1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1972 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.

1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election

← 1970 November 7, 1972 1974 →

Nominee Dale Bumpers Len E. Blaylock Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 488,892 159,177 Percentage 75.44% 24.56%

County results Bumpers:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Dale Bumpers Democratic Elected Governor Dale Bumpers Democratic

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.

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.

Democratic primary results^[2][3][4]

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

Republican primary results^[6][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Len E. Blaylock		unopposed

General election

Candidates

• Dale Bumpers, Democratic
• Len E. Blaylock, Republican

Results

1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election^{[7][8][9][10]}

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

1. Dumas, Ernest. "Quincy Byrum Hurst (1918–2006)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
2. "AR Governor, 1972 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
3. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 101.
4. America Votes 10, p. 48.
5. "Obituary for Len Evette Blaylock, Perryville, AR".
6. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 100.
7. "AR Governor, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
8. Glashan 1979, pp. 22–23.
9. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.
10. 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.