| Elections in Arkansas |
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The 1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.
Incumbent Democratic Governor Dale Bumpers defeated Republican nominee Len E. Blaylock with 75.44% of the vote, despite Democratic nominee George McGovern losing the state in a landslide in the concurrent presidential election. Bumpers was the first incumbent governor to carry all of the state's 75 counties since Orval Faubus did so in 1962.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on May 30, 1972.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Dale Bumpers, incumbent Governor
- George W. Davis, State Representative
- Les Gibbs, Former Labor Union official
- Mack Harbour, Hospital administrator
- Q. Byrum Hurst, State Senator[1]
Results
Bumpers avoided a run-off (which would have been held 13 June) by winning with more than 50% of the vote.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dale Bumpers (incumbent) | 330,088 | 66.71 | |
| Democratic | Q. Byrum Hurst | 81,239 | 16.42 | |
| Democratic | Mack Harbour | 55,172 | 11.15 | |
| Democratic | George W. Davis | 22,284 | 4.50 | |
| Democratic | Les Gibbs | 6,068 | 1.23 | |
| Total votes | 494,851 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Len E. Blaylock, former staffer and Welfare Commissioner under Winthrop Rockefeller[5]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Len E. Blaylock | unopposed | ||
General election
Candidates
- Dale Bumpers, Democratic
- Len E. Blaylock, Republican
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dale Bumpers (incumbent) | 488,892 | 75.44% | +13.78% | |
| Republican | Len E. Blaylock | 159,177 | 24.56% | −7.85% | |
| Majority | 329,715 | 50.88% | |||
| Turnout | 648,069 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ Dumas, Ernest. "Quincy Byrum Hurst (1918–2006)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ "AR Governor, 1972 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 101.
- ^ a b America Votes 10, p. 48.
- ^ "Obituary for Len Evette Blaylock, Perryville, AR".
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 100.
- ^ "AR Governor, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ Glashan 1979, pp. 22–23.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.
- ^ America Votes 10, p. 39.
Bibliography
- 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.
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