1972 Delaware gubernatorial election

The 1972 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Democratic nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt defeated incumbent Republican Governor Russell W. Peterson with 51.27% of the vote.

1972 Delaware gubernatorial election

November 7, 1972

Nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt Russell W. Peterson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 117,274 109,583 Percentage 51.27% 47.91%

County results Tribbitt:      50–60%      60–70% Peterson:      50–60%

Governor before election Russell W. Peterson Republican Elected Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt Democratic

Nominations

From 1972 to 1992 Delaware used a system of “challenge” primaries, in which a candidate for statewide office who received at least 35 percent of the convention vote could challenge the endorsed candidate in a primary. Democratic nominee Tribbitt avoided such a primary in 1972.[1][2]

Republican primary

Candidates

• David P. Buckson, former acting Governor
• Russell W. Peterson, incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results[3][2][1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Russell W. Peterson	23,929	54.30
	Republican	David P. Buckson	20,138	45.70
Total votes			44,077	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Sherman W. Tribbitt, Democratic, Delaware House of Representatives Minority leader and former Lieutenant Governor
• Russell W. Peterson, Republican, incumbent Governor
• Virginia M. Lyndall, American
• Harry H. Conner, Prohibition

Results

1972 Delaware gubernatorial election[4][5][6][7][8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Sherman W. Tribbitt	117,274	51.27%
	Republican	Russell W. Peterson	109,583	47.91%
	American	Virginia M. Lyndall	1,468	0.64%
	Prohibition	Harry H. Conner	397	0.17%
Majority			7,691	3.36%
Turnout			228,722	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. America Votes 10, p. 73.
2. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 104.
3. "IL Governor, 1974 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
4. "DE Governor, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
5. Delaware Official Results 1972, p. 2.
6. America Votes 10, p. 71.
7. Glashan 1979, pp. 52–53.
8. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 46.

Bibliography

• Burton D. Willis, Commissioner of Elections (1973). Official Results of General Election, 1972 (PDF). State of Delaware.
• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1973). America Votes 10: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1972. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.