1972 United States Senate elections

November 7, 1972
33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Mike Mansfield Hugh Scott Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 3, 1961 September 24, 1969 Leader's seat Montana Pennsylvania Seats before 54 44 Seats after 56 42 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 17,199,567 19,821,203 Percentage 45.5% 52.4% Seats up 14 19 Races won 16 17   Third party Fourth party   Party Independent Conservative Seats before 1 1 Seats after 1[1] 1 Seat change Seats up 0 0 Races won 0 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Republican gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold      No election
Majority Leader before election Mike Mansfield Democratic Elected Majority Leader Mike Mansfield Democratic

The 1972 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. They coincided with the landslide re-election of Republican President Richard Nixon. Despite Nixon's landslide victory, Democrats increased their majority by two seats. The Democrats picked up open seats in Kentucky and South Dakota, and defeated four incumbent senators: Gordon Allott of Colorado, J. Caleb Boggs of Delaware, Jack Miller of Iowa, and Margaret Chase Smith of Maine. The Republicans picked up open seats in New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, and defeated one incumbent, William B. Spong Jr. of Virginia.

After the elections, Democrats held 56 seats, and Republicans held 42 seats, with 1 Conservative and 1 independent senator in the chamber as well. These were the first elections in which all citizens at least 18 years of age (instead of 21, and older) could vote, due to the 1971 passage of the 26th Amendment.

As of 2024, this is the last time in which a Republican won a Senate election in New Jersey. Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States (2021–present) and 47th vice president (2009–2017), first won election to the United States Senate, defeating J. Caleb Boggs in the election in Delaware.

Results summary

Parties							Total
		Democratic	Republican	Conservative	Independent	Other
Last elections (1970) Before these elections		54	44	1	1	0	100
Not up		40	25	1	1	—	67
Up Class 2 (1966→1972)		14	19	0	0	—	33
Incumbent retired		3	3	—	—	—	6
	Held by same party	1	1	—	—	—	2
	Replaced by other party	2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans		—	—	—	4
	Result	3	3	0	0	0	6
Incumbent ran		11	16	—	—	—	27
	Won re-election	8	12	—	—	—	20
	Lost re-election	4 Republicans replaced by 4 Democrats 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	—	—	5
	Lost renomination, but held by same party	1	0	—	—	—	1
	Lost renomination, and party lost	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	—	—	1
	Result	13	14	0	0	0	27
Total elected		16	17	0	0	0	33
Net gain/loss		2	2				2
Nationwide vote		17,199,567	19,821,203	42,348	318,238	427,742	37,809,098
	Share	45.49%	52.42%	0.11%	0.84%	1.13%	100%
Result		56	42	1	1	0	100

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (1973). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved November 22, 2020.

Gains, losses, and holds

Change in composition

Race summaries

Closest races

Seventeen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

Alabama

Alabama election

Nominee John Sparkman Winton Blount Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 654,491 347,523 Percentage 62.27% 33.06%

County results Sparkman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Blount:      50–60% LeFlore:      40–50%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election John Sparkman Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Sparkman Democratic

Alaska

Alaska election

Nominee Ted Stevens Gene Guess Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 74,216 21,791 Percentage 77.30% 22.70%

U.S. senator before election Ted Stevens Republican Elected U.S. Senator Ted Stevens Republican

Ted Stevens won re-election to a second term (his first full term) against Democrat Gene Guess.

Arkansas

Arkansas election

Nominee John L. McClellan Wayne Babbitt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 386,398 248,238 Percentage 60.89% 39.12%

County results McClellan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Babbitt:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election John L. McClellan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John L. McClellan Democratic

Incumbent Democrat John Little McClellan was re-elected.

Colorado

Colorado election

November 7, 1972

Nominee Floyd Haskell Gordon Allott Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 457,545 447,957 Percentage 49.41% 48.37%

County results Haskell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Allott:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election Gordon Allott Republican Elected U.S. Senator Floyd Haskell Democratic

Incumbent Republican Gordon Allott was defeated by Floyd K. Haskell.

Delaware

Delaware election

Nominee Joe Biden J. Caleb Boggs Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 116,006 112,844 Percentage 50.5% 49.1%

County results

U.S. senator before election J. Caleb Boggs Republican Elected U.S. senator Joe Biden Democratic

Incumbent Republican J. Caleb Boggs, running for a third term, faced off against future President Joe Biden, then a New Castle County Councilman. Though Boggs was expected to easily win a third term over the then-unknown Biden, it ended up being the closest Senate election in 1972, and Biden narrowly beat out Boggs by a little over three thousand votes, winning what would be his first of seven terms.

Boggs, a longtime Delaware political figure, was considering retirement which would likely have led to a primary campaign between two Republicans, U.S. Representative Pete du Pont and Wilmington Mayor Harry G. Haskell Jr. To avoid the anticipated divisive primary fight, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon helped convince Boggs to run again with full party support.

No other Democrat wanted to run against Boggs besides Biden.^[5] Biden's campaign had virtually no money and was given no chance of winning.^[6] It was managed by his sister Valerie Biden Owens (who would go on to manage his future campaigns as well) and staffed by other members of his family, and relied upon handed-out newsprint position papers.^[7] Biden did receive some assistance from the AFL–CIO and Democratic pollster Patrick Caddell.^[5] Biden's campaign issues focused on withdrawal from Vietnam, the environment, civil rights, mass transit, more equitable taxation, health care, the public's dissatisfaction with politics-as-usual, and "change".^[5][7]

During the summer Biden trailed by almost 30 percentage points,^[5] but his energetic campaign, his attractive young family, and his ability to connect with voters' emotions gave the surging Biden an advantage over the ready-to-retire Boggs.^[8] Biden won the November 7, 1972, election in an upset by a margin of 3,162 votes.^[7]

At the time of the election Biden was a little less than 30 years old; age 30 is a constitutional requirement for the U.S. Senate, and he reached that on November 20, in time for the Senate term beginning January 3. After his election he became the sixth-youngest senator in history.^[9]

Georgia

Seven-term Democrat Richard Russell Jr. died January 21, 1971, and Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter appointed Democrat David H. Gambrell, the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party as interim senator, pending a special election.

Sam Nunn, a Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives, won both the special and the regular elections. Nunn beat Gambrell in the August 29 special and regular primary run-off elections^[10] and he then beat Republican congressman Fletcher Thompson in the November 7 special and regular general elections.

Georgia (special)

Georgia special election

November 7, 1972

Nominee Sam Nunn Fletcher Thompson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 404,890 362,501 Percentage 51.98% 46.54%

County Results

U.S. senator before election David H. Gambrell Democratic Elected U.S. senator Sam Nunn Democratic

Georgia special election^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam Nunn	404,890	51.98
	Republican	Fletcher Thompson	362,501	46.54
	Independent	Alice Conner	7,587	0.97
	Independent	George E. Schmidt	3,932	0.51
Majority			42,389	7.94
Turnout				25.69%
	Democratic hold

Georgia (regular)

Georgia regular election

Nominee Sam Nunn Fletcher Thompson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 636,060 542,291 Percentage 53.96% 46.01%

County Results

U.S. senator before election David H. Gambrell Democratic Elected U.S. senator Sam Nunn Democratic

Georgia regular election^[4][12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam Nunn	635,970	53.96
	Republican	Fletcher Thompson	542,331	46.01
	None	Write-Ins	407	0.03
Majority			93,639	7.94
Turnout			1,178,708	25.69%
	Democratic hold

Idaho

1972 United States Senate election in Idaho

November 7, 1972

Nominee James McClure Bud Davis Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 161,804 140,915 Percentage 52.26% 45.52%

County results McClure:      50–60%      60–70% Davis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Leonard B. Jordan Republican Elected U.S. Senator James McClure Republican

The incumbent Republican Leonard B. Jordan retired, and was succeeded by James A. McClure.

Illinois

1972 United States Senate election in Illinois

November 7, 1972
Turnout	51.24%
Nominee Charles Percy Roman Pucinski Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,867,078 1,721,031 Percentage 62.21% 37.35%
County Results Percy:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
U.S. senator before election Charles H. Percy Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy Republican

Incumbent Republican Charles H. Percy sought re-election. Percy was opposed by: Democratic nominee Roman Pucinski, a Congressman from Illinois's 11th congressional district, Edward C. Gross (SL) and Arnold Becchetti (C). Percy handily won a second term.

Iowa

1972 United States Senate election in Iowa

November 7, 1972

Nominee Dick Clark Jack Miller Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 662,637 530,525 Percentage 55.07% 44.09%

County results Clark:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Miller:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Jack Miller Republican Elected U.S. Senator Dick Clark Democratic

The incumbent Republican Jack Miller was defeated by Dick Clark.

Kansas

1972 United States Senate election in Kansas

November 7, 1972

Nominee James B. Pearson Arch O. Tetzlaff Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 622,591 200,764 Percentage 71.42% 23.03%

County results Pearson:      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

U.S. senator before election James B. Pearson Republican Elected U.S. Senator James B. Pearson Republican

The incumbent Republican James B. Pearson was re-elected.

Kentucky

1972 United States Senate election in Kentucky

November 7, 1972

Nominee Walter Huddleston Louie Nunn Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 528,550 494,337 Percentage 50.93% 47.63%

County results Huddleston:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Nunn:      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election John Sherman Cooper Republican Elected U.S. Senator Walter Huddleston Democratic

The incumbent Republican John Sherman Cooper retired, and was succeeded by Democrat Walter Dee Huddleston.

Louisiana

In the midst of his campaign for a seventh term, Allen J. Ellender, the President Pro Tempore and chairman of the Appropriations Committee, suffered a fatal heart attack on July 27, 23 days prior to the Democratic primary. Ellender, first elected in 1936 as the permanent successor to the assassinated Huey P. Long, was slated to face former state senator and 1971 gubernatorial candidate J. Bennett Johnston and minor candidate Frank Allen in the primary.

Governor Edwin Washington Edwards, who defeated Johnston by less than 4,500 votes in the 1971 Democratic runoff, nominated his wife, Elaine Edwards, to fill the remainder of Ellender's term, with the agreement Mrs. Edwards would resign immediately following the general election to allow the winner to gain seniority over other new senators.

On the same day as Edwards' inauguration on Capitol Hill, the Louisiana Democratic Party rejected a challenge by former Governor John McKeithen to reopen qualifying following Ellender's death, ordering the primary to be held August 19 as scheduled, ignoring an opinion to the contrary by Louisiana Attorney General William J. Guste Jr. Ellender's name was not removed from the ballot and he received 10 percent of the primary vote as a tribute. McKeithen, whose eight-year gubernatorial tenure ended May 9, 1972, ran as an independent with support of the Ellender family, incensed by Johnston's primary challenge.

Johnston easily won the Democratic primary, nullifying the need for a September 30 runoff. In the general election, the Shreveport native trounced McKeithen by 32 points to win the first of his four terms. He was sworn in on November 13, 1972.

Louisiana election

November 7, 1972

Nominee J. Bennett Johnston John McKeithen Ben Toledano Party Democratic Independent Republican Popular vote 598,987 250,161 206,846 Percentage 55.21% 23.06% 19.07%

Parish Results Johnston:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% McKeithen:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election Elaine Edwards Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston Democratic

Maine

1972 United States Senate election in Maine

November 7, 1972

Nominee William Hathaway Margaret Chase Smith Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 224,270 197,040 Percentage 53.2% 46.8%

County Results Hathaway:      50–60%      60–70% Smith:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Margaret Chase Smith Republican Elected U.S. Senator William Hathaway Democratic

Incumbent Republican Margaret Chase Smith ran for re-election to a fifth term, but was defeated by Democrat William Hathaway, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 2nd congressional district.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts election

Nominee Edward Brooke John J. Droney Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,505,932 823,278 Percentage 63.53% 34.73%

Results by town. Red indicates towns carried by Edward Brooke, blue indicates towns carried by John J. Droney.

U.S. senator before election Edward Brooke Republican Elected U.S. senator Edward Brooke Republican

Incumbent Republican Edward Brooke, first elected in 1966 as the first African-American elected to the Senate by popular vote,^[14] defeated his challengers, among them: John J. Droney, the Middlesex County District Attorney.^[15]

Michigan

1972 United States Senate election in Michigan

November 7, 1972

Nominee Robert P. Griffin Frank J. Kelley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,781,065 1,577,178 Percentage 52.28% 46.29%

County Results Griffin:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Kelley:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Robert P. Griffin Republican Elected U.S. Senator Robert P. Griffin Republican

The incumbent Republican Robert P. Griffin was re-elected.

Minnesota

1972 United States Senate election in Minnesota

November 7, 1972

Nominee Walter Mondale Phil Hansen Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 981,320 742,121 Percentage 56.67% 42.86%

County results Mondale:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hansen:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election Walter Mondale Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Senator Walter Mondale Democratic (DFL)

Incumbent Democrat Walter Mondale, who was originally appointed in 1964 (to fill the vacancy created when Hubert Humphrey was elected to the office of Vice President) and elected to a full term in 1966, defeated Republican challenger Phil Hansen.

Mississippi

1972 United States Senate election in Mississippi

November 7, 1972

Nominee James Eastland Gil Carmichael Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 375,102 249,779 Percentage 58.1% 38.7%

County results Eastland:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Carmichael:      40-50%      50-60%

U.S. senator before election James Eastland Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James Eastland Democratic

The incumbent Democrat James Eastland was re-elected.

Montana

1972 United States Senate election in Montana

November 7, 1972

Nominee Lee Metcalf Hank Hibbard Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 163,609 151,316 Percentage 51.95% 48.05%

County results Metcalf:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hibbard:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Lee Metcalf Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Lee Metcalf Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Lee Metcalf, who was first elected to the Senate in 1960 and was re-elected in 1966, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary, he moved on to the general election, where he faced Hank Hibbard, a State senator and the Republican nominee. Following a close campaign, Metcalf managed to narrowly win re-election to his third term in the Senate over Hibbard.

Nebraska

1972 United States Senate election in Nebraska

November 7, 1972

Nominee Carl Curtis Terry Carpenter Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 301,841 265,922 Percentage 53.16% 46.84%

County results Curtis:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Carpenter:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Carl Curtis Republican Elected U.S. Senator Carl Curtis Republican

Incumbent Republican Carl Curtis won re-election over former congressman Terry Carpenter.

New Hampshire

1972 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

November 7, 1972

Nominee Thomas J. McIntyre Wesley Powell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 184,495 139,852 Percentage 56.88% 43.12%

County results McIntyre:      50–60%      60–70% Powell:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Thomas J. McIntyre Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Thomas J. McIntyre Democratic

The incumbent Democratic Senator Thomas J. McIntyre was re-elected.

New Jersey

1972 United States Senate election in New Jersey

November 7, 1972

Nominee Clifford P. Case Paul J. Krebs Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,743,854 963,573 Percentage 62.46% 34.51%

County results Case:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Clifford P. Case Republican Elected U.S. Senator Clifford P. Case Republican

The incumbent Republican Clifford P. Case was re-elected.

New Mexico

1972 United States Senate election in New Mexico

November 7, 1972

Nominee Pete Domenici Jack Daniels Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 204,253 173,815 Percentage 54.0% 46.0%

County results Domenici:      50–60%      60–70% Daniels:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Clinton Anderson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Pete Domenici Republican

The incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Clinton Presba Anderson retired, and was succeeded by Republican Pete Domenici.

North Carolina

1972 United States Senate election in North Carolina

November 7, 1972

Nominee Jesse Helms Nick Galifianakis Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 795,247 677,293 Percentage 54.0% 46.0%

County results Helms:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Galifianakis:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election B. Everett Jordan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Jesse Helms Republican

The incumbent Democratic senator B. Everett Jordan was defeated in the primary by Nick Galifianakis. Galifianakis went on to lose the election to Jesse Helms, making Helms the first Republican Senator from the state in the 20th century.

1972 Democratic Senate runoff

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Nick Galifianakis	338,558	55.82%	6.57
	Democratic	B. Everett Jordan (incumbent)	267,997	44.18%	0.17
Total votes			606,555	100.00%

Oklahoma

1972 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

November 7, 1972

Nominee Dewey F. Bartlett Ed Edmondson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 516,934 478,212 Percentage 51.43% 47.58%

County results Bartlett:      50–60%      60–70% Edmondson:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Fred R. Harris Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dewey F. Bartlett Republican