1972 United States Senate elections

← 1970 November 7, 1972 1974 →
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
Majority Leader before election Mike Mansfield Democratic Elected Majority Leader Mike Mansfield Democratic

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.

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.

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
Up Class 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.

Three Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Four Republicans and three Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

After the January 7, 1972, Vermont special election.

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1972 or before January 3, 1973; ordered by election date, then state.

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.

Seventeen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

Alabama election

← 1966 1978 →

Nominee John Sparkman Winton Blount Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 654,491 347,523 Percentage 62.27% 33.06%

County results Sparkman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Blount:      50–60% LeFlore:      40–50%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election John Sparkman Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Sparkman Democratic

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 election

← 1970 (special) 1978 →

Nominee Ted Stevens Gene Guess Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 74,216 21,791 Percentage 77.30% 22.70%

Results by state house district Stevens:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Ted Stevens Republican Elected U.S. Senator Ted Stevens Republican

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 election

← 1966 1978 →

Nominee John L. McClellan Wayne Babbitt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 386,398 248,238 Percentage 60.89% 39.12%

County results McClellan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Babbitt:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election John L. McClellan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John L. McClellan Democratic

Incumbent Democrat John Little McClellan was re-elected.

Colorado election

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →

Nominee Floyd Haskell Gordon Allott Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 457,545 447,957 Percentage 49.41% 48.37%

County results Haskell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Allott:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election Gordon Allott Republican Elected U.S. Senator Floyd Haskell Democratic

Incumbent Republican Gordon Allott was defeated by Floyd K. Haskell.

Delaware election

← 1966 1978 →

Nominee Joe Biden J. Caleb Boggs Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 116,006 112,844 Percentage 50.5% 49.1%

County results State House district results Map key Biden:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Boggs:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election J. Caleb Boggs Republican Elected U.S. senator Joe Biden Democratic

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]

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 election

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →

Nominee Sam Nunn Fletcher Thompson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 404,890 362,501 Percentage 51.98% 46.54%

Nunn:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90% Thompson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% No Vote:

U.S. senator before election David H. Gambrell Democratic Elected U.S. senator Sam Nunn Democratic

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 election

← 1966 1978 →

Nominee Sam Nunn Fletcher Thompson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 636,060 542,291 Percentage 53.96% 46.01%

Nunn:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Thompson:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election David H. Gambrell Democratic Elected U.S. senator Sam Nunn Democratic

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.

1972 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →

Nominee James McClure Bud Davis Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 161,804 140,915 Percentage 52.26% 45.52%

County results McClure:      50–60%      60–70% Davis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Leonard B. Jordan Republican Elected U.S. Senator James McClure Republican

The incumbent Republican Leonard B. Jordan retired, and was succeeded by James A. McClure.

1972 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →
Turnout	51.24%
Nominee Charles Percy Roman Pucinski Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,867,078 1,721,031 Percentage 62.21% 37.35%
County Results Percy:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
U.S. senator before election Charles H. Percy Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy Republican

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 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →

Nominee Dick Clark Jack Miller Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 662,637 530,525 Percentage 55.07% 44.09%

County results Clark:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Miller:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Jack Miller Republican Elected U.S. Senator Dick Clark Democratic

The incumbent Republican Jack Miller was defeated by Dick Clark.

1972 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →

Nominee James B. Pearson Archibald O. Tetzlaff Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 622,591 200,764 Percentage 71.42% 23.03%

County results Pearson:      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

U.S. senator before election James B. Pearson Republican Elected U.S. Senator James B. Pearson Republican

The incumbent Republican James B. Pearson was re-elected.

1972 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →

Nominee Walter Huddleston Louie Nunn Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 528,550 494,337 Percentage 50.93% 47.63%

County results Huddleston:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Nunn:      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election John Sherman Cooper Republican Elected U.S. Senator Walter Huddleston Democratic

The incumbent Republican John Sherman Cooper retired, and was succeeded by Democrat Walter Dee Huddleston.