1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election

Last updated

1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Flag of Arkansas (1924-2011).svg
  1970 November 7, 1972 1974  
  Dale Bumpers AR (3x4a).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Dale Bumpers Len E. Blaylock
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote488,892159,177
Percentage75.44%24.56%

1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Bumpers:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

Governor before election

Dale Bumpers
Democratic

Elected Governor

Dale Bumpers
Democratic

The 1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.

Contents

Incumbent Democratic Governor Dale Bumpers defeated Republican nominee Len E. Blaylock with 75.44% of the vote, despite Democratic nominee George McGovern losing the state in a landslide in the concurrent presidential election.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 30, 1972.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Bumpers avoided a run-off (which would have been held 13 June) by winning with more than 50% of the vote.

Democratic primary results [2] [3] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dale Bumpers (incumbent) 330,088 66.71
Democratic Q. Byrum Hurst 81,23916.42
Democratic Mack Harbour55,17211.15
Democratic George W. Davis22,2844.50
Democratic Les Gibbs6,0681.23
Total votes494,851 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [6] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Len E. Blaylock unopposed

General election

Candidates

Results

1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election [7] [8] [9] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Dale Bumpers (incumbent) 488,892 75.44% +13.78%
Republican Len E. Blaylock159,17724.56%−7.85%
Majority329,71550.88%
Turnout 648,069100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. Dumas, Ernest. "Quincy Byrum Hurst (1918–2006)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  2. "AR Governor, 1972 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  3. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 101.
  4. 1 2 America Votes 10, p. 48.
  5. "Obituary for Len Evette Blaylock, Perryville, AR".
  6. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 100.
  7. "AR Governor, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  8. Glashan 1979, pp. 22–23.
  9. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.
  10. America Votes 10, p. 39.

Bibliography