1972 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia

The 1972 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia took place on November 7, 1972, as part of the 1972 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Washington, D.C. voters chose 3 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Republican President Richard Nixon and his running mate, incumbent Vice President Spiro Agnew, against Democratic challenger and Senator George McGovern from South Dakota and his running mate, former United States Ambassador to France Sargent Shriver.

1972 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia

November 7, 1972

Nominee George McGovern Richard Nixon Party Democratic Republican Home state South Dakota California Running mate Sargent Shriver Spiro Agnew Electoral vote 3 0 Popular vote 127,627 35,226 Percentage 78.10% 21.56%

President before election Richard Nixon Republican Elected President Richard Nixon Republican

Elections in the District of Columbia
Federal government Presidential elections 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Presidential primaries Democratic 2004 2008 2016 2020 Republican 2008 2016 2020 U.S. House elections 1971 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Shadow Senator elections 1990 1994 1996 2000 2002 2006 2008 2012 2014 2018 2020 Shadow Representative elections 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
District government General elections 2020 Mayoral elections 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Attorney General elections 2014 2018
Initiatives and referendums Initiatives and referendums 2016 (statehood) 2020 (Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act)

McGovern won D.C. by an overwhelming margin, receiving 78.10% of the vote.[1] Along with Massachusetts, the District of Columbia was the only place in the country that voted for George McGovern in the general election. This is the only time in history that a Republican presidential nominee has received more than 20% of the vote in D.C. and, in turn, the only time that the Democratic margin of victory was less than 60%. This was also the first two presidential elections when the Democratic candidate did not earn at least 80% of the vote, with Jimmy Carter repeating that feat in 1980.