1972 Indiana gubernatorial election
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 County results Bowen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Welsh: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1972 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.
Although during the same election cycle Indiana voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the governor to serve in office for eight out of 12 years, incumbent Republican Governor Edgar Whitcomb was term-limited due to having been elected under the prior version of the constitution.[1][2][3]
Republican nominee, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Otis Bowen defeated Democratic nominee Former Governor (1961-1965) Matthew E. Welsh with 56.77% of the vote.
Nominations
Until 1976, all nominations for statewide office in Indiana were made by state conventions.[4][5]
Democratic nomination
Results
Matthew E. Welsh, former Governor def. Larry A. Conrad, Secretary of State[6][7][8]
Republican nomination
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Otis Bowen | 1,243 | 59.70 | |
| Republican | William Sharp | 364 | 17.48 | |
| Republican | Phil Gutman | 354 | 17.00 | |
| Republican | W.W. 'Dub' Hill | 108 | 5.19 | |
| N/A | 13 | 0.62 | ||
| Total votes | 2,082 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Results
Governor
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Otis Bowen | 1,203,903 | 56.77% | ||
| Democratic | Matthew E. Welsh | 900,489 | 42.46% | ||
| American Independent | Berryman S. Hurley | 8,525 | 0.40% | ||
| Peace and Freedom | Finley C. Campbell | 6,278 | 0.30% | ||
| Socialist Labor | John M. Morris | 1,652 | 0.08% | ||
| Majority | 303,414 | 14.31% | |||
| Turnout | 2,120,847 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
Lieutenant governor
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert D. Orr | 1,149,255 | 55.34% | ||
| Democratic | Richard C. Bodine | 914,000 | 44.01% | ||
| American Independent | Raymond Lee Clark | 6,816 | 0.33% | ||
| Peace and Freedom | Elizabeth Toohy | 4,737 | 0.23% | ||
| Socialist Labor | Casimer Kanczuzewski | 1,878 | 0.09% | ||
| Majority | 235,255 | 11.33% | |||
| Turnout | 2,076,686 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ "Indiana Governor Term Limits, Amendment 2 (1972)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ "World War II Hero, Former Indiana Governor Edgar Whitcomb Dead At 98". www.wfyi.org. WFYI: Indianapolis' Public Radio, TV & News Station. February 4, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ Cole, Ryan (February 6, 2016). "A Politician Who Was His Own Man: Edgar Whitcomb, R.I.P." www.nationalreview.com. National Review. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ America Votes 10, p. 123.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 112.
- ^ Bowen and Du Bois 2000, p. 164.
- ^ Blaemire, Robert (2019). Birch Bayh: Making a Difference. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 221. ISBN 9780253039194.
- ^ "The 1972 Campaign". The New York Times. New York, NY. June 21, 1972. p. 28. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ Bowen and Du Bois 2000, pp. 103–104.
- ^ Dunn, Craig (May 9, 2013). "Gov. Doc Bowen, with 'Kindest personal regards'" (PDF). Howey Politics Indiana. Vol. 18, no. 35. Kokomo, Indiana. p. 9. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ "IN Governor, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ "1972 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 50.
- ^ America Votes 10, p. 116.
- ^ "1972 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
Bibliography
- 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.
- Brown, Otis R.; Du Bois, William (2000). Doc: Memories from a Life in Public Service. Bloomington, Illinois: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-33767-4.