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.
1972 United States Senate elections 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
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 edit ↓ 56 1 1 42 Democratic I C Republican
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 UpClass 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 edit Retirements edit Three Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.
Defeats edit Four Republicans and three Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.
Post-election changes edit
Change in composition edit Race summaries edit Special elections during the 92nd Congress edit In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1972 or before January 3, 1973; ordered by election date, then state.
State(linked to summaries below) Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Vermont (Class 1) Robert Stafford Republican 1971 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected January 7, 1972 . Georgia (Class 2) David H. Gambrell Democratic 1971 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost nomination. New senator elected November 7, 1972 . Democratic hold. Winner also elected to the next term, see below. ▌ Y Sam Nunn (Democratic) 52.0% ▌ Fletcher Thompson (Republican) 46.5% ▌ Alice Conner (Independent) 1.0% ▌ George Schmidt (Independent) 0.5%[3]
Elections leading to the next Congress edit In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1973; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
Closest races edit Seventeen races had a margin of victory under 10%:
Alabama edit Alabama election County resultsSparkman : 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%Blount : 50–60%LeFlore : 40–50% 60–70%
In 1946, John H. Bankhead II suffered a stroke during a U.S. Senate hearing and died three weeks later. John Sparkman , who had served as U.S. Representative since 1937 and was House Majority Whip , secured the endorsements of party leaders and ran unopposed to win the remainder of Bankhead's term. Sparkman was then re-elected in 1948, 1954, 1960, and 1966 all by wide margins. At the time, the Democratic Party was dominant in Alabama; winning the Democratic primary virtually guaranteed a general election victory. Until 1966, Sparkman never faced an opponent in the general election who garnered more than 30% of the vote. Sparkman also served as the running mate of Adlai Stevenson II in an unsuccessful 1952 presidential campaign.
However, in 1966, the Democratic Party began to feel the backlash of Civil rights legislation in the South , and Sparkman faced his closest political contest to date. He defeated John Grenier with just 60% of the vote. Richard Nixon's election in 1968 also helped Republicans gain recognition in Alabama. In 1972, Sparkman faced Winton M. Blount , who was serving as Postmaster General .[4]
Sparkman ultimately increased his vote share in a lopsided victory over Blount, who won just two counties, Houston county and, fittingly, the phonetically similar Winston county. This would be Sparkman's final term as U.S. senator. He retired in 1979 and was succeeded by Howell Heflin .
Alaska edit Alaska election Results by state house districtStevens: 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
Republican Ted Stevens was originally elected to the U.S. Senate in 1970, succeeding Democrat Bob Bartlett . He won election to the remainder of Barlett's term with nearly 60% of the vote.
In 1972, he faced Democrat Gene Guess in the general election. Stevens won re-election in a landslide even as Democrat Mike Gravel served as the state's other senator. On election day, Stevens won re-election to a second term (his first full term) against Guess, 77–23%. Stevens would be re-elected in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2002 with at least 66% of the vote before losing re-election in 2008 amid criminal charges.
Arkansas edit Arkansas election County resultsMcClellan : 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%Babbitt : 50–60%
Incumbent Democrat John Little McClellan was re-elected.
Colorado edit Colorado election County resultsHaskell : 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Allott : 40-50% 50-60% 60-70%
Incumbent Republican Gordon Allott was defeated by Floyd K. Haskell.
Delaware edit Delaware election County results
State House district results
Map key Biden: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Boggs: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
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.[6] Biden's campaign had virtually no money and was given no chance of winning.[7] 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.[8] Biden did receive some assistance from the AFL–CIO and Democratic pollster Patrick Caddell .[6] 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".[6] [8]
During the summer Biden trailed by almost 30 percentage points,[6] 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.[9] Biden won the November 7, 1972, election in an upset by a margin of 3,162 votes.[8]
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.[10]
Georgia edit Seven-term Democrat Richard Russell Jr. had served as U.S. senator since 1933, but he died January 21, 1971, while serving as President pro tempore . Russell supported segregation in the South and opposed Civil Rights legislation as was common among Southern Democrats of the time. Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter appointed Democrat David H. Gambrell , the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party as interim senator, pending a special election.
Georgia (special) edit Georgia special election Nunn : 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90%Thompson : 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%No Vote :
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[11] despite trailing Gambrell initially 31-23% in the first round of voting.
In the special election to fill the remainder of Russell's term, Nunn faced Republican congressman Fletcher Thompson . Nunn's campaign was noted to be more organized than was Thompson's. Nunn had support from numerous prominent Georgia Democrats, including Gambrell and Carter. Thompson's campaign was "almost literally a one-man effort", and he started the race with almost no footprint outside of his own district.[12] Thompson was endorsed by Barry Goldwater , James L. Buckley , and Spiro Agnew .[13]
On the day of the special election, Nunn defeated Thompson 52-47%. Though Thompson performed well in the Atlanta metro area, Nunn swept most rural counties en route to a victory.
Georgia (regular) edit Georgia regular election Nunn : 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%Thompson : 50–60% 60–70%
In the general election held later that year, Nunn again defeated Thompson this time by almost 8 percentage points. Nonetheless, this marked a turning point in Georgia electoral politics: Nunn became the first Democrat to win a Senate race in Georgia despite losing the white vote.[12] Nunn also proved to be more moderate than his predecessor Russell, voting in favor of abortion rights, gun control, affirmative action, and environmental regulations.
Nunn would be re-elected in 1978, 1984, and 1990 before retiring in 1997. This was the last time he won less than 79% of the vote in a U.S. Senate election. In 1996, he was succeeded by Democrat Max Cleland .
Idaho edit 1972 United States Senate election in Idaho County results McClure: 50–60% 60–70%Davis : 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
The incumbent Republican Leonard B. Jordan retired, and was succeeded by James A. McClure.
Illinois edit 1972 United States Senate election in Illinois Turnout 51.24% County Results Percy: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80%
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 edit 1972 United States Senate election in Iowa County resultsClark : 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%Miller : 50–60% 60–70%
The incumbent Republican Jack Miller was defeated by Dick Clark.
Kansas edit 1972 United States Senate election in Kansas County results Pearson: 60-70% 70-80% 80-90%
The incumbent Republican James B. Pearson was re-elected.
Kentucky edit 1972 United States Senate election in Kentucky County resultsHuddleston : 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Nunn : 50-60% 60-70% 70–80% 80–90%
The incumbent Republican John Sherman Cooper retired, and was succeeded by Democrat Walter Dee Huddleston.
Louisiana edit 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 Parish ResultsJohnston : 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%McKeithen: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70%
Maine edit Massachusetts edit Massachusetts election County results
Municipality results
Brooke
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
90–100%
Droney
40–50%
50–60%
Incumbent Republican Edward Brooke , first elected in 1966 as the first African-American elected to the Senate by popular vote,[17] defeated his challengers, among them: John J. Droney , the Middlesex County District Attorney.[18]
Michigan edit 1972 United States Senate election in Michigan County ResultsGriffin: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80%Kelley: 50–60%
The incumbent Republican Robert P. Griffin was re-elected.
Minnesota edit 1972 United States Senate election in Minnesota County resultsMondale : 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hansen : 40-50% 50-60% 60-70%
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 edit 1972 United States Senate election in Mississippi County resultsEastland: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90%Carmichael: 40-50% 50-60%
The incumbent Democrat James Eastland was re-elected.
Montana edit 1972 United States Senate election in Montana County resultsMetcalf: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%Hibbard: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
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 edit 1972 United States Senate election in Nebraska County results Curtis: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Carpenter: 50–60% 60–70%
Incumbent Republican Carl Curtis won re-election over former congressman Terry Carpenter .
New Hampshire edit 1972 United States Senate election in New Hampshire County results
McIntyre: 50–60% 60–70%
Powell: 50–60% 60–70%
The incumbent Democratic Senator Thomas J. McIntyre was re-elected.
New Jersey edit 1972 United States Senate election in New Jersey County resultsCase : 50-60% 60-70% 70-80%
The incumbent Republican Clifford P. Case was re-elected.
New Mexico edit 1972 United States Senate election in New Mexico County resultsDomenici: 50–60% 60–70%Daniels: 50–60% 60–70%
The incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Clinton Presba Anderson retired, and was succeeded by Republican Pete Domenici.
North Carolina edit 1972 United States Senate election in North Carolina County resultsHelms: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%Galifianakis: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
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.
Oklahoma edit 1972 United States Senate election in Oklahoma County resultsBartlett : 50–60% 60–70%Edmondson : 50–60% 60–70%
The incumbent Democratic Senator Fred R. Harris retired, and was succeeded by Republican Dewey F. Bartlett.
Oregon edit 1972 United States Senate election in Oregon County results Hatfield: 50-60% 60-70% Morse : 50–60%
The incumbent Republican Mark Hatfield was re-elected.
Rhode Island edit 1972 United States Senate election in Rhode Island County results
Municipality results
Pell : 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%Chafee : 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
The incumbent Democratic Senator Claiborne Pell was re-elected.
South Carolina edit 1972 United States Senate election in South Carolina
1972, united, states, senate, elections, were, held, november, with, seats, class, contested, regular, elections, they, coincided, with, landslide, election, republican, president, richard, nixon, despite, nixon, landslide, victory, democrats, increased, their. 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 1972 United States Senate elections 1970 November 7 1972 1974 33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate51 seats needed for a majority Majority party Minority party Leader Mike Mansfield Hugh ScottParty Democratic RepublicanLeader since January 3 1961 September 24 1969Leader s seat Montana PennsylvaniaSeats before 54 44Seats after 56 42Seat change 2 2Popular vote 17 199 567 19 821 203Percentage 45 5 52 4 Seats up 14 19Races won 16 17 Third party Fourth party Party Independent ConservativeSeats before 1 1Seats after 1 1 1Seat changeSeats up 0 0Races won 0 0Results of the elections Democratic gain Republican gain Democratic hold Republican hold No electionMajority Leader before electionMike MansfieldDemocratic Elected Majority Leader Mike MansfieldDemocraticAfter 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 Contents 1 Results summary 2 Gains losses and holds 2 1 Retirements 2 2 Defeats 2 3 Post election changes 3 Change in composition 3 1 Before the elections 3 2 Elections results 4 Race summaries 4 1 Special elections during the 92nd Congress 4 2 Elections leading to the next Congress 5 Closest races 6 Alabama 7 Alaska 8 Arkansas 9 Colorado 10 Delaware 11 Georgia 11 1 Georgia special 11 2 Georgia regular 12 Idaho 13 Illinois 14 Iowa 15 Kansas 16 Kentucky 17 Louisiana 18 Maine 19 Massachusetts 20 Michigan 21 Minnesota 22 Mississippi 23 Montana 24 Nebraska 25 New Hampshire 26 New Jersey 27 New Mexico 28 North Carolina 29 Oklahoma 30 Oregon 31 Rhode Island 32 South Carolina 33 South Dakota 34 Tennessee 35 Texas 36 Vermont special 37 Virginia 38 West Virginia 39 Wyoming 40 See also 41 Notes 42 References 43 External linksResults summary edit 56 1 1 42Democratic I C RepublicanParties TotalDemocratic Republican Conservative Independent OtherLast elections 1970 Before these elections 54 44 1 1 0 100Not up 40 25 1 1 67UpClass 2 1966 1972 14 19 0 0 33Incumbent retired 3 3 6Held by same party 1 1 2Replaced by other party nbsp 2 Republicans replaced by nbsp 2 Democrats nbsp 2 Democrats replaced by nbsp 2 Republicans 4Result 3 3 0 0 0 6Incumbent ran 11 16 27Won re election 8 12 20Lost re election nbsp 4 Republicans replaced by nbsp 4 Democrats nbsp 1 Democrat replaced by nbsp 1 Republican 5Lost renomination but held by same party 1 0 1Lost renomination and party lost nbsp 1 Democrat replaced by nbsp 1 Republican 1Result 13 14 0 0 0 27Total elected 16 17 0 0 0 33Net gain loss nbsp 2 nbsp 2 nbsp nbsp nbsp 2Nationwide vote 17 199 567 19 821 203 42 348 318 238 427 742 37 809 098Share 45 49 52 42 0 11 0 84 1 13 100 Result 56 42 1 1 0 100Source 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 editRetirements edit Three Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re election State Senator Replaced byIdaho Leonard B Jordan James A McClureKentucky John Sherman Cooper Walter Dee HuddlestonLouisiana Elaine Edwards J Bennett JohnstonNew Mexico Clinton Anderson Pete DomeniciOklahoma Fred R Harris Dewey F BartlettSouth Dakota Karl Mundt James AbourezkDefeats edit Four Republicans and three Democrats sought re election but lost in the primary or general election State Senator Replaced byColorado Gordon Allott Floyd HaskellDelaware J Caleb Boggs Joe BidenGeorgia David H Gambrell Sam NunnIowa Jack Miller Dick ClarkMaine Margaret Chase Smith William HathawayNorth Carolina B Everett Jordan Jesse HelmsVirginia William Spong Jr William L ScottPost election changes edit State Senator Replaced byOhio Class 3 William B Saxbe Howard MetzenbaumChange in composition editBefore the elections edit After the January 7 1972 Vermont special election D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30D40 D39 D38 D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31D41Ala Ran D42Ark Ran D43Ga sp Ga reg Ran D44La Retired D45Minn Ran D46Miss Ran D47Mont Ran D48N H Ran D49N M Ran D50N C RanMajority D51Okla RanR41S D Ran R42Tenn Ran R43Texas Retired R44Wyo Ran C1 I1 D54W Va Ran D53Va Ran D52R I RanR40S C Ran R39Ore Ran R38N J Ran R37Neb Ran R36Mich Ran R35Mass Ran R34Maine Ran R33Ky Retired R32Kan Ran R31Iowa RanR21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26Alaska Ran R27Colo Ran R28Del Ran R29Idaho Ran R30Ill RanR20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10Elections results edit D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30D40 D39 D38 D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31D41Ala Re elected D42Ark Re elected D43Ga sp Ga reg Hold D44La Hold D45Minn Re elected D46Miss Re elected D47Mont Re elected D48N H Re elected D49R I Re elected D50W Va Re electedMajority D51Colo GainR41Okla Gain R42Va Gain C1 I1 D56S D Gain D55Maine Gain D54Ky Gain D53Iowa Gain D52Del GainR40N C Gain R39N M Gain R38Wyo Re elected R37Texas Re elected R36Tenn Re elected R35S C Re elected R34Ore Re elected R33N J Re elected R32Neb Re elected R31Mich Re electedR21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26Alaska Re elected R27Idaho Hold R28Ill Re elected R29Kan Re elected R30Mass Re electedR20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10Key C ConservativeD DemocraticR RepublicanI IndependentRace summaries editSpecial elections during the 92nd Congress edit In these special elections the winner was seated during 1972 or before January 3 1973 ordered by election date then state State linked tosummaries below Incumbent Results CandidatesSenator Party Electoral historyVermont Class 1 Robert Stafford Republican 1971 Appointed Interim appointee elected January 7 1972 nbsp Y Robert Stafford Republican 64 4 Randolph T Major Democratic 33 4 Bernie Sanders Liberty Union 2 2 2 Georgia Class 2 David H Gambrell Democratic 1971 Appointed Interim appointee lost nomination New senator elected November 7 1972 Democratic hold Winner also elected to the next term see below nbsp Y Sam Nunn Democratic 52 0 Fletcher Thompson Republican 46 5 Alice Conner Independent 1 0 George Schmidt Independent 0 5 3 Elections leading to the next Congress edit In these general elections the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3 1973 ordered by state All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats State linked tosummaries below Incumbent Results CandidatesSenator Party Electoral historyAlabama John Sparkman Democratic 1946 special 1948195419601966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y John Sparkman Democratic 62 3 Winton M Blount Republican 33 1 John L LeFlore National Democratic 3 0 Jerome Couch Prohibition 1 0 Herbert Stone Conservative 0 6 Alaska Ted Stevens Republican 1968 Appointed 1970 special Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Ted Stevens Republican 77 3 Gene Guess Democratic 22 7 Arkansas John L McClellan Democratic 19421948195419601966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y John L McClellan Democratic 60 8 Wayne H Babbitt Republican 39 1 Colorado Gordon Allott Republican 195419601966 Incumbent lost re election New senator elected Democratic gain nbsp Y Floyd Haskell Democratic 49 4 Gordon Allott Republican 48 4 Secundion Salazar Raza Unida 1 4 Henry Olshaw American 0 8 Delaware J Caleb Boggs Republican 19601966 Incumbent lost re election New senator elected Democratic gain nbsp Y Joe Biden Democratic 50 5 J Caleb Boggs Republican 49 1 Georgia David H Gambrell Democratic 1971 Appointed Interim appointee lost nomination New senator elected Democratic hold Winner also elected to finish the term see above nbsp Y Sam Nunn Democratic 54 0 Fletcher Thompson Republican 46 0 3 Idaho Leonard B Jordan Republican 1962 Appointed 1962 special 1966 Incumbent retired New senator elected Republican hold nbsp Y James A McClure Republican 52 3 William E Davis Democratic 45 5 Illinois Charles H Percy Republican 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Charles H Percy Republican 62 2 Roman Pucinski Democratic 37 4 Iowa Jack Miller Republican 19601966 Incumbent lost re election New senator elected Democratic gain nbsp Y Dick Clark Democratic 55 1 Jack Miller Republican 44 1 Kansas James B Pearson Republican 1962 Appointed 1962 special 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y James B Pearson Republican 71 4 Arch Tetzlaff Democratic 23 0 Kentucky John Sherman Cooper Republican 1946 special 1948 Lost 1952 special 1954 Lost 1956 special 19601966 Incumbent retired New senator elected Democratic gain nbsp Y Walter Dee Huddleston Democratic 50 9 Louie Nunn Republican 47 6 Louisiana Elaine Edwards Democratic 1972 Appointed Interim appointee retired New senator elected Democratic hold Interim appointee resigned November 13 1972 to give successor preferential seniority Winner appointed November 14 1972 nbsp Y J Bennett Johnston Democratic 55 2 John McKeithen Independent 23 1 Ben Toledano Republican 16 1 Hall M Lyons American 2 7 Maine Margaret Chase Smith Republican 1948195419601966 Incumbent lost re election New senator elected Democratic gain nbsp Y William Hathaway Democratic 53 2 Margaret Chase Smith Republican 46 8 Massachusetts Edward Brooke Republican 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Edward Brooke Republican 63 5 John J Droney Democratic 34 7 Donald Gurewitz Socialist Workers 1 7 Michigan Robert P Griffin Republican 1966 Appointed 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Robert P Griffin Republican 52 3 Frank J Kelley Democratic 46 3 Minnesota Walter Mondale DFL 1964 Appointed 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Walter Mondale DFL 56 7 Phil Hansen Republican 42 9 Mississippi James Eastland Democratic 19421948195419601966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y James Eastland Democratic 58 1 Gil Carmichael Republican 38 7 Montana Lee Metcalf Democratic 19601966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Lee Metcalf Democratic 52 0 Henry S Hibbard Republican 48 1 Nebraska Carl Curtis Republican 195419601966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Carl Curtis Republican 53 1 Terry Carpenter Democratic 46 8 New Hampshire Thomas J McIntyre Democratic 1962 special 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Thomas J McIntyre Democratic 56 9 Wesley Powell Republican 43 1 New Jersey Clifford P Case Republican 195419601966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Clifford P Case Republican 62 5 Paul J Krebs Democratic 34 5 New Mexico Clinton Anderson Democratic 1948195419601966 Incumbent retired New senator elected Republican gain nbsp Y Pete Domenici Republican 54 0 Jack Daniels Democratic 46 0 North Carolina B Everett Jordan Democratic 1958 Appointed 1958 special 19601966 Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected Republican gain nbsp Y Jesse Helms Republican 54 0 Nick Galifianakis Democratic 46 0 Oklahoma Fred R Harris Democratic 1964 special 1966 Incumbent retired New senator elected Republican gain nbsp Y Dewey F Bartlett Republican 51 4 Ed Edmondson Democratic 47 6 Oregon Mark Hatfield Republican 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Mark Hatfield Republican 53 7 Wayne Morse Democratic 46 2 Rhode Island Claiborne Pell Democratic 19601966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Claiborne Pell Democratic 53 7 John Chafee Republican 45 7 South Carolina Strom Thurmond Republican 1954 write in a 1954 Appointed 1956 Resigned 1956 special 19601966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Strom Thurmond Republican 63 3 Eugene N Zeigler Democratic 36 7 South Dakota Karl Mundt Republican 19481948 Appointed 195419601966 Incumbent retired New senator elected Democratic gain nbsp Y James Abourezk Democratic 57 0 Robert W Hirsch Republican 42 9 Tennessee Howard Baker Republican 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Howard Baker Republican 61 6 Ray Blanton Democratic 37 9 Texas John Tower Republican 1961 special 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y John Tower Republican 53 4 Barefoot Sanders Democratic 44 3 Virginia William Spong Jr Democratic 1966 Incumbent lost re election New senator elected Republican gain nbsp Y William L Scott Republican 51 5 William Spong Jr Democratic 46 1 West Virginia Jennings Randolph Democratic 1958 special 19601966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Jennings Randolph Democratic 66 5 Louise Leonard Republican 33 6 Wyoming Clifford Hansen Republican 1966 Incumbent re elected nbsp Y Clifford Hansen Republican 71 3 Mike Vinich Democratic 28 7 Closest races editSeventeen races had a margin of victory under 10 State Party of winner MarginColorado Democratic flip 1 0 Delaware Democratic flip 1 4 Kentucky Democratic flip 3 3 Oklahoma Republican flip 3 8 Montana Democratic 3 9 Virginia Republican flip 5 4 Georgia special Democratic 5 5 Michigan Republican 6 0 Nebraska Republican 6 3 Maine Democratic flip 6 4 Idaho Republican 6 8 Oregon Republican 7 5 Georgia Democratic 7 95 b Rhode Island Democratic 8 0 New Mexico Republican flip 8 0 North Carolina Republican flip 8 0 Texas Republican 9 1 Alabama editAlabama election nbsp 19661978 nbsp nbsp Nominee John Sparkman Winton BlountParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 654 491 347 523Percentage 62 27 33 06 nbsp County resultsSparkman 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 Blount 50 60 LeFlore 40 50 60 70 U S senator before electionJohn SparkmanDemocratic Elected U S Senator John SparkmanDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Alabama See also List of United States senators from AlabamaIn 1946 John H Bankhead II suffered a stroke during a U S Senate hearing and died three weeks later John Sparkman who had served as U S Representative since 1937 and was House Majority Whip secured the endorsements of party leaders and ran unopposed to win the remainder of Bankhead s term Sparkman was then re elected in 1948 1954 1960 and 1966 all by wide margins At the time the Democratic Party was dominant in Alabama winning the Democratic primary virtually guaranteed a general election victory Until 1966 Sparkman never faced an opponent in the general election who garnered more than 30 of the vote Sparkman also served as the running mate of Adlai Stevenson II in an unsuccessful 1952 presidential campaign However in 1966 the Democratic Party began to feel the backlash of Civil rights legislation in the South and Sparkman faced his closest political contest to date He defeated John Grenier with just 60 of the vote Richard Nixon s election in 1968 also helped Republicans gain recognition in Alabama In 1972 Sparkman faced Winton M Blount who was serving as Postmaster General 4 Sparkman ultimately increased his vote share in a lopsided victory over Blount who won just two counties Houston county and fittingly the phonetically similar Winston county This would be Sparkman s final term as U S senator He retired in 1979 and was succeeded by Howell Heflin 1972 U S Senate election in Alabama 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic John Sparkman Incumbent 654 491 62 27Republican Winton M Blount 347 523 33 06National Democratic Ala John L LeFlore 31 421 2 99Prohibition Jerome B Couch 10 826 1 03Conservative Herbert W Stone 6 838 0 65Majority 306 968 29 21Turnout 1 051 099Democratic holdAlaska editAlaska election nbsp 1970 special 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Ted Stevens Gene GuessParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 74 216 21 791Percentage 77 30 22 70 nbsp Results by state house districtStevens 60 70 70 80 80 90 U S senator before electionTed StevensRepublican Elected U S Senator Ted StevensRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Alaska See also List of United States senators from Alaska Republican Ted Stevens was originally elected to the U S Senate in 1970 succeeding Democrat Bob Bartlett He won election to the remainder of Barlett s term with nearly 60 of the vote In 1972 he faced Democrat Gene Guess in the general election Stevens won re election in a landslide even as Democrat Mike Gravel served as the state s other senator On election day Stevens won re election to a second term his first full term against Guess 77 23 Stevens would be re elected in 1978 1984 1990 1996 and 2002 with at least 66 of the vote before losing re election in 2008 amid criminal charges 1972 U S Senate election in Alaska 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Ted Stevens Incumbent 74 216 77 30Democratic Gene Guess 21 791 22 70Majority 52 425 54 60Turnout 96 007Republican holdArkansas editArkansas election nbsp 19661978 nbsp nbsp Nominee John L McClellan Wayne BabbittParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 386 398 248 238Percentage 60 89 39 12 nbsp County resultsMcClellan 50 60 60 70 70 80 Babbitt 50 60 U S senator before electionJohn L McClellanDemocratic Elected U S Senator John L McClellanDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Arkansas See also List of United States senators from Arkansas Incumbent Democrat John Little McClellan was re elected 1972 U S Senate election in Arkansas 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic John Little McClellan Incumbent 386 398 60 88Republican Wayne H Babbitt 248 238 39 12Majority 138 160 21 76Turnout 634 636Democratic holdColorado editColorado election nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Floyd Haskell Gordon AllottParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 457 545 447 957Percentage 49 41 48 37 nbsp County resultsHaskell 40 50 50 60 60 70 Allott 40 50 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionGordon AllottRepublican Elected U S Senator Floyd HaskellDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Colorado See also List of United States senators from Colorado Incumbent Republican Gordon Allott was defeated by Floyd K Haskell 1972 U S Senate election in Colorado 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Floyd K Haskell 457 545 49 41Republican Gordon L Allott Incumbent 447 957 48 37Raza Unida Secundion Sal Salazar 13 228 1 43American Henry Olshaw 7 353 0 79Majority 9 588 1 04Turnout 926 083Democratic gain from RepublicanDelaware editDelaware election nbsp 19661978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Joe Biden J Caleb BoggsParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 116 006 112 844Percentage 50 5 49 1 nbsp County results nbsp State House district resultsMap keyBiden 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 Boggs 40 50 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionJ Caleb BoggsRepublican Elected U S senator Joe BidenDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Delaware See also List of United States senators from Delaware 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 6 Biden s campaign had virtually no money and was given no chance of winning 7 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 8 Biden did receive some assistance from the AFL CIO and Democratic pollster Patrick Caddell 6 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 6 8 During the summer Biden trailed by almost 30 percentage points 6 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 9 Biden won the November 7 1972 election in an upset by a margin of 3 162 votes 8 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 10 1972 U S Senate election in Delaware 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Joe Biden 116 006 50 48 9 59 Republican J Caleb Boggs Incumbent 112 844 49 10 10 02 American Henry Majka 803 0 35Prohibition Herbert B Wood 175 0 07Majority 3 162 1 38 16 86 Turnout 229 828Democratic gain from RepublicanGeorgia editMain article 1972 United States Senate elections in Georgia See also List of United States senators from Georgia and 1972 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia Seven term Democrat Richard Russell Jr had served as U S senator since 1933 but he died January 21 1971 while serving as President pro tempore Russell supported segregation in the South and opposed Civil Rights legislation as was common among Southern Democrats of the time Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter appointed Democrat David H Gambrell the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party as interim senator pending a special election Georgia special edit Georgia special election nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Sam Nunn Fletcher ThompsonParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 404 890 362 501Percentage 51 98 46 54 nbsp Nunn 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 gt 90 Thompson 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 No Vote U S senator before electionDavid H GambrellDemocratic Elected U S senator Sam NunnDemocraticSam 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 11 despite trailing Gambrell initially 31 23 in the first round of voting In the special election to fill the remainder of Russell s term Nunn faced Republican congressman Fletcher Thompson Nunn s campaign was noted to be more organized than was Thompson s Nunn had support from numerous prominent Georgia Democrats including Gambrell and Carter Thompson s campaign was almost literally a one man effort and he started the race with almost no footprint outside of his own district 12 Thompson was endorsed by Barry Goldwater James L Buckley and Spiro Agnew 13 On the day of the special election Nunn defeated Thompson 52 47 Though Thompson performed well in the Atlanta metro area Nunn swept most rural counties en route to a victory Georgia special election 14 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Sam Nunn 404 890 51 98Republican Fletcher Thompson 362 501 46 54Independent Alice Conner 7 587 0 97Independent George E Schmidt 3 932 0 51Majority 42 389 7 94Turnout 25 69 Democratic hold Georgia regular edit Georgia regular election nbsp 19661978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Sam Nunn Fletcher ThompsonParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 636 060 542 291Percentage 53 96 46 01 nbsp Nunn 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 gt 90 Thompson 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionDavid H GambrellDemocratic Elected U S senator Sam NunnDemocraticIn the general election held later that year Nunn again defeated Thompson this time by almost 8 percentage points Nonetheless this marked a turning point in Georgia electoral politics Nunn became the first Democrat to win a Senate race in Georgia despite losing the white vote 12 Nunn also proved to be more moderate than his predecessor Russell voting in favor of abortion rights gun control affirmative action and environmental regulations Nunn would be re elected in 1978 1984 and 1990 before retiring in 1997 This was the last time he won less than 79 of the vote in a U S Senate election In 1996 he was succeeded by Democrat Max Cleland Georgia regular election 5 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Sam Nunn 635 970 53 96Republican Fletcher Thompson 542 331 46 01None Write Ins 407 0 03Majority 93 639 7 94Turnout 1 178 708 25 69 Democratic holdIdaho edit1972 United States Senate election in Idaho nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee James McClure Bud DavisParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 161 804 140 915Percentage 52 26 45 52 nbsp County results McClure 50 60 60 70 Davis 40 50 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionLeonard B JordanRepublican Elected U S Senator James McClureRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Idaho See also List of United States senators from Idaho The incumbent Republican Leonard B Jordan retired and was succeeded by James A McClure 1972 U S Senate election in Idaho 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican James A McClure 161 804 52 26Democratic William E Davis 140 913 45 51American Jean L Stoddard 6 885 2 22Majority 20 891 6 75Turnout 309 602Republican holdIllinois edit1972 United States Senate election in Illinois nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 Turnout51 24 nbsp nbsp Nominee Charles Percy Roman PucinskiParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 2 867 078 1 721 031Percentage 62 21 37 35 nbsp County Results Percy 50 60 60 70 70 80 U S senator before electionCharles H PercyRepublican Elected U S Senator Charles H PercyRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Illinois See also List of United States senators from Illinois 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 1972 U S Senate election in Illinois 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Charles H Percy Incumbent 2 867 078 61 21 7 27 Democratic Roman Pucinski 1 721 031 37 35 6 55 Socialist Labor Edward C Gross 13 384 0 29Communist Arnold Becchetti 6 103 0 13Write in 784 0 02Majority 1 146 047 24 87 13 82 Turnout 3 822 724Republican holdIowa edit1972 United States Senate election in Iowa nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Dick Clark Jack MillerParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 662 637 530 525Percentage 55 07 44 09 nbsp County resultsClark 50 60 60 70 70 80 Miller 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionJack MillerRepublican Elected U S Senator Dick ClarkDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Iowa See also List of United States senators from Iowa The incumbent Republican Jack Miller was defeated by Dick Clark 1972 U S Senate election in Iowa 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Dick Clark 662 637 55 07Republican Jack Miller Incumbent 530 525 44 09American William A Rocap Jr 8 954 0 74By Petition Fred Richard Benton 1 203 0 10None Scattering 14 0 00Majority 132 112 10 98Turnout 1 203 333Democratic gain from RepublicanKansas edit1972 United States Senate election in Kansas nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee James B Pearson Arch O TetzlaffParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 622 591 200 764Percentage 71 42 23 03 nbsp County results Pearson 60 70 70 80 80 90 U S senator before electionJames B PearsonRepublican Elected U S Senator James B PearsonRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Kansas See also List of United States senators from Kansas The incumbent Republican James B Pearson was re elected 1972 U S Senate election in Kansas 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican James B Pearson Incumbent 622 591 71 42Democratic Arch Tetzlaff 200 764 23 03Conservative Gene F Miller 35 510 4 07Prohibition Howard Hadin 12 857 1 47Majority 421 827 48 39Turnout 871 722Republican holdKentucky edit1972 United States Senate election in Kentucky nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Walter Huddleston Louie NunnParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 528 550 494 337Percentage 50 93 47 63 nbsp County resultsHuddleston 50 60 60 70 70 80 Nunn 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 U S senator before electionJohn Sherman CooperRepublican Elected U S Senator Walter HuddlestonDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Kentucky See also List of United States senators from Kentucky The incumbent Republican John Sherman Cooper retired and was succeeded by Democrat Walter Dee Huddleston 1972 U S Senate election in Kentucky 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Walter D Huddleston 528 550 50 93Republican Louie B Nunn 494 337 47 63American Helen Breeden 8 707 0 84Populist William E Bartley Jr 6 267 0 60Majority 34 223 3 30Turnout 1 037 861Democratic gain from RepublicanLouisiana editMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Louisiana See also List of United States senators from 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 nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp nbsp Nominee J Bennett Johnston John McKeithen Ben ToledanoParty Democratic Independent RepublicanPopular vote 598 987 250 161 206 846Percentage 55 21 23 06 19 07 nbsp Parish ResultsJohnston 30 40 40 50 50 60 60 70 McKeithen 40 50 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionElaine EdwardsDemocratic Elected U S Senator J Bennett JohnstonDemocratic1972 U S Senate election in Louisiana 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic J Bennett Johnston 598 987 55 21Independent John McKeithen 250 161 23 06Republican Ben C Toledano 206 846 19 07American Hall M Lyons 28 910 2 66Majority 348 826 32 15Turnout 1 084 904Democratic holdMaine edit1972 United States Senate election in Maine nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee William Hathaway Margaret Chase SmithParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 224 270 197 040Percentage 53 2 46 8 nbsp County Results Hathaway 50 60 60 70 Smith 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionMargaret Chase SmithRepublican Elected U S Senator William HathawayDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Maine See also List of United States senators from Maine 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 General election results 16 Party Candidate Votes Democratic William Hathaway 224 270 53 23Republican Margaret Chase Smith Incumbent 197 040 46 77Majority 27 230 6 46Turnout 421 310Democratic gain from RepublicanMassachusetts editMassachusetts election nbsp 19661978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Edward Brooke John J DroneyParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 1 505 932 823 278Percentage 63 53 34 73 nbsp County results nbsp Municipality resultsBrooke 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 90 100 Droney 40 50 50 60 U S senator before electionEdward BrookeRepublican Elected U S senator Edward BrookeRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Massachusetts See also List of United States senators from Massachusetts Incumbent Republican Edward Brooke first elected in 1966 as the first African American elected to the Senate by popular vote 17 defeated his challengers among them John J Droney the Middlesex County District Attorney 18 Democratic Primary Party Candidate Votes Democratic John J Droney 215 523 45 05Democratic Gerald O Leary 169 876 35 51Democratic John P Lynch 92 979 19 43General election 19 Party Candidate Votes Republican Edward Brooke Incumbent 1 505 932 63 53Democratic John J Droney 823 278 34 73Socialist Workers Donald Gurewitz 41 369 1 75None Scattering 97 0 00Majority 682 654 28 80Turnout 2 370 676Republican holdMichigan edit1972 United States Senate election in Michigan nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Robert P Griffin Frank J KelleyParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 1 781 065 1 577 178Percentage 52 28 46 29 nbsp County ResultsGriffin 50 60 60 70 70 80 Kelley 50 60 U S senator before electionRobert P GriffinRepublican Elected U S Senator Robert P GriffinRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Michigan See also List of United States senators from Michigan The incumbent Republican Robert P Griffin was re elected 1972 U S Senate election in Michigan 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Robert P Griffin Incumbent 1 781 065 52 28Democratic Frank J Kelley 1 577 178 46 29American Independent Patrick Dillinger 23 121 0 68Human Rights Barbara Halpert 19 118 0 56Socialist Workers Linda Nordquist 2 389 0 07Socialist Labor James Sim 2 217 0 06Communist Thomas D Dennis Jr 1 908 0 06Majority 203 887 5 99Turnout 3 406 906Republican holdMinnesota edit1972 United States Senate election in Minnesota nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Walter Mondale Phil HansenParty Democratic DFL RepublicanPopular vote 981 320 742 121Percentage 56 67 42 86 nbsp County resultsMondale 50 60 60 70 70 80 Hansen 40 50 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionWalter MondaleDemocratic DFL Elected U S Senator Walter MondaleDemocratic DFL Main article 1972 United States Senate election in Minnesota See also List of United States senators from Minnesota 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 Democratic primary election results 20 21 Party Candidate Votes Democratic DFL Walter F Mondale Incumbent 230 679 89 88Democratic DFL Tom Griffin 11 266 4 39Democratic DFL Richard Dick Leaf 7 750 3 02Democratic DFL Ralph E Franklin 6 946 2 71Republican primary election results 20 Party Candidate Votes Republican Phil Hansen 165 093 100 00General election results 22 Party Candidate Votes Democratic DFL Walter F Mondale Incumbent 981 320 56 67Republican Phil Hansen 742 121 42 86Industrial Government Karl H Heck 8 192 0 47Majority 239 199 13 81Turnout 1 731 633Democratic DFL holdMississippi edit1972 United States Senate election in Mississippi nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee James Eastland Gil CarmichaelParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 375 102 249 779Percentage 58 1 38 7 nbsp County resultsEastland 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 Carmichael 40 50 50 60 U S senator before electionJames EastlandDemocratic Elected U S Senator James EastlandDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Mississippi See also List of United States senators from Mississippi The incumbent Democrat James Eastland was re elected General election results 23 Party Candidate Votes Democratic James Eastland Incumbent 375 102 58 09Republican Gil Carmichael 249 779 38 68Independent Prentiss Walker 14 662 2 27Independent C L McKinley 6 203 0 96Majority 126 323 19 41Turnout 645 746Democratic holdMontana edit1972 United States Senate election in Montana nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Lee Metcalf Hank HibbardParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 163 609 151 316Percentage 51 95 48 05 nbsp County resultsMetcalf 50 60 60 70 70 80 Hibbard 50 60 60 70 70 80 U S senator before electionLee MetcalfDemocratic Elected U S Senator Lee MetcalfDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Montana See also List of United States senators from Montana 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 Democratic Party primary results 24 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Lee Metcalf Incumbent 106 491 86 42Democratic Jerome Peters 16 729 13 58Total votes 123 220 100 00Republican Primary results 24 Party Candidate Votes Republican Hank Hibbard State senator 43 028 49 70Republican Harold E Wallace 26 463 30 57Republican Norman C Wheeler 13 826 15 97Republican Merrill K Riddick 3 259 3 76Total votes 86 576 100 001972 U S Senate election in Montana 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Lee Metcalf Incumbent 163 609 51 95 1 22 Republican Hank Hibbard 151 316 48 05 1 22 Majority 12 293 3 90 2 43 Turnout 314 925Democratic holdNebraska edit1972 United States Senate election in Nebraska nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Carl Curtis Terry CarpenterParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 301 841 265 922Percentage 53 16 46 84 nbsp County results Curtis 50 60 60 70 70 80 Carpenter 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionCarl CurtisRepublican Elected U S Senator Carl CurtisRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Nebraska See also List of United States senators from Nebraska Incumbent Republican Carl Curtis won re election over former congressman Terry Carpenter 1972 U S Senate election in Nebraska 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Carl Curtis Incumbent 301 841 53 16 7 88 Democratic Terry Carpenter 265 922 46 84 8 09 Majority 35 919 6 33 15 97 Turnout 567 763Republican holdNew Hampshire edit1972 United States Senate election in New Hampshire nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Thomas J McIntyre Wesley PowellParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 184 495 139 852Percentage 56 88 43 12 nbsp County results McIntyre 50 60 60 70 Powell 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionThomas J McIntyreDemocratic Elected U S Senator Thomas J McIntyreDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in New Hampshire See also List of United States senators from New Hampshire The incumbent Democratic Senator Thomas J McIntyre was re elected 1972 U S Senate election in New Hampshire 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Thomas J McIntyre Incumbent 184 495 56 88Republican Wesley Powell 139 852 43 12None Scattering 7 0 00Majority 44 643 13 76Turnout 324 354Democratic holdNew Jersey edit1972 United States Senate election in New Jersey nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Clifford P Case Paul J KrebsParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 1 743 854 963 573Percentage 62 46 34 51 nbsp County resultsCase 50 60 60 70 70 80 U S senator before electionClifford P CaseRepublican Elected U S Senator Clifford P CaseRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in New Jersey See also List of United States senators from New Jersey The incumbent Republican Clifford P Case was re elected 1972 U S Senate election in New Jersey 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Clifford P Case Incumbent 1 743 854 62 46Democratic Paul J Krebs 963 753 34 52American A Howard Freund 40 980 1 47Concerned Voter s Voice Charles W Wiley 33 442 1 20Socialist Labor Julius Levin 10 058 0 36Majority 780 101 27 94Turnout 2 792 087Republican holdNew Mexico edit1972 United States Senate election in New Mexico nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Pete Domenici Jack DanielsParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 204 253 173 815Percentage 54 0 46 0 nbsp County resultsDomenici 50 60 60 70 Daniels 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionClinton AndersonDemocratic Elected U S Senator Pete DomeniciRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in New Mexico See also List of United States senators from New Mexico The incumbent Democratic U S Senator Clinton Presba Anderson retired and was succeeded by Republican Pete Domenici 1972 U S Senate election in New Mexico 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Pete Domenici 204 253 54 03Democratic Jack Daniels 173 815 45 97Majority 30 438 8 06Turnout 378 068Republican gain from DemocraticNorth Carolina edit1972 United States Senate election in North Carolina nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Jesse Helms Nick GalifianakisParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 795 247 677 293Percentage 54 0 46 0 nbsp County resultsHelms 50 60 60 70 70 80 Galifianakis 50 60 60 70 70 80 U S senator before electionB Everett JordanDemocratic Elected U S Senator Jesse HelmsRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in North Carolina See also List of United States senators from North Carolina 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 primary Party Candidate Votes Democratic Nick Galifianakis 377 993 49 25 Democratic B Everett Jordan incumbent 340 391 44 35 Democratic J R Brown 27 009 3 52 Democratic Eugene Grace 22 156 2 89 Total votes 767 549 100 00 1972 Democratic Senate runoff Party Candidate Votes Democratic Nick Galifianakis 338 558 55 82 nbsp 6 57Democratic B Everett Jordan incumbent 267 997 44 18 nbsp 0 17Total votes 606 555 100 00 1972 Republican Senate primary Party Candidate Votes Republican Jesse Helms 92 496 60 13 Republican James Johnson 45 303 29 45 Republican William Booe 16 032 10 42 Total votes 153 831 100 00 1972 U S Senate election in North Carolina 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Jesse Helms 795 248 54 01Democratic Nick Galifianakis 677 293 45 99Majority 117 955 8 02Turnout 1 472 541Republican gain from DemocraticOklahoma edit1972 United States Senate election in Oklahoma nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Dewey F Bartlett Ed EdmondsonParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 516 934 478 212Percentage 51 43 47 58 nbsp County resultsBartlett 50 60 60 70 Edmondson 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionFred R HarrisDemocratic Elected U S Senator Dewey F BartlettRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Oklahoma See also List of United States senators from Oklahoma The incumbent Democratic Senator Fred R Harris retired and was succeeded by Republican Dewey F Bartlett 1972 U S Senate election in Oklahoma 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Dewey F Bartlett 516 934 51 43Democratic Ed Edmondson 478 212 47 58American William G Roach 5 769 0 57Independent Joe C Phillips 2 264 0 23Independent Paul E Trent 1 969 0 20Majority 38 722 3 85Turnout 1 005 148Republican gain from DemocraticOregon edit1972 United States Senate election in Oregon nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Mark Hatfield Wayne MorseParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 494 671 425 036Percentage 53 72 46 16 nbsp County results Hatfield 50 60 60 70 Morse 50 60 U S senator before electionMark HatfieldRepublican Elected U S Senator Mark HatfieldRepublicanMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Oregon See also List of United States senators from Oregon The incumbent Republican Mark Hatfield was re elected 1972 U S Senate election in Oregon 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Mark Hatfield Incumbent 494 671 53 72Democratic Wayne Morse 425 036 46 16None Write Ins 1 126 0 12Majority 69 635 7 56Turnout 920 833Republican holdRhode Island edit1972 United States Senate election in Rhode Island nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Claiborne Pell John ChafeeParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 221 942 188 990Percentage 53 7 45 7 nbsp County results nbsp Municipality resultsPell 40 50 50 60 60 70 Chafee 40 50 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionClaiborne PellDemocratic Elected U S Senator Claiborne PellDemocraticMain article 1972 United States Senate election in Rhode Island See also List of United States senators from Rhode Island The incumbent Democratic Senator Claiborne Pell was re elected 1972 U S Senate election in Rhode Island 5 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Claiborne Pell Incumbent 221 942 53 68Republican John Chafee 188 990 45 71Independent John Quattrocchi 2 041 0 49Socialist Workers Patrick M DeTemple 458 0 11Majority 32 952 7 97Turnout 413 431Democratic holdSouth Carolina edit1972 United States Senate election in South Carolina nbsp 1966 November 7 1972 1978 nbsp nbsp Nominee Strom Thurmond Eugene N ZeiglerParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 415 806 241 056Percentage 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