1972 Arkansas gubernatorial election

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

Elections in Arkansas
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State government Gubernatorial elections 1862 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1910 1912 1913 1914 1916 1918 1922 1926 1930 1932 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 State elections 2006 2010 2014 2018 2020 2022 State Senate elections 2020 2022
Ballot measures 2004 Constitutional Amendment 3 2008 Proposed Initiative Act No. 1 2012 Issue 1 2018
Little Rock Mayoral elections 1994 2018
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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.

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.

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Len E. Blaylock, former staffer and Welfare Commissioner under Winthrop Rockefeller^[5]

Results[]

General election[]

Candidates[]

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

Results[]

References[]

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.