30 governorships 20 governorships 31 19 | 30 20 Start date November 7, 1972 | |
United States gubernatorial elections were held 7 November 1972 in 18 states and two territories, concurrent with the presidential election.
Contents
- Arkansas
- Delaware and Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Montana
- North Carolina
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- References
Gubernatorial elections were also held in Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Texas. In these states, they were the last elections on a two-year cycle, before switching to a four-year term for governors (see United States gubernatorial elections, 1970 for more information).
Arkansas
In Arkansas, Dale Bumpers was re-elected to another two-year term in a landslide. Arkansas had two year terms for governors until 1984, when they switched to four year terms for governors with Amendment 63.
Delaware and Illinois
In Delaware and Illinois, Republicans Russell W. Peterson and Richard B. Ogilvie were defeated by Democrats Sherman Willard Tribbitt and Dan Walker respectively.
Indiana
Indiana changed the rules so that governors could have two back-to-back 4 year terms in 1972, but the amendment didn't take place until November 1972. This ruling in effect said that Edgar Whitcomb wasn't eligible for another term.
Iowa
In Iowa, Republican incumbent governor Robert D. Ray won a third 4-year term, defeating Democratic challenger Paul Franzenburg, whom Ray had defeated for governor four years earlier. This was the last gubernatorial election in Iowa where the winner served a 2-year term; starting with the 1974 election, governors would serve a 4-year term.
Kansas
In Kansas, incumbent governor Robert Docking won a fourth 2-year term. Beginning with the 1974 election, governors in Kansas would serve a 4-year term.
Missouri
In Missouri, during Governor Warren Hearnes' term, the rules were changed so that governors were allowed two back-to-back 4-year terms. By the 1972 race, Hearnes had served two terms and was term limited.
Montana
In Montana, a new state constitution in 1972 allowed unlimited 4-year terms for a governor. Anderson didn't run for another term because of health issues, and this bad health was considered the motive behind Anderson's suicide in 1989.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, governors weren't allowed two consecutive terms in a row until 1977, thus term-limiting Scott.
Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, governors served 2-year terms until 1994, when the state switched to 4-year terms for governors.
Texas
In Texas, the defeat of Smith has been considered a casualty of the Sharpstown Scandal. Texas also had a system of governors serving 2-year terms until 1974, when they switched to 4-year terms for governors.