United States gubernatorial elections, 1972

United States gubernatorial elections, 1972

← 1971 November 7, 1972 1973 →
20 governorships 18 states; 2 territories
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 30 governorships 20 governorships Seats before 30 20 Seats after 31 19 Seat change 1 1
Democratic holds   Democratic pickups   Republican holds   Republican pickups

United States gubernatorial elections were held 7 November 1972 in 18 states and two territories, concurrent with the House, Senate elections and presidential election.

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).

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.

In Delaware and Illinois, Republicans Russell W. Peterson and Richard B. Ogilvie were defeated by Democrats Sherman Willard Tribbitt and Dan Walker respectively.

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.

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.

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.