The 1972 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 7, 1972. Incumbent U.S. Senator John L. McClellan was re-elected to a sixth term in office, defeating U.S. Representative David Pryor in a hotly contested primary. In the general election, McClellan easily defeated Republican physician Wayne Babbitt. This was McClellan's final campaign; he died in his sleep in 1977. Pryor was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1974 and won the race to succeed McClellan in 1978.
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![]() County results McClellan: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Babbitt: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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This would also mark the last time a Democrat was elected to this seat who was not a member of the Pryor family. Arkansas was one of fifteen states alongside Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota and West Virginia that were won by Republican President Richard Nixon in 1972 that elected Democrats to the United States Senate.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Ted Boswell
- Foster Johnson
- David Pryor, U.S. Representative from Camden
- John L. McClellan, incumbent Senator
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John L. McClellan (inc.) | 220,588 | 44.70% | |
Democratic | David Pryor | 204,058 | 41.35% | |
Democratic | Ted Boswell | 62,496 | 12.66% | |
Democratic | Foster Johnson | 6,358 | 1.29% | |
Total votes | 493,500 | 100.00% |
Run-off results
editSince no candidate received a majority in the initial primary, a run-off election was held on June 13 between McClellan and Pryor.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John L. McClellan (inc.) | 242,983 | 52.00% | |
Democratic | David Pryor | 224,262 | 48.00% | |
Total votes | 467,245 | 100.00% |
General election
editResults
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John L. McClellan (inc.) | 386,398 | 60.88% | 39.11 | |
Republican | Wayne H. Babbitt | 248,238 | 39.12% | N/A | |
Total votes | 634,636 | 0.02% |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Our Campaigns - AR US Senate - D Primary Race - May 16, 1972".
- ^ "Our Campaigns - AR US Senate - D Runoff Race - Jun 13, 1972".
- ^ "Our Campaigns - AR US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972".
- ^ Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1973). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.