1972 United States Senate election in Texas

Summary

The 1972 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Tower won re-election to a third term.

1972 United States Senate election in Texas

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →
 
Nominee John Tower Barefoot Sanders
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,822,877 1,511,985
Percentage 53.41% 44.30%

County results
Tower:      40–50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Sanders:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
     70–80%      80–90%
Amaya:      30–40%

U.S. senator before election

John Tower
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John Tower
Republican

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

1972 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ralph Yarborough 1,032,606 49.99%
Democratic Barefoot Sanders 787,504 38.12%
Democratic Hugh Wilson 125,460 6.07%
Democratic Thomas M. Cartlidge 66,240 3.21%
Democratic Alfonso Veloz 53,938 2.61%
Total votes 2,065,748 100.00%

Although he received over one million votes, Yarborough was 269 short of a majority. He and Sanders advanced to a runoff election held June 3.

Runoff campaign edit

1972 Democratic U.S. Senate runoff[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Barefoot Sanders 1,008,499 52.08%  13.96
Democratic Ralph Yarborough 928,132 47.93%  2.06
Total votes 1,936,631 100.00%

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Tower (incumbent) 1,822,877 53.41% -2.98%
Democratic Barefoot Sanders 1,511,985 44.30% +1.15%
Raza Unida Flores Amaya 63,543 1.86% N/A
Socialist Workers Tom Leonard 14,464 0.42% N/A

References edit

  1. ^ "US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  2. ^ "US Senate - D Runoff". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns - TX US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972".