1972 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1972 United States gubernatorial elections.

1972 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

←  1970 November 7, 1972 1974  →

Nominee Meldrim Thomson Jr. Roger J. Crowley Malcolm McLane Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 133,702 126,107 63,199 Percentage 41.38% 39.03% 19.56%

County results Thomson:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Crowley:     30–40%     40-50%     50–60%

Governor before election Walter R. Peterson Jr. Republican Elected Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr. Republican

The 1972 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.

Incumbent Republican Governor Walter R. Peterson Jr. was defeated for renomination in the Republican primary.

Republican nominee Meldrim Thomson Jr. defeated Democratic nominee Roger J. Crowley with 41.38% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 12, 1972.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Carmen C. Chimento
• Roger J. Crowley, Democratic nominee for governor in 1970
• Robert E. Raiche, State Representative ^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roger J. Crowley	29,326	61.37
	Democratic	Robert E. Raiche	16,216	33.94
	Democratic	Write-ins	1,298	2.72
	Democratic	Carmen C. Chimento	943	1.97
Total votes			47,783	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Elmer E. Bussey, perennial candidate
• Lucien R. Doucet
• James Koromilas, State Senator
• Walter R. Peterson Jr., incumbent Governor
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., American Independent Party candidate for governor in 1970

Results

Republican primary results ^{[2] [3] [4] [6]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	43,611	47.89
	Republican	Walter R. Peterson Jr. (incumbent)	41,252	45.30
	Republican	James Koromilas	3,975	4.37
	Republican	Elmer E. Bussey	852	0.94
	Republican	Write-ins	831	0.91
	Republican	Lucien R. Doucet	538	0.59
Total votes			91,059	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Robert J. Crowley, Democratic
• Malcolm McLane, Independent, Mayor of Concord ^[7]
• Meldrim Thomson Jr., Republican

Results

1972 New Hampshire gubernatorial election ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Meldrim Thomson Jr.	133,702	41.38%
	Democratic	Robert J. Crowley	126,107	39.03%
	Independent	Malcolm McLane	63,199	19.56%
	Write-in	Scattering	94	0.32%
Majority			7,595	2.35%
Turnout			323,102	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Conservative joins New Hampshire race". New York Times. New York, NY. March 22, 1972. p. 32. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
2. Manual for the General Court 1973, p. 644.
3. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 128.
4. America Votes 10, p. 251.
5. "NH Governor, 1972 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
6. "NH Governor, 1972 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
7. Reinhold, Robert (October 13, 1972). "The 1972 Campaign". New York Times. New York, NY. p. 20. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
8. Manual for the General Court 1973, p. 854.
9. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 68.
10. America Votes 10, p. 245.
11. "NH Governor, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 10, 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN   1-56802-396-0.
• Stark, Robert L., ed. (1973). Manual for the General Court of New Hampshire. Vol. 43. Concord, NH: Department of State, New Hampshire.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1973). America Votes 10: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1972. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.