Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1971–72

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Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1971-72
Flag of Louisiana (1912-2006).svg
  1967 February 1, 1972 1975  

  Edwin Edwards.jpg Dave Treen.jpg
Nominee Edwin Edwards David Treen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote641,146480,424
Percentage57.2%42.8%

Governor before election

John McKeithen
Democratic

Elected Governor

Edwin Edwards
Democratic

The Louisiana gubernatorial election of 19711972 was held in three rounds. The two Democratic Party primaries were held on November 6 and December 18, 1971. The general election was held on February 1, 1972, in which Edwin Edwards defeated Republican candidate David Treen to become Governor of Louisiana.

Edwin Edwards American politician, including Governor of Louisiana

Edwin Washington Edwards is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 7th congressional district from 1965 to 1972 and as the 50th Governor of Louisiana for four terms, twice as many elected terms as any other Louisiana chief executive. He served a total of 16 years in office, the sixth-longest serving gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U.S. history at 5,784 days.

Contents

Early in the campaign, conventional wisdom of many political analysts predicted that the race's top candidates would be Gillis Long, Jimmie Davis, and C.C. "Taddy" Aycock. [1] However, the two candidates to make the runoff, Edwin Edwards and J. Bennett Johnston, were relative newcomers to the Louisiana political scene. [2]

Results

First Democratic Party primary, November 6, 1971

CandidateVotes receivedPercent
Edwin Edwards 276,39723.54%
J. Bennett Johnston 208,83017.79%
Gillis William Long 164,27613.99%
Jimmie H. Davis 138,75611.82%
John G. Schwegmann 92,0727.84%
Clarence C. Aycock 88,4657.54%
Samuel Bell, Sr. 72,4866.17%
Speedy O. Long 61,3595.23%
Frank T. Salter, Jr. 32,2032.74%
James W. Moore 9,4080.80%
Warren J. "Puggy" Moity 8,9650.76%
David L. Chandler 7,2440.62%
Huey P. Coleman 4,8330.41%
Harold Lee Bethune II 3,0320.26%
Wilford L. Thompson, Sr. 2,5350.21%
Addison Roswell Thompson 1,9240.16%
Jimmy Strain 1,2580.11%

Republican Party Primary, November 6, 1971

CandidateVotes receivedPercent
David C. Treen 9,73292.06%
Robert Max Ross 8397.94%

Second Democratic Party primary, December 18, 1971

CandidateVotes receivedPercent
Edwin Edwards 584,26250.19%
J. Bennett Johnston 579,77449.81%

General election, February 1, 1972

CandidatePartyVotes receivedPercent
Edwin Edwards Democrat641,14657.2%
David Treen Republican480,42442.8%
Preceded by
1967 gubernatorial election
Louisiana gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
1975 gubernatorial election

Sources

Louisiana Secretary of State. Primary Election Returns, 1971

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References

  1. "2 New Faces Top Primary In Louisiana". Toledo Blade. 8 November 1971. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  2. "New Faces Winning In Louisiana". Miami News. 8 November 1971. Retrieved 28 June 2012.