The 1972 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.
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County results Bowen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Welsh: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Although during the same election cycle Indiana voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the governor to serve in office for eight out of 12 years, incumbent Republican Governor Edgar Whitcomb was term-limited due to having been elected under the prior version of the constitution.[1][2][3]
Republican nominee, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Otis Bowen defeated Democratic nominee Former Governor (1961-1965) Matthew E. Welsh with 56.77% of the vote.
Until 1976, all nominations for statewide office in Indiana were made by state conventions.[4][5]
Matthew E. Welsh, former Governor def. Larry A. Conrad, Secretary of State[6][7][8]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Otis Bowen | 1,243 | 59.70 | |
Republican | William Sharp | 364 | 17.48 | |
Republican | Phil Gutman | 354 | 17.00 | |
Republican | W.W. 'Dub' Hill | 108 | 5.19 | |
N/A | 13 | 0.62 | ||
Total votes | 2,082 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Otis Bowen | 1,203,903 | 56.77% | ||
Democratic | Matthew E. Welsh | 900,489 | 42.46% | ||
American Independent | Berryman S. Hurley | 8,525 | 0.40% | ||
Peace and Freedom | Finley C. Campbell | 6,278 | 0.30% | ||
Socialist Labor | John M. Morris | 1,652 | 0.08% | ||
Majority | 303,414 | 14.31% | |||
Turnout | 2,120,847 | 100.00% | |||
Republican hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert D. Orr | 1,149,255 | 55.34% | ||
Democratic | Richard C. Bodine | 914,000 | 44.01% | ||
American Independent | Raymond Lee Clark | 6,816 | 0.33% | ||
Peace and Freedom | Elizabeth Toohy | 4,737 | 0.23% | ||
Socialist Labor | Casimer Kanczuzewski | 1,878 | 0.09% | ||
Majority | 235,255 | 11.33% | |||
Turnout | 2,076,686 | 100.00% | |||
Republican hold | Swing |