1972 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
January 01, 1970
The United States Senate election of 1972 in Massachusetts was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican Senator Edward Brooke defeated Democratic nominee John Droney in a landslide. As of 2023[update], this remains the last time that a Republican has been elected to Massachusetts’s Class 2 Senate seat and the last time a Republican has been elected to either Senate seat for a full term. This was also the last time until 2010 that a Republican would win any U.S. Senate election in the state. This election was the first time ever that an African-American United States senator was re-elected to the United States Senate.
1972 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
John Droney won the party endorsement at the June 11 convention on the sixth ballot. The party platform endorsed legalized marijuana and an end to the Vietnam War.[5] Droney himself did not oppose the war, stating that there was no right or wrong stand on Vietnam.[6] He received the support of state attorney general Robert H. Quinn, Boston Mayor Kevin White and state legislative leadership. After losing at the convention, Norfolk County district attorney George Burke dropped out of the race and backed Droney. However Boston City Councilor Gerald O'Leary, who was seen as the most liberal candidate, and Hampden County Register of Deeds John Pierce Lynch chose to stay in the race and face Droney in the Democratic primary.[3]
Edward Brooke, incumbent Senator since 1967 (Republican)
John J. Droney, Middlesex County District Attorney (Democratic)
Donald Gurewitz, anti-war activist (Socialist Workers)
Campaignedit
Brooke centered his campaign on experience and his sponsorship of an amendment to end the Vietnam War. Droney ran on a law and order platform supporting Richard Nixon's conservative nominees to the United States Supreme Court and questioning the value of the Fifth Amendment. He also supported some of the president's foreign policy initiatives and did not come out against the Vietnam War.[6] He chose to focus his attacks on Brooke's record as Massachusetts Attorney General, an office Brooke held from 1963 to 1966, rather than on his record in the senate. Droney criticized Brooke for files that had allegedly disappeared during his administration (an investigative panel could not determine if the files went missing under Brooke's watch or that of his successor Elliot Richardson) as well for his handling of the Boston Strangler case.[7]
Brooke held a large lead throughout the campaign. He led Droney 72% to 18% in an October poll conducted by Becker Research and 66% to 23% in a poll conducted by the same firm shortly before election day.[8][9]
^ abNyhan, David (June 12, 1972). "Nine hours, six ballots later Droney has the nomination". The Boston Globe.
^"Galbraith Is Urged To Oppose Brooke". The Harvard Crimson. June 5, 1972.
^"DEMOCRATS ENDORSE BROOKE OPPONENT". June 12, 1972. p. 30. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
^ abNyhan, David (June 7, 1972). "Galbraith exits, Droney enters Senate race". The Boston Globe.
^Nyhan, David (August 8, 1972). "Unlikely rivals in Senate race". The Boston Globe.
^"Voters favor Brooke over Droney by 4-1 margin in Senate race". The Boston Globe. October 17, 1972.
^"Droney behind by 3-1 margin Brooke leads 66-23% in poll". The Boston Globe. November 5, 1972.
January 01, 1970
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The United States Senate election of 1972 in Massachusetts was held on November 7 1972 Incumbent Republican Senator Edward Brooke defeated Democratic nominee John Droney in a landslide As of 2023 update this remains the last time that a Republican has been elected to Massachusetts s Class 2 Senate seat and the last time a Republican has been elected to either Senate seat for a full term This was also the last time until 2010 that a Republican would win any U S Senate election in the state This election was the first time ever that an African American United States senator was re elected to the United States Senate 1972 United States Senate election in Massachusetts 1966 November 7 1972 1978 Nominee Edward Brooke John J Droney Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1 505 932 823 278 Percentage 63 53 34 73 County resultsMunicipality resultsBrooke 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 90 100 Droney 40 50 50 60 U S senator before election Edward Brooke Republican Elected U S Senator Edward Brooke Republican Contents 1 Republican primary 1 1 Candidates 2 Democratic primary 2 1 Candidates 2 1 1 Eliminated at the convention 2 1 2 Declined 2 2 Campaign 2 3 Results 3 General election 3 1 Candidates 3 2 Campaign 3 3 Results 4 See also 5 External links and referencesRepublican primary editCandidates edit Edward Brooke incumbent Senator since 1967 Senator Edward Brooke was unopposed for re nomination At the state convention on June 24 he was renominated by acclamation 1 Democratic primary editCandidates edit John J Droney Middlesex County District Attorney 2 Gerald O Leary Boston City Councilor John P Lynch Hampden County Register of Deeds Eliminated at the convention edit George Burke Norfolk County district attorney endorsed Droney 3 Declined edit John Kenneth Galbraith economist and former U S Ambassador to India 4 Campaign edit John Droney won the party endorsement at the June 11 convention on the sixth ballot The party platform endorsed legalized marijuana and an end to the Vietnam War 5 Droney himself did not oppose the war stating that there was no right or wrong stand on Vietnam 6 He received the support of state attorney general Robert H Quinn Boston Mayor Kevin White and state legislative leadership After losing at the convention Norfolk County district attorney George Burke dropped out of the race and backed Droney However Boston City Councilor Gerald O Leary who was seen as the most liberal candidate and Hampden County Register of Deeds John Pierce Lynch chose to stay in the race and face Droney in the Democratic primary 3 Results edit nbsp Democratic primary results by municipality Democratic Primary Party Candidate Votes Democratic John J Droney 215 523 45 05 Democratic Gerald O Leary 169 876 35 51 Democratic John P Lynch 92 979 19 43 Total votes 478 378 100 00 General election editCandidates edit Edward Brooke incumbent Senator since 1967 Republican John J Droney Middlesex County District Attorney Democratic Donald Gurewitz anti war activist Socialist Workers Campaign edit Brooke centered his campaign on experience and his sponsorship of an amendment to end the Vietnam War Droney ran on a law and order platform supporting Richard Nixon s conservative nominees to the United States Supreme Court and questioning the value of the Fifth Amendment He also supported some of the president s foreign policy initiatives and did not come out against the Vietnam War 6 He chose to focus his attacks on Brooke s record as Massachusetts Attorney General an office Brooke held from 1963 to 1966 rather than on his record in the senate Droney criticized Brooke for files that had allegedly disappeared during his administration an investigative panel could not determine if the files went missing under Brooke s watch or that of his successor Elliot Richardson as well for his handling of the Boston Strangler case 7 Brooke held a large lead throughout the campaign He led Droney 72 to 18 in an October poll conducted by Becker Research and 66 to 23 in a poll conducted by the same firm shortly before election day 8 9 Results edit General election Party Candidate Votes Republican Edward Brooke incumbent 1 505 932 63 53 nbsp 2 85 Democratic John J Droney 823 278 34 73 nbsp 4 01 Socialist Workers Donald Gurewitz 41 369 1 75 nbsp 1 41 Total votes 2 370 579 100 00 See also editUnited States Senate elections 1972External links and references editRace details at ourcampaigns com Republicans Parley Renominates Brooke The New York Times June 26 1972 p 41 Retrieved June 8 2022 John Droney at ourcampaigns com a b Nyhan David June 12 1972 Nine hours six ballots later Droney has the nomination The Boston Globe Galbraith Is Urged To Oppose Brooke The Harvard Crimson June 5 1972 DEMOCRATS ENDORSE BROOKE OPPONENT June 12 1972 p 30 Retrieved June 8 2022 a b Nyhan David June 7 1972 Galbraith exits Droney enters Senate race The Boston Globe Nyhan David August 8 1972 Unlikely rivals in Senate race The Boston Globe Voters favor Brooke over Droney by 4 1 margin in Senate race The Boston Globe October 17 1972 Droney behind by 3 1 margin Brooke leads 66 23 in poll The Boston Globe November 5 1972 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1972 United States Senate election in Massachusetts amp oldid 1212357659, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
