1972 Delaware gubernatorial election

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1972 Delaware gubernatorial election
Flag of Delaware.svg
  1968 November 7, 1972 1976  
  Sherman W. Tribbett (1922-2010), Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.jpg Russell W. Peterson, c. 1971-1972.jpg
Nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt Russell W. Peterson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote117,274109,583
Percentage51.27%47.91%

1972 Delaware gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
1972 Delaware gubernatorial results map by house district.svg
Tribbitt:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Peterson:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Russell W. Peterson
Republican

Elected Governor

Sherman W. Tribbitt
Democratic

The 1972 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Democratic nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt defeated incumbent Republican Governor Russell W. Peterson with 51.27% of the vote. This was the last time a Democrat won a gubernatorial election in Delaware until 1992, when Tom Carper (future U.S. Senator) won the gubernatorial election over Republican B. Gary Scott.

Contents

Nominations

From 1972 to 1992 Delaware used a system of “challenge” primaries, in which a candidate for statewide office who received at least 35 percent of the convention vote could challenge the endorsed candidate in a primary. Democratic nominee Tribbitt avoided such a primary in 1972. [1] [2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [3] [2] [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Russell W. Peterson (incumbent) 23,929 54.30
Republican David P. Buckson 20,13845.70
Total votes44,077 100.00

General election

Candidates

Results

1972 Delaware gubernatorial election [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Sherman W. Tribbitt 117,274 51.27%
Republican Russell W. Peterson (incumbent)109,58347.91%
American Virginia M. Lyndall1,4680.64%
Prohibition Harry H. Conner3970.17%
Majority7,6913.36%
Turnout 228,722100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References

  1. 1 2 America Votes 10, p. 73.
  2. 1 2 Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 104.
  3. "IL Governor, 1974 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  4. "DE Governor, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  5. Delaware Official Results 1972, p. 2.
  6. America Votes 10, p. 71.
  7. Glashan 1979, pp. 52–53.
  8. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 46.

Bibliography