The 1972 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972 in the U.S state of Missouri and resulted in a victory for the Republican nominee for the first time since 1940 incumbent State Auditor of Missouri Kit Bond, over the Democratic nominee, Edward L. Dowd, and Nonpartisan Paul J. Leonard. Joseph P. Teasdale was a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination, before winning the nomination in the 1976 election, as was lieutenant governor William S. Morris, while Gene McNary was a candidate for the Republican nomination.

1972 Missouri gubernatorial election

← 1968 November 7, 1972 1976 →

Nominee Kit Bond Edward L. Dowd Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,029,451 832,751 Percentage 55.2% 44.6%

County results Bond:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Dowd:      50-60%      60-70%

Governor before election Warren E. Hearnes Democratic Elected Governor Kit Bond Republican