1972 Delaware gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1972 United States gubernatorial elections.

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 statewide office in Delaware until 1992, when Tom Carper (future U.S. Senator) won the gubernatorial election over Republican B. Gary Scott.

1972 Delaware gubernatorial election

← 1968 November 7, 1972 1976 →

Nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt Russell W. Peterson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 117,274 109,583 Percentage 51.27% 47.91%

County results Tribbitt:      50–60%      60–70% Peterson:      50–60%

Governor before election Russell W. Peterson Republican Elected Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt Democratic

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

• David P. Buckson, former acting Governor
• Russell W. Peterson, incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results^[3][2][1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Russell W. Peterson (incumbent)	23,929	54.30
	Republican	David P. Buckson	20,138	45.70
Total votes			44,077	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Sherman W. Tribbitt, Democratic, Delaware House of Representatives Minority leader and former Lieutenant Governor
• Russell W. Peterson, Republican, incumbent Governor
• Virginia M. Lyndall, American
• Harry H. Conner, Prohibition

Results

1972 Delaware gubernatorial election^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Sherman W. Tribbitt	117,274	51.27%
	Republican	Russell W. Peterson (incumbent)	109,583	47.91%
	American	Virginia M. Lyndall	1,468	0.64%
	Prohibition	Harry H. Conner	397	0.17%
Majority			7,691	3.36%
Turnout			228,722	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. America Votes 10, p. 73.
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

• Burton D. Willis, Commissioner of Elections (1973). Official Results of General Election, 1972 (PDF). State of Delaware.
• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1973). America Votes 10: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1972. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.