1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Selection of the Democratic Party nominee From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From January 24 to June 20, 1972, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1972 United States presidential election. Senator George McGovern of South Dakota was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections, caucuses, and state party conventions, culminating in the 1972 Democratic National Convention held from July 10 to July 13, 1972, in Miami, Florida.

Quick facts 3,014 delegates to the Democratic National Convention 1,508 (majority) votes needed to win, Candidate ...
1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries
← 1968
January 24 to June 20, 1972
1976 →
3,014 delegates to the Democratic National Convention
1,508 (majority) votes needed to win
 
Candidate George McGovern George Wallace Hubert Humphrey
Home state South Dakota Alabama Minnesota
Delegate count 1,319.55 371 345.85
Contests won 16 7 5
Popular vote 4,053,451 3,755,424 4,121,372
Percentage 25.00% 23.17% 25.42%
 
Candidate Edmund Muskie Henry M. Jackson Terry Sanford
Home state Maine Washington North Carolina
Delegate count 172.5 52 28
Contests won 5 1 0
Popular vote 1,840,217 505,198 331,415
Percentage 11.34% 3.11% 2.04%
 
Candidate Wilbur Mills Shirley Chisholm
Home state Arkansas New York
Delegate count 28 22
Contests won 1 1
Popular vote 37,401 430,703
Percentage 0.23% 2.66%
     McGovern      Humphrey      Wallace      Muskie
     Jackson      Mills      Chisholm      Uncommitted
Previous Democratic nominee

Hubert Humphrey

 Democratic nominee

George McGovern

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Background

1968 election

Main articles: 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries and 1968 United States presidential election

The 1968 election was one of the most eventful and influential in the history of the Democratic Party. The primaries were contested by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Senator Eugene McCarthy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In a shock, McCarthy forced the incumbent president out of the race early by his strong showing in the New Hampshire primary. Kennedy joined the race soon thereafter, and the two ran on their opposition to Johnson's handling of the Vietnam War. They traded primary victories until Kennedy was assassinated in June.

Although Kennedy and McCarthy contested the popular elections, most of the delegates in 1968 were not popularly elected. Thus, with Kennedy dead and McCarthy lacking support from the party establishment, Johnson's vice president Hubert H. Humphrey was easily nominated on the first ballot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Humphrey's nomination, the continuing Vietnam War, and the generally closed nature of the nomination process drew massive protests to Chicago; the convention was generally seen as a major embarrassment for the party, and Humphrey was narrowly defeated in the general election by Richard Nixon.

McGovern-Fraser Commission

Main article: McGovern–Fraser Commission

In response to the 1968 debacle, party leadership established a twenty-eight member committee selected by Senator Fred R. Harris to reform the presidential nomination process for 1972. The committee was led by Senator George McGovern and Representative Donald M. Fraser. After less than nine months, the committee delivered its guidelines.

The committee focused on two main principles: uniformity and equity. Guidelines required states adopt uniform, explicit delegate selection rules and weight the delegate allocation in favor of politically marginalized groups (women, blacks and those under the age of 30), including the use of quotas.

In general, the state parties complied with the McGovern-Fraser guidelines by adopting the use of primary elections, rather than delegate selection caucuses or conventions. Thus, the 1972 Democratic nomination is typically considered the first modern presidential primary campaign.[citation needed][according to whom?] Harris and McGovern, having played a direct role in the reforms and having a detailed knowledge of their impact, were seen to gain an advantage as potential candidates for the nomination.

Nixon administration and 1970 midterm elections

See also: Presidency of Richard Nixon and 1970 United States elections

As 1972 approached, President Richard Nixon faced uncertain re-election prospects. Nixon had been elected on a platform to end American involvement in Vietnam, but his strategy of gradual "Vietnamization" had proceeded more slowly than planned. The Paris Peace Talks had bogged down, dimming hopes for a negotiated settlement to the war. In fact, Nixon had widened the conflict by invading Cambodia in 1970, a move that ignited criticism in the press and Congress and widespread disorder on college campuses, including the Kent State shootings in May 1970.

On the domestic front, a sharp recession had shaken investor confidence, and Nixon's plan to control inflation with wage and price controls had failed to meet its objective. The administration's attempt to steer a middle course on desegregation busing and affirmative action had displeased liberals and conservatives alike.

In the 1970 midterm elections, Democrats gained a dozen seats in the House, although their Senate majority was reduced by three seats. Their main success was not in Congress, however, but the states. Eleven different Democratic governors were elected to seats held by Republicans and not a single incumbent Democrat lost re-election.

Pre-primary maneuvering

Given Nixon's apparent weakness and the novel use of the primary system, a large field of credible Democratic challengers emerged. 14 Democrats sought their party's nomination[a] the largest field of candidates until it was surpassed by 16 candidates in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries[1] and then 29 candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.[2]

Early speculation surrounded Senator Ted Kennedy, the brother of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy who had contested the 1968 nomination. He ruled himself out early in 1971, but nevertheless continued to lead in opinion polling. In the event of a brokered convention, some believed Kennedy could emerge as the consensus nominee. Kennedy supporters took key positions on a number of presidential campaigns, strengthening his odds of gaining the candidates' support in the event they could not secure the required delegates.[3]

With Kennedy out, the establishment favorite for the Democratic nomination was Edmund Muskie,[4] a moderate senator who had acquitted himself well as Humphrey's running mate in 1968. In August 1971 polling amid a growing economic crisis, Muskie led Nixon.[4]

U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm from Queens, New York, announced her candidacy in January 1972,[5] making her the first black candidate to contest a major party's nomination for president.[5][b] Chisholm was also the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination; she was later joined by Patsy Mink of Hawaii.[c]

Candidates

The following politicians stood as candidates for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination:

Nominee

More information Candidate, Most recent office ...
Candidate Most recent office Home state Campaign

Withdrawal date

 Popular vote Contests won Running mate Ref.
George McGovern U.S. Senator
from South Dakota
(1963–1981)		 South Dakota
(Campaign)
Secured nomination: July 13, 1972		 4,053,451
(25.3%)		 14 Sargent Shriver[d] [6][7][8]
Close

Other major candidates

These candidates participated in multiple state primaries or were included in multiple major national polls.

More information Candidate, Most recent office ...
Candidate Most recent office Home state Campaign

Withdrawal date

 Ref.
Hubert Humphrey
U.S. Senator from Minnesota
(1949–1964; 1971–1978)
Vice President of the United States
(1965–1969)		 Minnesota
(Campaign)
Declared: January 10, 1972		 [6][7][9]
George Wallace
Governor of Alabama
(1963–1967; 1971–1979; 1983–1987)		 Alabama
(Campaign)
Declared: January 13, 1972		 [6][7][10]
Edmund Muskie
U.S. Senator
from Maine
(1959–1980)		 Maine
(Campaign)
Declared: January 4, 1972
Suspended campaign: April 27, 1972		 [6][7][11][12]
Henry M. Jackson
Scoop_Jackson_campaigning_in_1976_(cropped)
Scoop_Jackson_campaigning_in_1976_(cropped)
 U.S. Senator
from Washington
(1953–1983)		 Washington
(Campaign)
Declared: November 19, 1971
Suspended campaign: May 2, 1972		 [6][7][13][14]
Wilbur Mills
U.S. Representative
from Arkansas
(1939–1977)		 Arkansas
(Campaign)
Declared: February 11, 1972		 [6][7][15]
Shirley Chisholm
U.S. Representative
from New York
(1969–1983)		 New York
(Campaign)
Declared: January 25, 1972		 [6][7][16]
Terry Sanford
Governor of North Carolina
(1961–1965)		 North Carolina
(Campaign)
Declared: March 8, 1972		 [6][7][17]
John Lindsay
Mayor of New York City
(1966–1973)		 New York
(Campaign)
Declared: December 28, 1971
Withdrew: April 4, 1972		 [6][7][18][19]
Eugene McCarthy U.S. Senator
from Minnesota
(1959–1971)		 Minnesota
(Campaign)
Declared: December 17, 1971		 [6][7][20]
Sam Yorty
Mayor of Los Angeles
(1961–1973)		 California
(Campaign)
Declared: November 16, 1971
Withdrew: June 5, 1972 (endorsed Humphrey)		 [6][7][21][22]
Vance Hartke
U.S. Senator
from Indiana
(1964–1973)		 Indiana
(Campaign)
Declared: January 3, 1972
Withdrew: March 26, 1972 (endorsed Humphrey)		 [6][7][23]
Patsy Mink
U.S. Representative
from Hawaii
(1965–1977)		 Hawaii (Campaign)
Declared: October 19, 1971
Withdrew: May 24, 1972		 [6][7][24][25]
Fred Harris
U.S. Senator
from Oklahoma
(1964–1973)		 Oklahoma
(Campaign)
Declared: September 24, 1971
Withdrew: November 10, 1971 (endorsed McGovern on April 27)		 [6][7][26][27][28]
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Vance HartkeSam YortyEugene McCarthyJohn LindsayTerry SanfordShirley ChisholmWilbur MillsEdmund MuskieGeorge WallaceHubert HumphreyScoop JacksonPatsy MinkFred R. HarrisGeorge McGovern

Declined

Favorite sons

Polling

National polling

%support0102030401/15/19697/15/19711/15/19725/15/1972McGovernHumphreyMuskieMcCarthyWallaceOpinion polling for the 1972 Democratic Part...
View source data.
More information Poll source, Publication ...
Poll source Publication
Birch Bayh
Shirley Chisholm
J. William Fulbright
Fred Harris
Harold Hughes
Hubert Humphrey
John Lindsay
Scoop Jackson
Ted Kennedy
Mike Mansfield
Eugene McCarthy
George McGovern
Wilbur Mills
Edmund Muskie
William Proxmire
George Wallace
Sam Yorty
Gallup Jan. 1969 — — — — — 21% — — 45% — 15% 3% — 17% — — —
Gallup Oct. 1969 — — — — — 29% — — 27% — 10% 5% — 24% — — —
Gallup May. 1970 — — — 1% 1% 16% 10% — 17% — 9% 3% — 23% — — —
Gallup Nov. 1970 — — — — — 16% 4% — 31% 1% 6% 2% — 33% 2% — —
Gallup Feb. 1971 — — — — — 21% 5% — 25% — 4% 5% — 26% — — —
Gallup Apr. 1971 1% — 1% — 1% 18% 4% 2% 29% 2% 3% 5% 1% 21% 2% — —
Gallup Apr. 1971 1% — 1% — 1% 18% 4% 2% 29% 2% 3% 5% 1% 21% 2% — —
Gallup Jul. 1971 2% — 1% — 1% 18% 3% 2% 22% 1% 6% 5% 1% 22% 1% — —
Gallup Aug. 1971 — — — — — 13% 6% — 26% — 4% 6% — 22% — — —
Harris[35] Sep. 1971 — — — 1% — 16% 7% 2% 26% — 5% 4% 2% 19% 1% — —
— — — 1% — 27% 11% 2% — — 7% 5% 2% 27% 2% — —
Gallup Nov. 1971 — — — — — 19% 4% 6% 29% — 5% 6% — 24% — — —
Harris[36] Nov. 1971 — — — — — 15% 9% 2% 25% — 3% 5% 1% 22% 1% — 1%
— — — — — 25% 12% 2% — — 4% 6% 2% 27% 2% — 1%
Gallup Dec. 1971 — — — — — 19% 4% 4% 32% — 4% 5% — 25% — — 1%
— — — — — 34% 8% 5% — — 5% 8% — 31% — — 1%
Gallup Jan. 1972 — 2% — — — 17% 5% 2% 27% — 5% 3% — 32% — — 2%
— 2% — — — 29% 7% 3% — — 8% 3% — 39% — — 2%
Harris[37] Jan. 1972 — 3% — — — 23% 7% 5% — — 6% 5% — 30% — — 1%
Gallup Feb. 1972 — 2% — — — 23% 2% 3% 24% — 3% 5% — 29% — — 1%
— 3% — — — 32% 5% 4% — — 4% 6% — 35% — — 1%
Harris[38] Feb. 1972 — 5% — — — 18% 6% 4% 15% — 5% 5% — 22% — 11% 1%
— 6% — — — 21% 7% 3% — — 5% 8% — 28% — 12% 1%
Gallup Mar. 1972 — 2% — — — 31% 7% 3% — — 5% 6% 2% 23% — 15% *
— 3% — — — 35% 8% 5% — — 6% 7% 2% 28% — — 1%
Gallup Mar. 1972 — 4% — — — 31% 5% 5% — — 4% 5% 1% 22% — 17% *
Gallup Apr. 1972 — 5% — — — 30% — 4% — — 3% 17% 1% 17% — 19% 1%
Gallup May 1972 — 3% — — — 35% — 3% — — 3% 20% 2% 11% — 18% —
Gallup May 1972 — — — — — 26% — — — — — 25% — — — 26% —
Gallup Jun. 1972 — 3% — — — 27% — 3% — — 2% 30% 1% 6% — 25% —
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Primary campaign

Hubert Humphrey made another run at the nomination, in an era when previous nominees were considered legitimate contenders even after losing a general election (Adlai Stevenson had been successful at being re-nominated by Democrats in 1956, and Nixon by the GOP in 1968). He fell just short in delegates, despite winning the popular vote in the 24 states and the District of Columbia which held preference primary and caucus elections open to the rank and file Democratic voter. His bid to contest the results of the California winner-take-all primary failed. Humphrey, like Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson, was considered the favorite of the party establishment after Muskie's withdrawal.

Alabama governor George Wallace, with his "outsider" image, did well in the South (he won every county in the Florida primary with the exception of Miami-Dade)[39] and among alienated and dissatisfied voters. What might have become a forceful campaign was cut short when Wallace was shot while campaigning, and left paralyzed in an assassination attempt by Arthur Bremer.

Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Wilbur Mills was drafted by friends and fellow Congressmen to make himself available as a candidate for the primaries. To position himself to appeal to senior citizens during the 1972 presidential campaign, Mills championed the automatic Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) to Social Security. He was not strong in the primaries and won 33 votes for president from the delegates at the 1972 Democratic National Convention which nominated Senator George McGovern.

Washington Senator Scoop Jackson was little known nationally when he first ran for president in 1972. McGovern accused Jackson of racism for his opposition to busing. Jackson's high point in the campaign was a distant third in the early Florida primary, but he failed to stand out of the pack of better-known rivals, and only made real news later in the campaign as part of the "Anybody but McGovern" coalition, that raised what would be known as the "Acid, Amnesty and Abortion" questions about McGovern. Jackson suspended active campaigning in May after a weak showing in the Ohio primary. Jackson did re-emerge at the August Democratic convention after runner-up Humphrey dropped out of the race. Jackson's name was placed in nomination by Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, and he finished second in the delegate roll call, well behind nominee McGovern.[40][41]

March 7: New Hampshire

Prior to the New Hampshire primary, the "Canuck Letter" was published in the Manchester Union-Leader. The letter (later revealed to have been forged as part of the "dirty tricks" campaign by Nixon staffers)[42] claimed that Muskie had made disparaging remarks about French-Canadians. The paper subsequently published an attack on Muskie's wife Jane, reporting that she drank and used off-color language. Muskie made an emotional defense of his wife in a speech outside the newspaper's offices during a snowstorm. Though Muskie later stated that what had appeared to the press as tears were actually melted snowflakes, the press reported that Muskie broke down and cried.[43] Muskie did worse than expected in the primary, while McGovern came in a surprisingly close second. McGovern now had the momentum, which was well orchestrated by his campaign manager, Gary Hart.

May 15–16: Attempted Wallace assassination, Maryland, and Michigan

Main article: Attempted assassination of George Wallace

While campaigning in Laurel, Maryland, on May 15, 1972, Wallace was shot five times by Arthur Bremer. Three others wounded in the shooting also survived. Bremer's diary, published after his arrest as a book titled An Assassin's Diary, showed that Bremer's assassination attempt was not motivated by politics, but by a desire for fame, and that President Nixon had been a possible target. The assassination attempt left Wallace paralyzed for the rest of his life, as one of the bullets had lodged in his spinal column.

As a result of the shooting, President Nixon dispatched Secret Service protection to Representatives Shirley Chisholm and Wilbur Mills (two candidates who had not been assigned Secret Service details up to then) as well as Senator Ted Kennedy (though not running, because of his brothers John and Robert having been assassinated).[44]

Following the shooting, Wallace won the May 16 primaries in Maryland and Michigan. Wallace spoke at the Democratic National Convention from his wheelchair in Miami on July 11, 1972. Bremer was sentenced to 53 years in prison for the shooting. He served 35 years of the sentence and was released on parole on November 9, 2007.

In a widely noted 1992 article, journalist Seymour Hersh claimed that secret recordings of Nixon prove that, within hours of the assassination attempt, the president and a top aide dispatched a political operative, E. Howard Hunt, who rushed to Milwaukee with plans to surreptitiously enter Bremer's apartment and plant the campaign literature of Democratic contender George McGovern.[45] According to Hersh, Hunt aborted the operation because the FBI had sealed off Bremer's apartment prior to his arrival However, a 2007 analysis of the Nixon tapes by the History News Network did not turn up any evidence of the clandestine operation described by Hersh. While the tapes did show that Nixon had instructed presidential aide Charles W. Colson to anonymously spread the false rumor that there was "unmistakable evidence" that Bremer had been "a supporter of McGovern and Kennedy", there was no apparent trace of Nixon tasking subordinates with entering Bremer's apartment to plant Democratic campaign materials.[46]

Endorsements

More information George McGovern ...
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More information George Wallace ...
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More information Hubert Humphrey ...
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More information Edmund Muskie (To April 27th, 1972) ...
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More information Scoop Jackson (To May 2nd, 1972) ...
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More information Shirley Chisholm ...
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More information Terry Sanford ...
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More information John Lindsay (To April 4th, 1972) ...
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More information Fred Harris (To November 10th, 1971) ...
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More information Birch Bayh (To October 12th, 1971) ...
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Schedule and results

More information Date, Pledged delegates ...
Date Pledged
delegates		 Contest
and total popular vote		 Delegates won and popular vote[h]
George McGovern Hubert Humphrey George Wallace Edmund Muskie Henry Jackson Wilbur Mills Shirley Chisholm John Lindsay Other
January 25 0 Iowa[i]
caucuses		 (22.6%) (1.6%) – (35.5%) (1.1%) – (1.3%) – (35.8%)[j]
January 29 500 SDs Arizona[176]
caucuses		 102 SDs
(20.4%)		 2 SDs
(0.4%)		 – 189 SDs
(37.8%)		 2 SDs
(0.4%)		 – 1 SDs
(0.2%)		 118 SDs
(23.6%)		 86 SDs[k]
(17.2%)
February 12 25 Arizona[177]
convention		 5 – – 9 – – – 6 5[l]
February 26 3,641 SDs Iowa[178]
county conventions		 983 SDs
(27.0%)		 – – 1,409 SDs
(38.7%)		 – – – – 1,249 SDs[m]
(34.3%)
February 27 25 Mississippi convention[n][179][180] – – – – – – – – 25[o]
March 7 20 New Hampshire[181]
88,854		 6
33,007 (37.2%)
348 (0.4%)
175 (0.2%)		 14
41,235 (46.4%)
197 (0.2%)
3,563 (4.0%)		 – –
10,329 (11.6%)
March 11 40 Georgia[182]
district conventions		 4 – – – – 1 5 – 30[p]
March 14 81 Florida[183]
1,264,554
78,232 (6.2%)		 6
234,658 (18.6%)		 75
526,651 (41.7%)
112,523 (8.9%)
170,156 (13.5%)
4,539 (0.4%)
43,989 (3.5%)
82,386 (6.5%)
11,420 (0.9%)[q]
March 21 160 Illinois[184][185][r]
1,225,144		 3
143,687 (0.3%)
1,476 (0.1%)
7,017 (0.6%)		 59
766,914 (62.6%)
442 (0.0%)		 –
777 (0.1%)
118 (0.0%)		 88[s]
444,713 (36.3%)[t]
March 25 34 (of 44) Iowa[186]
district conventions		 12 – – 14 – – – – 8[u]
March 29 32 South Carolina[187]
convention		 – – – – – – – – 32[v]
April 4 67 Wisconsin[188]
1,128,584		 54
333,528 (29.6%)		 13
233,748 (20.7%)
248,676 (22.0%)
115,811 (10.3%)
88,068 (7.8%)
913 (0.1%)
9,198 (0.8%)
75,579 (6.7%)
22,880[w] (2.1%)
April 17 425 SDs Idaho[189]
caucuses		 191 SDs
(44.9%)		 21 SDs
(4.9%)		 4 SDs
(0.9%)		 76 SDs
(17.9%)		 5 SDs
(1.2%)		 – 20 SDs
(4.7%)		 – 107 SDs[x]
(25.4%)
April 20 1,146 SDs Vermont[190]
caucuses		 504 SDs
(44.0%)		 18 SDs
(1.6%)		 1 SDs
(0.1%)		 309 SDs
(27.0%)		 1 SDs
(0.1%)		 2 SDs
(0.2%)		 2 SDs
(0.2%)		 – 165 SDs[y]
(14.40%)
April 25 102 Massachusetts[191]
618,516		 102
325,673 (52.7%)
48,929 (7.9%)
45,807 (7.4%)		 [z]
131,709 (21.3%)
8,499 (1.4%)
19,441 (3.1%)		 [aa]
22,398 (3.6%)
2,107 (0.3%)		 [ab]
16,060[ac] (0.6%)
182[ad] Pennsylvania[192][193][r] 54[ae]
280,861 (20.43%)		 74[af]
481,900 (35.05%)		 22
92,437 (21.27%)		 40[ag]
279,983 (20.36%)
38,767 (2.8%)		 –
336 (0.0%)		 – 12[ah][ai]
610 (0.0%)[aj]
April 28–30 11 Nevada[194]
convention		 4.95 1.65 – – – – – – 4.40[ak]
April 29 1,944 SDs Kentucky[195]
caucuses		 381 SDs
(19.6%)		 6 SDs
(0.3%)		 22 SDs
(1.1%)		 59 SDs
(3.0%)		 – – – – 1,526 SDs[al](78.5%)
May 2 29 (of 37) Alabama[196]
convention		 – – 23 – – – – – 6[am]
76 Indiana[197]
751,458		 – 49
354,244 (47.1%)		 27
309,495 (41.2%)
87,719 (11.67%)		 – – – – –
145 (of 153) Ohio[198][199]
1,205,194		 66
478,434 (39.7%)		 74
497,538 (41.3%)		 –
105,903 (8.8%)
97,896 (8.1%)		 – – – 13[an]
25,423 (2.1%)[ao]
20 Washington D.C.[200]
29,560		 – – – – – – – – 20
29,560 (100.00%)
May 4 49 Tennessee[201]
492,721
35,551 (7.2%)
78,350 (15.9%)		 49
335,858 (68.2%)
9,634 (2.0%)
5,896 (1.2%)
2,543 (0.5%)
18,809 (3.8%)
1,476 (0.3%)
4,604 (0.9%)[ap]
May 5[aq] 51 (of 64) Minnesota[202]
district conventions		 14 26 – – – – 6 – –
May 6 57 North Carolina[181]
821,410		 – – 37
413,518 (50.3%)
30,739 (3.7%)
9,416 (1.2%)		 –
61,723 (7.5%)		 – 27[ar]
306,014 (37.3%)
May 9 22 Nebraska[203]
192,137		 18
79,309 (41.3%)		 4
65,968 (34.3%)
23,912 (12.5%)
6,886 (3.6%)
5,276 (2.8%)
377 (0.2%)
1,763 (0.9%)
1,244 (0.7%)		 7,402[as](3.9%)
35 West Virginia[204][r]
368,484		 7[at]
–		 14[au]
246,596 (66.9%)		 5[av]
121,888 (33.1%)		 – – – – – 9[aw]
–
May 12 11 Wyoming[205]
convention		 0.55 – – – – – – – 10.45[ax]
May 13 3 Panama Canal Zone[206]
convention		 2.5 – – – – – – – 0.5[ay]
30 (of 35) Kansas[207]
district conventions		 12 – – – – – – – 18[az]
44[ba] Louisiana[208][209]
district conventions		 10 – 3 – – – – – 32[bb]
May 16 53 Maryland[210]
568,131		 6
126,978 (22.4%)		 6
151,981 (26.8%)		 41
219,687 (38.7%)
13,363 (2.4%)
17,728 (3.1%)
4,776 (0.8%)
12,602 (2.2%)
2,168 (0.4%)
18,848 (3.3%)[bc]
132 Michigan[211][212]
1,588,073		 38
425,694 (26.8%)		 27
249,798 (15.7%)		 67
809,239 (51.0%)
38,701 (2.4%)
6,938 (0.4%)		 –
44,090 (2.8%)		 –
10,751 (0.7%)[bd]
May 19 20 Maine[213]
convention		 – – – 20 – – – – –
May 19–21 17 Hawaii[214][215]
convention		 1.5 – – – – – – – 15.5[be]
May 20 10 (of 44) Iowa[216]
convention		 5 – – 3 – – – – 2[bf]
12 Vermont[217]
convention		 9 – – 3 – – – – –
46 (of 52) Washington[218][219]
district conventions		 0[bg] – – – 46 – – – –
May 23 55 (of 73) Missouri[220]
district conventions		 11 – – – – – – – 44[bh]
34 Oregon[221]
408,644		 34
205,328 (50.3%)
51,163 (12.5%)
81,868 (20.0%)
10,244 (2.5%)
22,042 (5.4%)
1,208 (0.3%)
2,975 (0.7%)
5,082 (1.2%)
28,734 (7.0%)[bi]
22 Rhode Island[222]
37,864		 22
15,603 (41.2%)
7,701 (20.3%)
5,802 (15.3%)
7,838 (20.7%)
138 (0.4%)
41 (0.1%)		 – –
741 (1.3%)[bj]
May 26 10 Alaska[223]
convention		 – – – – – – – – 10[bk]
May 27 3 Guam[224]
convention		 1 1.5 – 0.5 – – – – –
3 Virgin Islands[225][226]
convention		 – – – – – – – – 3
June 2 38 (of 51) Connecticut[227]
district conventions		 15 – – – – – – – 23[bl]
35 (of 47) Kentucky[228]
district conventions		 7 – – – – – – – 28[bm]
June 3 12 (of 47) Kentucky[228]
convention		 3 – – – – – – – 9[bn]
30 (of 39) Oklahoma[229]
district conventions		 10 – – – – – – – 20[bo]
June 6 271 California primary[230]
3,564,518		 271
1,550,652 (43.5%)
1,375,064 (38.6%)
268,551 (7.5%)
72,701 (2.0%)
28,901 (0.8%)		 –
157,435 (4.4%)
26,246 (0.7%)
84,968 (2.4%)[bp]
17 South Dakota[231]
28,017		 17
28,017 (100.0%)		 – – – – – – – –
109 New Jersey[232][233][r]
76,834		 72
–		 10
–		 – – – –
51,433 (66.9%)		 – 27[bq]
25,401 (33.1%)[br]
18 New Mexico[232]153,293 10
51,011 (33.3%)
39,768 (25.9%)		 8
44,843 (29.3%)
6,411 (4.2%)
4,236 (2.8%)		 –
3,205 (2.1%)		 –
3,819 (2.5%)[bs]
June 9 13 (of 64) Minnesota[234]
convention		 5 7 – – – – 1 – –
41 (of 53) Virginia[235][236]
district conventions		 18 2 – 1 – – – – 20[bt]
June 10 5 (of 35) Kansas[237]
convention		 – – – – – – – – 5[bu]
18 (of 73) Missouri[238]
convention		 – – – – – – – – 18[bv]
9 (of 39) Oklahoma[239]
convention		 3[bw] – – – – – – – 6[bx]
12 (of 53) Virginia[236][240]
convention		 9 1 – – – – 2 – –
June 13 130 Texas[241]
convention		 34 21 42 – – – – – 33[by]
June 16 27 (of 36) Colorado[242][243]
district conventions		 17 6 – – – – 1 – 13[bz]
13 (of 51) Connecticut[244]
convention		 5 – – – – – – – 8[ca]
17 Idaho[245]
convention		 7 1 – 3 – – 2 – 4[cb]
14 North Dakota[246]
convention		 7.7 4.2 – – – – – – 2.1[cc]
19 Utah[247]
convention		 11 – – – – – – – 8[cd]
June 17 17 Montana[248]
convention		 14.5 – – – – – 1 – 1.5[ce]
7 Puerto Rico[249]
convention		 6 0.5 – – – – – – 0.5[cf]
June 18 9 (of 36) Colorado[250]
convention		 7 1 – – – – – – 1[cg]
June 20 278[ch] New York[251][252] 251 – – 1 – – 4 – 22[ci]
June 23 6 (of 52) Washington[253]
convention		 – – – – 6 – – – –
June 24 27 Arkansas[254]
convention		 – – – – – 27 – – –
13 Delaware[255]
convention		 5.85 – – – – – – – 7.15[cj]
Total pledged delegates
Popular Vote		 1319.55
4,051,565 (25.0%)		 345.85
4,119,230 (25.4%)		 371
3,755,424 (23.2%)		 172.5
1,838,314 (11.3%)		 52
504,596 (3.1%)		 28
37,401 (0.2%)		 22
430,733 (2.7%)		 6
196,406 (1.2%)		 638.6
721,117 (4.3%)
June 27 Estimate[256] 1,466.15 385.50 377 208.85 53.75 30.55 23.65 0 468.25
Close

Results by county

1972 Democratic primary results by county popular vote[ck]
  McGovern
  •   McGovern—20–30%
  •   McGovern—30–40%
  •   McGovern—40–50%
  •   McGovern—50–60%
  •   McGovern—60–70%
  •   McGovern—70–80%
  •   McGovern—90–100%
  Humphrey
  •   Humphrey—20–30%
  •   Humphrey—30–40%
  •   Humphrey—40–50%
  •   Humphrey—50–60%
  •   Humphrey—60–70%
  •   Humphrey—70–80%
  Wallace
  •   Wallace—20–30%
  •   Wallace—30–40%
  •   Wallace—40–50%
  •   Wallace—50–60%
  •   Wallace—60–70%
  •   Wallace—70–80%
  •   Wallace—80–90%
  Muskie
  •   Muskie—30–40%
  •   Muskie—40–50%
  •   Muskie—50–60%
  •   Muskie—60–70%
  •   Muskie—70–80%
  •   Muskie—80–90%
  Chisholm
  •   Chisholm—50–60%
  •   Chisholm—60–70%
  •   Chisholm—70–80%
  •   Chisholm—80–90%
  Sanford
  •   Sanford—30–40%
  •   Sanford—40–50%
  •   Sanford—50–60%
  •   Sanford—60–70%
  McCarthy
  •   McCarthy—40–50%
  Fauntroy
  •   Fauntroy—70–80%
  Uncommitted
  •   Uncommitted—30–40%
  Tie
  •   Tie—50%
1972 Democratic primary results by county popular vote
More information Candidate, Votes ...
1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries[257]
Candidate Votes %
Hubert H. Humphrey 4,121,372 25.8
George S. McGovern 4,053,451 25.3
George C. Wallace 3,755,424 23.5
Edmund S. Muskie 1,840,217 11.5
Eugene J. McCarthy 553,955 3.5
Henry M. Jackson 505,198 3.2
Shirley A. Chisholm 430,703 2.7
James T. Sanford 331,415 2.1
John V. Lindsay 196,406 1.2
Sam W. Yorty 79,446 0.5
Wilbur D. Mills 37,401 0.2
Walter E. Fauntroy 21,217 0.1
Unpledged delegates 19,533 0.1
Edward M. Kennedy 16,693 0.1
Rupert V. Hartke 11,798 0.1
Patsy M. Mink 8,286 0.1
"None of the names shown" 6,269 0
Others 5,181 0
Total votes 15,993,965 100
Close

Analysis

In the end, McGovern succeeded in winning the nomination by winning primaries through grass-roots support in spite of establishment opposition. He had led a commission to redesign the Democratic nomination system after the messy and confused nomination struggle and convention of 1968. The fundamental principle of the McGovern-Fraser Commission—that the Democratic primaries should determine the winner of the Democratic nomination—lasted throughout every subsequent nomination contest. However, the new rules angered many prominent Democrats whose influence was marginalized, and those politicians refused to support McGovern's campaign (some even supporting Nixon instead), leaving the McGovern campaign at a significant disadvantage in funding compared to Nixon.[citation needed]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    This number doesn't include Walter Fauntroy, Wayne Hays, and Carl Stokes, who were considered to be favorite sons
  2. [b]
    Channing Phillips had previously been placed in nomination at the 1968 convention and won the Washington D.C. delegation but was not a contender for national support.[citation needed]
  3. [c]
    Senator Margaret Chase Smith had previously contested the Republican nomination in 1964.
  4. [d]
    Replacing Thomas Eagleton
  5. [e]
    Endorsed McGovern in the Ohio Presidential Primary
  6. [f]
    Endorsed Chisholm in the Michigan Presidential Primary
  7. [g]
    Switched to McGovern on July 9th.
  8. [h]
    This should not be taken as a finalized list of results. While a significant amount of research was done, there were a number of Delegates who were not bound by the instruction, or "Pledged" to a candidate, and to simplify the data these delegates were considered "Uncommitted". Many states also held primaries for the delegate positions, and these on occasion were where slates or candidates pledged to a certain candidate might be elected; however, as these elections allowed for a single person to vote for multiple candidates, as many as the number of positions being filled, it is difficult to determine how many people actually voted in these primaries. For this reason, while such results may be found, they are not included in the popular vote summaries at the bottom of the table.
  9. [i]
    Technically this is only a partial result; over two dozen counties did not hold caucuses when these results were announced, accounting for around (12%) of the expected number of Caucus goers. However, a full tabulation including these counties was not found. Only percentages were found in terms of the number of delegates elected per candidate, not their number nor their total allotment.
  10. [j]
    35.8% for uncommitted delegates and 1.4% for delegates pledged to Eugene McCarthy.
  11. [k]
    All were Uncommitted except one for Vance Hartke.
  12. [l]
    Both are Uncommitted.
  13. [m]
    1,176 SDs were Uncommitted and 73 SDs were for other candidates.
  14. [n]
    Two rival delegate slates were named, as the Mississippi Democratic party was severely divided between White-lead Regulars and Black-lead Loyalists, with their contests being held at different dates. As the Loyalists were the ones seated at the National Convention, it is their slate and nomination date that is presented here.
  15. [o]
    All are Uncommitted.
  16. [p]
    All are Uncommitted.
  17. [q]
    Includes 5,847 for Eugene McCarthy, 2,564 for Sam Yorty and 3,009 for Vance Hartke.
  18. [r]
    There were two primaries in this state: a non-binding preference primary in which eligible voters cast ballots directly for a candidate and a delegate primary in which delegates to the National Convention were elected.
  19. [s]
    All are Uncommitted.
  20. [t]
    Includes 444,260 votes for Eugene McCarthy and 242 write-In votes for Ted Kennedy.
  21. [u]
    All are Uncommitted.
  22. [v]
    Both are Uncommitted.
  23. [w]
    15,543 for Eugene McCarthy, 2,349 for Sam Yorty, 1,213 for Patsy Mink, 766 for Vance Hartke and 2,450 votes for "None of the Names Shown".
  24. [x]
    All were Uncommitted except one for Patsy Mink.
  25. [y]
    All were Uncommitted except two, which were pledged to Ted Kennedy.
  26. [z]
    Technically won seven delegates, but these delegates were required to vote for McGovern on the first ballot.
  27. [aa]
    Technically won five delegates, these delegates were technically required to vote for McGovern on the first ballot.
  28. [ab]
    Technically Uncommmited won one delegate, but they were required to vote for McGovern on the first ballot.
  29. [ac]
    Includes 8,736 votes for Eugene McCarthy, 2,348 write-in votes for Ted Kennedy 874 votes for Vance Hartke, 646 votes for Sam Yorty and 589 votes for Edward T. Coll.
  30. [ad]
    45 delegates were technically named later in mid-June, 27 by the elected delegates and 18 by the Democratic State Committee.
  31. [ae]
    14 delegates were named later in June.
  32. [af]
    19 delegates were named later in June.
  33. [ag]
    11 delegates were named later in June.
  34. [ah]
    All are Uncommitted.
  35. [ai]
    1 delegate was named later in June.
  36. [aj]
    Includes 262 write-in votes for Richard Nixon.
  37. [ak]
    All are Uncommitted.
  38. [al]
    All were Uncommitted bar one, who was pledged to Senator Edward Kennedy.
  39. [am]
    All are part of an Anti-Wallace slate.
  40. [an]
    A slate of eight delegates supporting Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes was elected in the 21st District, and a slate of five delegates supporting Congressman Wayne Hays was elected in the 18th District.
  41. [ao]
    25,423 votes for Eugene McCarthy.
  42. [ap]
    Includes 2,267 votes for Eugene McCarthy, 1,621 votes for Vance Hartke, 692 votes for Sam Yorty and 24 votes for unknown others.
  43. [aq]
    Some district conventions were held earlier in April.
  44. [ar]
    All delegates and votes for Terry Sanford.
  45. [as]
    Includes 3,459 for Sam Yorty, 3,194 votes for Eugene McCarthy, 293 write-in votes for Ted Kennedy and 249 for Vance Hartke.
  46. [at]
    Uncommitted by state law.
  47. [au]
    Uncommitted by state law.
  48. [av]
    Uncommitted by state law.
  49. [aw]
    All are Uncommitted
  50. [ax]
    All are Uncommitted.
  51. [ay]
    All are Uncommitted.
  52. [az]
    All are Uncommitted.
  53. [ba]
    Four delegates were picked on May 20.
  54. [bb]
    All are Uncommitted.
  55. [bc]
    Includes 12,584 votes for Sam Yorty, 4691 votes for Eugene McCarthy and 573 votes for Patsy Mink.
  56. [bd]
    10,700 votes are for an uncommitted slate and 2,862 are for Vance Hartke.
  57. [be]
    All are Uncommitted except 1.5 for Patsy Mink.
  58. [bf]
    Both are Uncommitted.
  59. [bg]
    McGovern won eight delegates in these contests, but they were later replaced by Jackson delegates at the state convention.
  60. [bh]
    All are Uncommitted.
  61. [bi]
    Includes 12,673 votes for Ted Kennedy, 8,943 votes for Eugene McCarthy, 6,500 votes for Patsy Mink, and 480 write-in votes for Richard Nixon.
  62. [bj]
    Includes 710 votes for an uncommitted slate, 245 votes for Eugene McCarthy and 6 votes for Sam Yorty.
  63. [bk]
    All are Uncommitted.
  64. [bl]
    All are Uncommitted.
  65. [bm]
    All are Uncommitted.
  66. [bn]
    All are Uncommitted.
  67. [bo]
    All are Uncommitted.
  68. [bp]
    Includes 50,745 votes for Sam Yorty, 34,203 votes for Eugene McCarthy, and 20 write-in votes.
  69. [bq]
    All 27 delegates were uncommitted.
  70. [br]
    25,401 votes were cast in the preference primary for Terry Sanford.
  71. [bs]
    All votes are for an Uncommitted slate.
  72. [bt]
    19 delegates were uncommitted and one was pledged to Terry Sanford.
  73. [bu]
    All are Uncommitted.
  74. [bv]
    All are Uncommitted.
  75. [bw]
    This was suspected, not confirmed.
  76. [bx]
    All are Uncommitted.
  77. [by]
    All are Uncommitted.
  78. [bz]
    All are Uncommitted.
  79. [ca]
    All are Uncommitted.
  80. [cb]
    All are Uncommitted.
  81. [cc]
    All are Uncommitted.
  82. [cd]
    All are Uncommitted.
  83. [ce]
    All are Uncommitted.
  84. [cf]
    All are Uncommitted.
  85. [cg]
    Is Uncommitted.
  86. [ch]
    30 were named on the June 25th by the Democratic State Committee.
  87. [ci]
    All are Uncommitted.
  88. [cj]
    All are Uncommitted.
  89. [ck]
    In Iowa, the results by county were not recorded, however it was recorded by congressional district.

References

Further reading

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