Senate
United States elections · 1972 · held
State Senate races in this election cycle, with separate candidate results and election-era ideology attribution.
State races and results map
Each race has its own denominator. Missing counts are blank. The interactive map uses modern state outlines as navigation references.
Alabama — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Sparkman | Democratic | 654491 | 62.27% | Elected |
| Winton M. Blount | Republican | 347523 | 33.06% | — |
| John L. LeFlore | NDPA | 31421 | 2.99% | — |
| Jerome B. Couch | Prohibition | 10826 | 1.03% | — |
| Herbert W. Stone | Conservative | 6838 | 0.65% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y John Sparkman (Democratic) 62.3%
▌Winton M. Blount (Republican) 33.1%
▌John L. LeFlore (National Democratic) 3.0%
▌Jerome Couch (Prohibition) 1.0%
▌Herbert Stone (Conservative) 0.6%
Sources & further reading
Alaska — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Stevens | Republican | 74216 | 77.30% | Elected |
| Gene Guess | Democratic | 21791 | 22.70% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Ted Stevens (Republican) 77.3%
▌Gene Guess (Democratic) 22.7%
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John L. McClellan | Democratic | — | 60.80% | Elected |
| Wayne H. Babbitt | Republican | — | 39.10% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y John L. McClellan (Democratic) 60.8%
▌Wayne H. Babbitt (Republican) 39.1%
Sources & further reading
Colorado — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd Haskell | Democratic | — | 49.40% | Elected |
| Gordon Allott | Republican | — | 48.40% | — |
| Secundion Salazar | Raza Unida | — | 1.40% | — |
| Henry Olshaw | American | — | 0.80% | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Floyd Haskell (Democratic) 49.4%
▌Gordon Allott (Republican) 48.4%
▌Secundion Salazar (Raza Unida) 1.4%
▌Henry Olshaw (American) 0.8%
Sources & further reading
Delaware — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Biden | Democratic | 116006 | 50.48% | Elected |
| J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 112844 | 49.10% | — |
| Henry Majka | American | 803 | 0.35% | — |
| Herbert B. Wood | Prohibition | 175 | 0.07% | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Joe Biden (Democratic) 50.5%
▌J. Caleb Boggs (Republican) 49.1%
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Nunn | Democratic | 635970 | 53.96% | Elected |
| Fletcher Thompson | Republican | 542331 | 46.01% | — |
| Write-ins | None | 407 | 0.03% | — |
Interim appointee lost nomination. Democratic hold. Winner also elected to finish the term, see above. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Sam Nunn (Democratic) 54.0%
▌Fletcher Thompson (Republican) 46.0%
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Senate (Class 2) — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Nunn | Democratic | 635970 | 53.96% | Elected |
| Fletcher Thompson | Republican | 542331 | 46.01% | — |
| Write-ins | None | 407 | 0.03% | — |
Interim appointee lost nomination. New senator elected November 7, 1972 and was seated the next day. Democratic hold. Winner also elected to the next term, see below. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Sam Nunn (Democratic) 52.0%
▌Fletcher Thompson (Republican) 46.5%
▌Alice Conner (Independent) 1.0%
▌George Schmidt (Independent) 0.5%
Sources & further reading
Idaho — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim McClure | Republican | 161804 | 52.26% | Elected |
| William E. Davis | Democratic | 140913 | 45.51% | — |
| Jean L. Stoddard | American | 6885 | 2.22% | — |
Incumbent retired. Republican hold. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Jim McClure (Republican) 52.3%
▌William E. Davis (Democratic) 45.5%
Sources & further reading
Illinois — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles H. Percy | Republican | 2867078 | 62.21% | Elected |
| Roman Pucinski | Democratic | 1721031 | 37.35% | — |
| Edward C. Gross | Socialist Labor | 13384 | 0.29% | — |
| Arnold Becchetti | Communist | 6103 | 0.13% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Charles H. Percy (Republican) 62.2%
▌Roman Pucinski (Democratic) 37.4%
Sources & further reading
Iowa — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dick Clark | Democratic | 662637 | 55.07% | Elected |
| Jack Miller | Republican | 530525 | 44.09% | — |
| William A. Rocap Jr. | American | 8954 | 0.74% | — |
| Fred Richard Benton | By Petition | 1203 | 0.10% | — |
| Scattering | None | 14 | 0.00% | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Dick Clark (Democratic) 55.1%
▌Jack Miller (Republican) 44.1%
Sources & further reading
Kansas — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James B. Pearson | Republican | — | 71.40% | Elected |
| Arch Tetzlaff | Democratic | — | 23.00% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y James B. Pearson (Republican) 71.4%
▌Arch Tetzlaff (Democratic) 23.0%
Sources & further reading
Kentucky — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Dee Huddleston | Democratic | — | 50.90% | Elected |
| Louie Nunn | Republican | — | 47.60% | — |
Incumbent retired. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Walter Dee Huddleston (Democratic) 50.9%
▌Louie Nunn (Republican) 47.6%
Sources & further reading
Louisiana — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Bennett Johnston | Democratic | 598987 | 55.21% | Elected |
| John McKeithen | Independent | 250161 | 23.06% | — |
| Ben C. Toledano | Republican | 206846 | 19.07% | — |
| Hall M. Lyons | American | 28910 | 2.66% | — |
Interim appointee ineligible to run. Democratic hold. Interim appointee resigned November 13, 1972, to give successor preferential seniority. Winner appointed November 14, 1972. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y J. Bennett Johnston (Democratic) 55.2%
▌John McKeithen (Independent) 23.1%
▌Ben Toledano (Republican) 16.1%
▌Hall M. Lyons (American) 2.7%
Sources & further reading
Maine — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Hathaway | Democratic | 224270 | 53.23% | Elected |
| Margaret Chase Smith | Republican | 197040 | 46.77% | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y William Hathaway (Democratic) 53.2%
▌Margaret Chase Smith (Republican) 46.8%
Sources & further reading
Massachusetts — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Brooke | Republican | 1505932 | 63.53% | Elected |
| John J. Droney | Democratic | 823278 | 34.73% | — |
| Donald Gurewitz | Socialist Workers | 41369 | 1.75% | — |
| Scattering | None | 97 | 0.00% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Edward Brooke (Republican) 63.5%
▌John J. Droney (Democratic) 34.7%
▌Donald Gurewitz (Socialist Workers) 1.7%
Sources & further reading
Michigan — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert P. Griffin | Republican | 1781065 | 52.28% | Elected |
| Frank J. Kelley | Democratic | 1577178 | 46.29% | — |
| Patrick Dillinger | American Independent | 23121 | 0.68% | — |
| Barbara Halpert | Human Rights | 19118 | 0.56% | — |
| Linda Nordquist | Socialist Workers | 2389 | 0.07% | — |
| James Sim | Socialist Labor | 2217 | 0.06% | — |
| Thomas D. Dennis Jr. | Communist | 1908 | 0.06% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Robert P. Griffin (Republican) 52.3%
▌Frank J. Kelley (Democratic) 46.3%
Sources & further reading
Minnesota — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Mondale | DFL | — | 56.70% | Elected |
| Phil Hansen | Republican | — | 42.90% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Walter Mondale (DFL) 56.7%
▌Phil Hansen (Republican) 42.9%
Sources & further reading
Mississippi — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Eastland | Democratic | 375102 | 58.09% | Elected |
| Gil Carmichael | Republican | 249779 | 38.68% | — |
| Prentiss Walker | Independent | 14662 | 2.27% | — |
| C. L. McKinley | Independent | 6203 | 0.96% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y James Eastland (Democratic) 58.1%
▌Gil Carmichael (Republican) 38.7%
Sources & further reading
Montana — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Metcalf | Democratic | — | 52.00% | Elected |
| Henry S. Hibbard | Republican | — | 48.00% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Lee Metcalf (Democratic) 52.0%
▌Henry S. Hibbard (Republican) 48.0%
Sources & further reading
Nebraska — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Curtis | Republican | 301841 | 53.16% | Elected |
| Terry Carpenter | Democratic | 265922 | 46.84% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Carl Curtis (Republican) 53.1%
▌Terry Carpenter (Democratic) 46.8%
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas J. McIntyre | Democratic | 184495 | 56.88% | Elected |
| Wesley Powell | Republican | 139852 | 43.12% | — |
| Scattering | None | 7 | 0.00% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Thomas J. McIntyre (Democratic) 56.9%
▌Wesley Powell (Republican) 43.1%
Sources & further reading
New Jersey — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifford P. Case | Republican | 1743854 | 62.46% | Elected |
| Paul J. Krebs | Democratic | 963753 | 34.52% | — |
| A. Howard Freund | American | 40980 | 1.47% | — |
| Charles W. Wiley | Concerned Voter's Voice | 33442 | 1.20% | — |
| Julius Levin | Socialist Labor | 10058 | 0.36% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Clifford P. Case (Republican) 62.5%
▌Paul J. Krebs (Democratic) 34.5%
Sources & further reading
New Mexico — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Domenici | Republican | 204253 | 54.03% | Elected |
| Jack Daniels | Democratic | 173815 | 45.97% | — |
Incumbent retired. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Pete Domenici (Republican) 54.0%
▌Jack Daniels (Democratic) 46.0%
Sources & further reading
North Carolina — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jesse Helms | Republican | 795248 | 54.01% | Elected |
| Nick Galifianakis | Democratic | 677293 | 45.99% | — |
Incumbent lost renomination. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Jesse Helms (Republican) 54.0%
▌Nick Galifianakis (Democratic) 46.0%
Sources & further reading
Oklahoma — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dewey F. Bartlett | Republican | 516934 | 51.43% | Elected |
| Ed Edmondson | Democratic | 478212 | 47.58% | — |
| William G. Roach | American | 5769 | 0.57% | — |
| Joe C. Phillips | Independent | 2264 | 0.23% | — |
| Paul E. Trent | Independent | 1969 | 0.20% | — |
Incumbent retired. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Dewey F. Bartlett (Republican) 51.4%
▌Ed Edmondson (Democratic) 47.6%
Sources & further reading
Oregon — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Hatfield | Republican | 494671 | 53.72% | Elected |
| Wayne Morse | Democratic | 425036 | 46.16% | — |
| Write-ins | None | 1126 | 0.12% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Mark Hatfield (Republican) 53.7%
▌Wayne Morse (Democratic) 46.2%
Sources & further reading
Rhode Island — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claiborne Pell | Democratic | 221942 | 53.68% | Elected |
| John Chafee | Republican | 188990 | 45.71% | — |
| John Quattrocchi | Independent | 2041 | 0.49% | — |
| Patrick M. DeTemple | Socialist Workers | 458 | 0.11% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Claiborne Pell (Democratic) 53.7%
▌John Chafee (Republican) 45.7%
Sources & further reading
South Carolina — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strom Thurmond | Republican | 415806 | 63.29% | Elected |
| Eugene N. Zeigler | Democratic | 241056 | 36.69% | — |
| Write-ins | None | 172 | 0.03% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Strom Thurmond (Republican) 63.3%
▌Eugene N. Zeigler (Democratic) 36.7%
Sources & further reading
South Dakota — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Abourezk | Democratic | 174773 | 57.04% | Elected |
| Robert W. Hirsch | Republican | 131613 | 42.96% | — |
Incumbent retired. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y James Abourezk (Democratic) 57.0%
▌Robert W. Hirsch (Republican) 42.9%
Sources & further reading
Tennessee — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Baker | Republican | 716539 | 61.55% | Elected |
| Ray Blanton | Democratic | 440599 | 37.85% | — |
| Dan East | Independent | 7026 | 0.60% | — |
| Write-ins | None | 31 | 0.00% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Howard Baker (Republican) 61.6%
▌Ray Blanton (Democratic) 37.9%
Sources & further reading
Texas — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Tower | Republican | 1822877 | 53.40% | Elected |
| Barefoot Sanders | Democratic | 1511985 | 44.29% | — |
| Flores N. Amaya | Raza Unida | 63543 | 1.86% | — |
| Tom Leonard | Socialist Workers | 14464 | 0.42% | — |
| Write-ins | Write-in | 1034 | 0.03% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y John Tower (Republican) 53.4%
▌Barefoot Sanders (Democratic) 44.3%
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Senate (Class 1) — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Stafford | Republican | 45888 | 64.36% | Elected |
| Randolph T. Major | Democratic | 23842 | 33.44% | — |
| Bernie Sanders | Liberty Union | 1571 | 2.20% | — |
Interim appointee elected January 7, 1972. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Robert Stafford (Republican) 64.4%
▌Randolph T. Major (Democratic) 33.4%
▌Bernie Sanders (Liberty Union) 2.2%
Sources & further reading
Virginia — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William L. Scott | Republican | — | 51.50% | Elected |
| William Spong Jr. | Democratic | — | 46.10% | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y William L. Scott (Republican) 51.5%
▌William Spong Jr. (Democratic) 46.1%
Sources & further reading
West Virginia — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jennings Randolph | Democratic | 486310 | 66.45% | Elected |
| Louise Leonard | Republican | 245531 | 33.55% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Jennings Randolph (Democratic) 66.5%
▌Louise Leonard (Republican) 33.6%
Sources & further reading
Wyoming — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifford Hansen | Republican | — | 71.30% | Elected |
| Mike Vinich | Democratic | — | 28.70% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Clifford Hansen (Republican) 71.3%
▌Mike Vinich (Democratic) 28.7%
Sources & further reading
Results: final · partial coverage · Elected candidates in regular races; continuing senators are not included
| Party / candidate | Votes | Vote share | Seats | Electoral votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Sparkman · Alabama | — | — | 1 | — |
| Ted Stevens · Alaska | — | — | 1 | — |
| John L. McClellan · Arkansas | — | — | 1 | — |
| Floyd Haskell · Colorado | — | — | 1 | — |
| Joe Biden · Delaware | — | — | 1 | — |
| Sam Nunn · Georgia | — | — | 1 | — |
| Jim McClure · Idaho | — | — | 1 | — |
| Charles H. Percy · Illinois | — | — | 1 | — |
| Dick Clark · Iowa | — | — | 1 | — |
| James B. Pearson · Kansas | — | — | 1 | — |
| Walter Dee Huddleston · Kentucky | — | — | 1 | — |
| J. Bennett Johnston · Louisiana | — | — | 1 | — |
| William Hathaway · Maine | — | — | 1 | — |
| Edward Brooke · Massachusetts | — | — | 1 | — |
| Robert P. Griffin · Michigan | — | — | 1 | — |
| Walter Mondale · Minnesota | — | — | 1 | — |
| James Eastland · Mississippi | — | — | 1 | — |
| Lee Metcalf · Montana | — | — | 1 | — |
| Carl Curtis · Nebraska | — | — | 1 | — |
| Thomas J. McIntyre · New Hampshire | — | — | 1 | — |
| Clifford P. Case · New Jersey | — | — | 1 | — |
| Pete Domenici · New Mexico | — | — | 1 | — |
| Jesse Helms · North Carolina | — | — | 1 | — |
| Dewey F. Bartlett · Oklahoma | — | — | 1 | — |
| Mark Hatfield · Oregon | — | — | 1 | — |
| Claiborne Pell · Rhode Island | — | — | 1 | — |
| Strom Thurmond · South Carolina | — | — | 1 | — |
| James Abourezk · South Dakota | — | — | 1 | — |
| Howard Baker · Tennessee | — | — | 1 | — |
| John Tower · Texas | — | — | 1 | — |
| William L. Scott · Virginia | — | — | 1 | — |
| Jennings Randolph · West Virginia | — | — | 1 | — |
| Clifford Hansen · Wyoming | — | — | 1 | — |
The seat diagram shows only regular seats contested in this cycle, not the full Senate. Special races remain available in the state selector. Early cycles span two years and use legislative selection; missing or non-comparable vote totals are left blank. Candidate ideology is used where sourced; otherwise the broad election-era party tradition is used. Unassessed candidates are not assigned an ideology.
Sources & further reading
U.S. Senate historical party divisions