| Elections in Delaware |
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The 1972 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Democratic nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt defeated incumbent Republican Governor Russell W. Peterson with 51.27% of the vote. This was the last time a Democrat won statewide office in Delaware until 1992, when Tom Carper (future U.S. Senator) won the gubernatorial election over Republican B. Gary Scott.
Nominations
From 1972 to 1992 Delaware used a system of “challenge” primaries, in which a candidate for statewide office who received at least 35 percent of the convention vote could challenge the endorsed candidate in a primary. Democratic nominee Tribbitt avoided such a primary in 1972.[1][2]
Republican primary
Candidates
- David P. Buckson, former acting Governor
- Russell W. Peterson, incumbent Governor
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Russell W. Peterson (incumbent) | 23,929 | 54.30 | |
| Republican | David P. Buckson | 20,138 | 45.70 | |
| Total votes | 44,077 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Candidates
- Sherman W. Tribbitt, Democratic, Delaware House of Representatives Minority leader and former Lieutenant Governor
- Russell W. Peterson, Republican, incumbent Governor
- Virginia M. Lyndall, American
- Harry H. Conner, Prohibition
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sherman W. Tribbitt | 117,274 | 51.27% | ||
| Republican | Russell W. Peterson (incumbent) | 109,583 | 47.91% | ||
| American | Virginia M. Lyndall | 1,468 | 0.64% | ||
| Prohibition | Harry H. Conner | 397 | 0.17% | ||
| Majority | 7,691 | 3.36% | |||
| Turnout | 228,722 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ a b America Votes 10, p. 73.
- ^ a b Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 104.
- ^ "IL Governor, 1974 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "DE Governor, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Delaware Official Results 1972, p. 2.
- ^ America Votes 10, p. 71.
- ^ Glashan 1979, pp. 52–53.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 46.
Bibliography
- Burton D. Willis, Commissioner of Elections (1973). Official Results of General Election, 1972 (PDF). State of Delaware.
- 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.