1972 United States Senate elections
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33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results of the elections: Democratic gain Republican gain Democratic hold Republican hold No election | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1972 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, with the 33 seats of
After the elections, Democrats held 56 seats, and
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
56 | 1 | 1 | 42 |
Democratic | I | C | Republican |
Parties | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Democratic | Republican | Conservative
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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:
Gains, losses, and holds
Retirements
Three Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.
State | Senator | Replaced by |
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Idaho | Leonard B. Jordan | James A. McClure
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Kentucky | John Sherman Cooper | Walter Dee Huddleston |
Louisiana | Elaine Edwards | J. Bennett Johnston |
New Mexico | Clinton Anderson | Pete Domenici |
Oklahoma | Fred R. Harris | Dewey F. Bartlett |
South Dakota | Karl Mundt | James Abourezk |
Defeats
Four Republicans and three Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.
Post-election changes
State | Senator | Replaced by |
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Ohio (Class 3) |
William B. Saxbe | Howard Metzenbaum |
Change in composition
Before the elections
After the January 7, 1972, Vermont special election.
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 | D10 |
D20 | D19 | D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 |
D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 | D29 | D30 |
D40 | D39 | D38 | D37 | D36 | D35 | D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 |
D41 Ala. Ran |
D42 Ark. Ran |
D43 Ga. (sp) Ga. (reg) Ran |
D44 La. Retired |
D45 Minn. Ran |
D46 Miss. Ran |
D47 Mont. Ran |
D48 N.H. Ran |
D49 N.M. Ran |
D50 N.C. Ran |
Majority → | D51 Okla. Ran | ||||||||
R41 S.D. Ran |
R42 Tenn. Ran |
R43 Texas Retired |
R44 Wyo. Ran |
C1 | I1 | D54 W.Va. Ran |
D53 Va. Ran |
D52 R.I. Ran | |
R40 S.C. Ran |
R39 Ore. Ran |
R38 N.J. Ran |
R37 Neb. Ran |
R36 Mich. Ran |
R35 Mass. Ran |
R34 Maine Ran |
R33 Ky. Retired |
R32 Kan. Ran |
R31 Iowa Ran |
R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 Alaska Ran |
R27 Colo. Ran |
R28 Del. Ran |
R29 Idaho Ran |
R30 Ill. Ran |
R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 |
Elections results
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 | D10 |
D20 | D19 | D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 |
D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 | D29 | D30 |
D40 | D39 | D38 | D37 | D36 | D35 | D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 |
D41 Ala. Re-elected |
D42 Ark. Re-elected |
D43 Ga. (sp) Ga. (reg) Hold |
D44 La. Hold |
D45 Minn. Re-elected |
D46 Miss. Re-elected |
D47 Mont. Re-elected |
D48 N.H. Re-elected |
D49 R.I. Re-elected |
D50 W.Va. Re-elected |
Majority → | D51 Colo. Gain | ||||||||
R41 Okla. Gain |
R42 Va. Gain |
C1 | I1 | D56 S.D. Gain |
D55 Maine Gain |
D54 Ky. Gain |
D53 Iowa Gain |
D52 Del. Gain | |
R40 N.C. Gain |
R39 N.M. Gain |
R38 Wyo. Re-elected |
R37 Texas Re-elected |
R36 Tenn. Re-elected |
R35 S.C. Re-elected |
R34 Ore. Re-elected |
R33 N.J. Re-elected |
R32 Neb. Re-elected |
R31 Mich. Re-elected |
R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 Alaska Re-elected |
R27 Idaho Hold |
R28 Ill. Re-elected |
R29 Kan. Re-elected |
R30 Mass. Re-elected |
R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 |
Key: |
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Race summaries
Special elections during the 92nd Congress
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 | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Vermont (Class 1) |
Robert Stafford | Republican | 1971 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 7, 1972. |
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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. |
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Elections leading to the next Congress
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 to summaries below) |
Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama | John Sparkman | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Alaska | Ted Stevens | Republican | 1968 (Appointed) 1970 (special) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Arkansas | John L. McClellan | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Colorado | Gordon Allott | Republican | 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Delaware | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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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. |
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Idaho | Leonard B. Jordan | Republican | 1962 (Appointed) 1962 (special) 1966 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
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Illinois | Charles H. Percy | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Iowa | Jack Miller | Republican | 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Kansas | James B. Pearson | Republican | 1962 (Appointed) 1962 (special) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Kentucky | John Sherman Cooper | Republican | 1946 (special) 1948 (Lost) 1952 (special) 1954 (Lost) 1956 (special) 1960 1966 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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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. |
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Maine | Margaret Chase Smith | Republican | 1948 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Massachusetts | Edward Brooke | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Michigan | Robert P. Griffin | Republican | 1966 (Appointed) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Minnesota | Walter Mondale | DFL | 1964 (Appointed) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Mississippi | James Eastland | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Montana | Lee Metcalf | Democratic | 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Nebraska | Carl Curtis | Republican | 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Hampshire | Thomas J. McIntyre | Democratic | 1962 (special) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Jersey | Clifford P. Case | Republican | 1954 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Mexico | Clinton Anderson | Democratic | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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North Carolina | B. Everett Jordan | Democratic | 1958 (Appointed) 1958 (special) 1960 1966 |
Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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Oklahoma | Fred R. Harris | Democratic | 1964 (special) 1966 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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Oregon | Mark Hatfield | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Rhode Island | Claiborne Pell | Democratic | 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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South Carolina | Strom Thurmond | Republican | 1954 (write-in)[a] 1954 (Appointed) 1956 (Resigned) 1956 (special) 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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South Dakota | Karl Mundt | Republican | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Tennessee | Howard Baker | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Texas | John Tower | Republican | 1961 (special) 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia | William Spong Jr. | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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West Virginia | Jennings Randolph | Democratic | 1958 (special) 1960 1966 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Wyoming | Clifford Hansen | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Closest races
Seventeen races had a margin of victory under 10%:
State | Party of winner | Margin |
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Colorado | 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
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County results Sparkman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Blount: 50–60% LeFlore: 40–50% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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