54 seats 44 seats 2 2 45.5% 52.4% Start date November 7, 1972 | 56 42 17,199,567 19,821,203 6.9% 12.5% | |
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Winner Mike Mansfield | ||
The United States Senate elections, 1972 was an election for the United States Senate coinciding with the landslide re-election of Republican President Richard Nixon. Despite Nixon's victory, Democrats increased their majority by two seats. After the election, Democrats held 56 seats and Republicans held 42 seats, with 1 Conservative and 1 independent Senator. This was the first election that citizens at least 18 years of age (instead of 21 and older) could vote due to the recent passage of the 26th Amendment.
Contents
Results summary
Source: "Election Statistics". U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk. Archived from the original on July 25, 2007.
Gains and losses
Democratic pickups included open seats in Kentucky and South Dakota, and defeats of Senators Gordon L. Allott of Colorado, J. Caleb Boggs of Delaware, Jack Miller of Iowa, and Margaret Chase Smith of Maine.
Republican pickups included open seats in New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, and the defeat of incumbent William B. Spong, Jr. of Virginia.
Appointment
In 1974, William B. Saxbe of Ohio resigned to become Attorney General, and Democrat Howard Metzenbaum was appointed to replace him. This is not included in the party balances.
Complete list of races
All elections are class 2 unless otherwise indicated.
Bold states links to a separate article about that state's election.
Bold candidates indicates the winner.