1972 Delaware gubernatorial election
Nominee
Sherman W. Tribbitt
Russell W. Peterson
Party
Democratic
Republican
Popular vote
117,274
109,583
Percentage
51.27%
47.91%
County results
Tribbitt: 50–60% 60–70%
Peterson: 50–60%
Governor before election
Russell W. Peterson
Republican
Elected Governor
Sherman W. Tribbitt
Democratic
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.
Republican primary [ ]
Candidates [ ]
David P. Buckson , former acting Governor
Russell W. Peterson , incumbent Governor
Results [ ]
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 [ ]
References [ ]
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.
President
1972 United States presidential election
Democratic primaries
Republican primaries
Democratic convention
Republican convention
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U.S. House See also: Political party strength in Delaware