican | 1954 1954 (Appointed) 1956 (Resigned) 1956 (Special) 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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South Dakota | Karl E. Mundt | Republican | 1948 1948 (Appointed) 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Tennessee | Howard Baker | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Texas | John Tower | Republican | 1961 (Special) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia | William B. Spong Jr. | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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West Virginia | Jennings Randolph | Democratic | 1958 (Special) 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Wyoming | Clifford Hansen | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Alabama
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County results Sparkman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Blount: 50–60% LeFlore: 40–50% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Democratic | John Sparkman (Incumbent) | 654,491 | 62.27 | |
Republican | Winton M. Blount | 347,523 | 33.06 | |
National Democratic (Ala.) | John L. LeFlore | 31,421 | 2.99 | |
Prohibition | Jerome B. Couch | 10,826 | 1.03 | |
Conservative | Herbert W. Stone | 6,838 | 0.65 | |
Majority | 306,968 | 29.21 | ||
Turnout | 1,051,099 | |||
Democratic hold |
Alaska
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Republican | Ted Stevens (Incumbent) | 74,216 | 77.30 | |
Democratic | Gene Guess | 21,791 | 22.70 | |
Majority | 52,425 | 54.60 | ||
Turnout | 96,007 | |||
Republican hold |
Arkansas
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County results McClellan: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Babbitt: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Democrat John Little McClellan was re-elected.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Democratic | John Little McClellan (Incumbent) | 386,398 | 60.88 | |
Republican | Wayne H. Babbitt | 248,238 | 39.12 | |
Majority | 138,160 | 21.76 | ||
Turnout | 634,636 | |||
Democratic hold |
Colorado
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County results Haskell: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Allott: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Democratic | Floyd K. Haskell | 457,545 | 49.41 | |
Republican | Gordon L. Allott (Incumbent) | 447,957 | 48.37 | |
Raza Unida | Secundion 'Sal' Salazar | 13,228 | 1.43 | |
American | Henry Olshaw | 7,353 | 0.79 | |
Majority | 9,588 | 1.04 | ||
Turnout | 926,083 | |||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
Delaware
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County results | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Republican J. Caleb Boggs, running for a third term, faced off against future President Joe Biden, then a New Castle County Councilman. Though Boggs was expected to easily win a third term over the then-unknown Biden, it ended up being the closest Senate election in 1972, and Biden narrowly beat out Boggs by a little over three thousand votes, winning what would be his first of seven terms.
Boggs, a longtime Delaware political figure, was considering retirement which would likely have led to a primary campaign between two Republicans, U.S. Representative Pete du Pont and Wilmington Mayor Harry G. Haskell Jr.. To avoid the anticipated divisive primary fight, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon helped convince Boggs to run again with full party support.
No other Democrat wanted to run against Boggs besides Biden.[5] Biden's campaign had virtually no money and was given no chance of winning.[6] It was managed by his sister Valerie Biden Owens (who would go on to manage his future campaigns as well) and staffed by other members of his family, and relied upon handed-out newsprint position papers.[7] Biden did receive some assistance from the AFL-CIO and Democratic pollster Patrick Caddell.[5] Biden's campaign issues focused on withdrawal from Vietnam, the environment, civil rights, mass transit, more equitable taxation, health care, the public's dissatisfaction with politics-as-usual, and "change".[5][7]
During the summer Biden trailed by almost 30 percentage points,[5] but his energetic campaign, his attractive young family, and his ability to connect with voters' emotions gave the surging Biden an advantage over the ready-to-retire Boggs.[8] Biden won the November 7, 1972 election in an upset by a margin of 3,162 votes.[7]
At the time of the election Biden was a little less than 30 years old; age 30 is a constitutional requirement for the U.S. Senate, and he reached that on November 20, in time for the Senate term beginning January 3. After his election he became the sixth-youngest senator in history.[9]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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Democratic | Joe Biden | 116,006 | 50.48 | +9.59% | |
Republican | J. Caleb Boggs (Incumbent) | 112,844 | 49.10 | -10.02% | |
American | Henry Majka | 803 | 0.35 | ||
Prohibition | Herbert B. Wood | 175 | 0.07 | ||
Majority | 3,162 | 1.38 | -16.86% | ||
Turnout | 229,828 | ||||
Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
Georgia
Seven-term Democrat Richard Russell Jr. died January 21, 1971 and Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter appointed Democrat David H. Gambrell, the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party as interim senator, pending a special election.
Sam Nunn, a Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives, won both the special and the regular elections. Nunn beat Gambrell in the August 29 special and regular primary run-off elections[10] and he then beat Republican congresman Fletcher Thompson in the November 3 special and regular general elections.
Georgia (special)
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Democratic | Sam Nunn | 404,890 | 51.98 | |
Republican | Fletcher Thompson | 362,501 | 46.54 | |
Independent | Alice Conner | 7,587 | 0.97 | |
Independent | George E. Schmidt | 3,932 | 0.51 | |
Majority | 42,389 | 7.94 | ||
Turnout | 25.69% | |||
Democratic hold |
Georgia (regular)
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County Results | |||||||||||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Democratic | Sam Nunn | 635,970 | 53.96 | |
Republican | Fletcher Thompson | 542,331 | 46.01 | |
None | Write-Ins | 407 | 0.03 | |
Majority | 93,639 | 7.94 | ||
Turnout | 1,178,708 | 25.69% | ||
Democratic hold |
Idaho
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | James A. McClure | 161,804 | 52.26 | |
Democratic | William E. Davis | 140,913 | 45.51 | |
American | Jean L. Stoddard | 6,885 | 2.22 | |
Majority | 20,891 | 6.75 | ||
Turnout | 309,602 | |||
Republican hold |
Illinois
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Incumbent Republican Charles H. Percy sought re-election. Percy was opposed by: Democratic nominee Roman Pucinski, a Congressman from Illinois's 11th congressional district, Edward C. Gross (SL) and Arnold Becchetti (C). Percy handily won a second term.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Charles H. Percy (Incumbent) | 2,867,078 | 61.21 | +7.27% | |
Democratic | Roman Pucinski | 1,721,031 | 37.35 | -6.55% | |
Socialist Labor | Edward C. Gross | 13,384 | 0.29 | ||
Communist | Arnold Becchetti | 6,103 | 0.13 | ||
Write-ins | 784 | 0.02 | |||
Majority | 1,146,047 | 24.87 | +13.82% | ||
Turnout | 3,822,724 | ||||
Republican hold |
Iowa
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dick Clark | 662,637 | 55.07 | |
Republican | Jack Miller (Incumbent) | 530,525 | 44.09 | |
American | William A. Rocap Jr. | 8,954 | 0.74 | |
By Petition | Fred Richard Benton | 1,203 | 0.10 | |
None | Scattering | 14 | 0.00 | |
Majority | 132,112 | 10.98 | ||
Turnout | 1,203,333 | |||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
Kansas
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | James B. Pearson (Incumbent) | 622,591 | 71.42 | |
Democratic | Arch Tetzlaff | 200,764 | 23.03 | |
Conservative | Gene F. Miller | 35,510 | 4.07 | |
Prohibition | Howard Hadin | 12,857 | 1.47 | |
Majority | 421,827 | 48.39 | ||
Turnout | 871,722 | |||
Republican hold |
Kentucky
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Walter D. Huddleston | 528,550 | 50.93 | |
Republican | Louie B. Nunn | 494,337 | 47.63 | |
American | Helen Breeden | 8,707 | 0.84 | |
People's | William E. Bartley Jr. | 6,267 | 0.60 | |
Majority | 34,223 | 3.30 | ||
Turnout | 1,037,861 | |||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
Louisiana
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | J. Bennett Johnston | 598,987 | 55.21 | |
Independent | John McKeithen | 250,161 | 23.06 | |
Republican | Ben C. Toledano | 206,846 | 19.07 | |
American | Hall M. Lyons | 28,910 | 2.66 | |
Majority | 348,826 | 32.15 | ||
Turnout | 1,084,904 | |||
Democratic hold |
Maine
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Incumbent Republican Margaret Chase Smith ran for re-election to a fifth term, but was defeated by Democrat William Hathaway, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 2nd congressional district.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | William Hathaway | 224,270 | 53.23 | |
Republican | Margaret Chase Smith (Incumbent) | 197,040 | 46.77 | |
Majority | 27,230 | 6.46 | ||
Turnout | 421,310 | |||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
Massachusetts
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Results by town. Red indicates towns carried by Edward Brooke, blue indicates towns carried by John J. Droney. | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Republican Edward Brooke, first elected in 1966 as the first African-American elected to the Senate by popular vote,[14] defeated his challengers, among them: John J. Droney, the Middlesex County District Attorney.[15]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John J. Droney | 215,523 | 45.05 | |
Democratic | Gerald O'Leary | 169,876 | 35.51 | |
Democratic | John P. Lynch | 92,979 | 19.43 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Edward Brooke (Incumbent) | 1,505,932 | 63.53 | |
Democratic | John J. Droney | 823,278 | 34.73 | |
Socialist Workers | Donald Gurewitz | 41,369 | 1.75 | |
None | Scattering | 97 | 0.00 | |
Majority | 782,654 | 28.80 | ||
Turnout | 2,370,676 | |||
Republican hold |
Michigan
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert P. Griffin (Incumbent) | 1,781,065 | 52.28 | |
Democratic | Frank J. Kelley | 1,577,178 | 46.29 | |
American Independent | Patrick Dillinger | 23,121 | 0.68 | |
Human Rights | Barbara Halpert | 19,118 | 0.56 | |
Socialist Workers | Linda Nordquist | 2,389 | 0.07 | |
Socialist Labor | James Sim | 2,217 | 0.06 | |
Communist | Thomas D. Dennis Jr. | 1,908 | 0.06 | |
Majority | 203,887 | 5.99 | ||
Turnout | 3,406,906 | |||
Republican hold |
Minnesota
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Incumbent Democrat Walter Mondale, who was originally appointed in 1964 (to fill the vacancy create when Hubert Humphrey was elected to the office of Vice President) and elected to a full term in 1966, defeated Republican challenger Phil Hansen.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (DFL) | Walter F. Mondale (Incumbent) | 230,679 | 89.88 | |
Democratic (DFL) | Tom Griffin | 11,266 | 4.39 | |
Democratic (DFL) | Richard "Dick" Leaf | 7,750 | 3.02 | |
Democratic (DFL) | Ralph E. Franklin | 6,946 | 2.71 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Phil Hansen | 165,093 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (DFL) | Walter F. Mondale (Incumbent) | 981,320 | 56.67 | |
Republican | Phil Hansen | 742,121 | 42.86 | |
Industrial Government | Karl H. Heck | 8,192 | 0.47 | |
Majority | 239,199 | 13.81 | ||
Turnout | 1,731,633 | |||
Democratic (DFL) hold |
Mississippi
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|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | James Eastland (Incumbent) | 375,102 | 58.09 | |
Republican | Gil Carmichael | 249,779 | 38.68 | |
Independent | Prentiss Walker | 14,662 | 2.27 | |
Independent | C. L. McKinley | 6,203 | 0.96 | |
Majority | 126,323 | 19.41 | ||
Turnout | 645,746 | |||
Democratic hold |
Montana
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Democrat Lee Metcalf, who was first elected to the Senate in 1960 and was re-elected in 1966, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary, he moved on to the general election, where he faced Hank Hibbard, a State senator and the Republican nominee. Following a close campaign, Metcalf managed to narrowly win re-election to his third term in the Senate over Hibbard.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Lee Metcalf (Incumbent) | 106,491 | 86.42 | |
Democratic | Jerome Peters | 16,729 | 13.58 | |
Total votes | 123,220 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Hank Hibbard State senator | 43,028 | 49.70 | |
Republican | Harold E. Wallace | 26,463 | 30.57 | |
Republican | Norman C. Wheeler | 13,826 | 15.97 | |
Republican | Merrill K. Riddick | 3,259 | 3.76 | |
Total votes | 86,576 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Lee Metcalf (Incumbent) | 163,609 | 51.95 | -1.22% | |
Republican | Hank Hibbard | 151,316 | 48.05 | +1.22% | |
Majority | 12,293 | 3.90 | -2.43% | ||
Turnout | 314,925 | ||||
Democratic hold |
Nebraska
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|
Incumbent Republican Carl Curtis won re-election over former congressman Terry Carpenter.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Carl Curtis (Incumbent) | 301,841 | 53.16 | -7.88% | |
Democratic | Terry Carpenter | 265,922 | 46.84 | +8.09% | |
Majority | 35,919 | 6.33 | -15.97% | ||
Turnout | 567,763 | ||||
Republican hold |
New Hampshire
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Thomas J. McIntyre (Incumbent) | 184,495 | 56.88 | |
Republican | Wesley Powell | 139,852 | 43.12 | |
None | Scattering | 7 | 0.00 | |
Majority | 44,643 | 13.76 | ||
Turnout | 324,354 | |||
Democratic hold |
New Jersey
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Clifford P. Case (Incumbent) | 1,743,854 | 62.46 | |
Democratic | Paul J. Krebs | 963,753 | 34.52 | |
American | A. Howard Freund | 40,980 | 1.47 | |
Concerned Voter's Voice | Charles W. Wiley | 33,442 | 1.20 | |
Socialist Labor | Julius Levin | 10,058 | 0.36 | |
Majority | 780,101 | 27.94 | ||
Turnout | 2,792,087 | |||
Republican hold |
New Mexico
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Pete Domenici | 204,253 | 54.03 | |
Democratic | Jack Daniels | 173,815 | 45.97 | |
Majority | 30,438 | 8.06 | ||
Turnout | 378,068 | |||
Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
North Carolina
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|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jesse Helms | 795,248 | 54.01 | |
Democratic | Nick Galifianakis | 677,293 | 45.99 | |
Majority | 117,955 | 8.02 | ||
Turnout | 1,472,541 | |||
Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
Oklahoma
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Dewey F. Bartlett | 516,934 | 51.43 | |
Democratic | Ed Edmondson | 478,212 | 47.58 | |
American | William G. Roach | 5,769 | 0.57 | |
Independent | Joe C. Phillips | 2,264 | 0.23 | |
Independent | Paul E. Trent | 1,969 | 0.20 | |
Majority | 38,722 | 3.85 | ||
Turnout | 1,005,148 | |||
Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
Oregon
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mark Hatfield (Incumbent) | 494,671 | 53.72 | |
Democratic | Wayne Morse | 425,036 | 41.16 | |
None | Write-Ins | 1,126 | 0.12 | |
Majority | 69,635 | 7.56 | ||
Turnout | 920,833 | |||
Republican hold |
Rhode Island
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Claiborne Pell (Incumbent) | 221,942 | 53.68 | |
Republican | John Chafee | 188,990 | 45.71 | |
Independent | John Quattrocchi Jr. | 2,041 | 0.49 | |
Socialist Workers | Patrick M. DeTemple | 458 | 0.11 | |
Majority | 32,952 | 7.97 | ||
Turnout | 413,431 | |||
Democratic hold |
South Carolina
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Strom Thurmond (Incumbent) | 415,806 | 63.29 | |
Democratic | Eugene N. Zeigler | 241,056 | 36.69 | |
None | Write-Ins | 172 | 0.03 | |
Majority | 174,750 | 27.60 | ||
Turnout | 657,034 | |||
Republican hold |
South Dakota
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | James Abourezk | 174,773 | 57.04 | |
Republican | Robert W. Hirsch | 131,613 | 42.96 | |
Majority | 43,160 | 14.08 | ||
Turnout | 306,386 | |||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
Tennessee
| |||||||||||||||||
|
One-term Republican Howard Baker was re-elected. He defeated Democrat Ray Blanton.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Howard Baker (Incumbent) | 716,539 | 61.55 | +5.85% | |
Democratic | Ray Blanton | 440,599 | 37.85 | +6.46% | |
Independent | Dan East | 7,026 | 0.60 | n/a | |
None | Write-Ins | 31 | 0.00 | n/a | |
Majority | 275,940 | 23.70 | +12.30% | ||
Turnout | 1,164,195 | ||||
Republican hold |
Texas
| |||||||||||||||||
|
Incumbent Republican John Tower was re-elected.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John Tower (Incumbent) | 1,822,877 | 53.40 | |
Democratic | Barefoot Sanders | 1,511,985 | 44.29 | |
Raza Unida | Flores N. Amaya | 63,543 | 1.86 | |
Socialist Workers | Tom Leonard | 14,464 | 0.42 | |
None | Write-Ins | 1,034 | 0.03 | |
Majority | 310,892 | 9.11 | ||
Turnout | 3,413,903 | |||
Republican hold |
Vermont (special)
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| |||||||||||||||||
|
The special election was held January 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican Robert Stafford, appointed in September 1971 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Winston L. Prouty, successfully ran for re-election to the remainder of Prouty's term. Stafford defeated Democratic candidate Randolph T. Major. Bernie Sanders, the Liberty Union candidate,[23] was later elected to this seat in 2006, serving as an Independent.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert Stafford (Incumbent) | 45,888 | 64.36 | |
Democratic | Randolph T. Major | 23,842 | 33.44 | |
Liberty Union | Bernie Sanders | 1,571 | 2.20 | |
Majority | 22,046 | |||
Turnout | 71,301 | 30.92 | ||
Republican hold |
Virginia
Turnout | 44.7%[24] | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||
County and independent city results | |||||||||||||||||
|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | William L. Scott | 718,337 | 51.45 | |
Democratic | William B. Spong Jr. (Incumbent) | 643,963 | 46.12 | |
Independent | Horace E. Henderson | 33,912 | 2.43 | |
None | Scattering | 56 | 0.00 | |
Majority | 74,374 | 5.33 | ||
Turnout | 1,396,268 | |||
Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
West Virginia
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jennings Randolph (Incumbent) | 486,310 | 66.45 | |
Republican | Louise Leonard | 245,531 | 33.55 | |
Majority | 240,779 | 32.90 | ||
Turnout | 731,841 | |||
Democratic hold |
Wyoming
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Clifford Hansen (Incumbent) | 101,314 | 71.31 | |
Democratic | Mike Vinch | 40,753 | 28.69 | |
Majority | 60,561 | 42.62 | ||
Turnout | 142,067 | |||
Republican hold |
See also
References
- Harry F. Byrd Jr. (VA) was an Independent who caucused with the Democrats. In some circles he is called an "Independent Democrat," but his actual registration was listed as "Independent." See, e.g., United States Congress. "Harry Flood Byrd, Jr. (id: B001209)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- "General Election Results - U.S. Senator - 1914-2014" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- "Senate Class II - History" – via OurCampaigns.com.
- Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). United States Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 4, 2015 – via Clerk.house.gov.
- Moritz, Charles, ed. (1987). Current Biography Yearbook 1987. New York: H. W. Wilson Company., p. 43.
- Broder, John M. (October 23, 2008). "Father's Tough Life an Inspiration for Biden". The New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
- Naylor, Brian (October 8, 2007). "Biden's Road to Senate Took Tragic Turn". NPR. Retrieved September 12, 2008.
- Barone, Michael; Cohen, Richard E. (2008). The Almanac of American Politics. Washington: National Journal Group. ISBN 978-0-89234-117-7., p. 364.
- "Youngest Senator". United States Senate Historical Office – via senate.gov.
- "Our Campaigns - GA US Senate - D Runoff Race - Aug 29, 1972". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- "Our Campaigns - GA US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 07, 1972". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- "Our Campaigns - GA US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- "Our Campaigns - ME US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- Edward Brooke at ourcampaigns.com
- John Droney at ourcampaigns.com
- Massachusetts race details at ourcampaigns.com
- https://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/sessions/electionresults/1972-09-12-p-man.pdf
- "Our Campaigns - MN US Senate- D Primary Race - Sep 12, 1972". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- "Our Campaigns - MN US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- "Our Campaigns - MS US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana and of the Vote Cast at the Separate Election for Ratification or Rejection of the Proposed Constitution, June 6, 1972" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 15, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State. ISBN 9781506368993.
- McCullum, April (May 21, 2015). "McKibben to speak at Sanders kickoff". USA Today. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
External links
- Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). United States Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 4, 2015 – via Clerk.house.gov.