1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Republican nominee James Holshouser defeated Democratic nominee Skipper Bowles with 51% of the vote. Holshouser thus became the first Republican elected governor of the state in the 20th century. This also marked the most recent time that North Carolina elected a Republican governor in the same cycle as the rest of the country elected a Republican as President of the United States.

1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election
November 7, 1972
 
Nominee James Holshouser Skipper Bowles
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 767,470 729,104
Percentage 51.00% 48.45%
County Results

Holshouser:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

Bowles:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election

Robert W. Scott
Democratic

 Elected Governor

James Holshouser
Republican

Elections in North Carolina

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 6, 1972.[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results
Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Skipper Bowles 367,433 45.47
Democratic Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr. 304,910 37.73
Democratic Reginald A. Hawkins 65,950 8.16
Democratic Wilbur Hobby 58,990 7.30
Democratic C. Eugene Leggett 6,352 0.79
Democratic Zeb V.K. Dickson 4,470 0.55
Total votes 808,105 100.00
Democratic primary runoff results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Skipper Bowles 336,034 54.34
Democratic Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr. 282,345 45.66
Total votes 618,379 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Gardner 84,906 49.77
Republican James Holshouser 83,637 49.03
Republican Leroy Gibson 1,083 0.64
Republican Thomas E. Chappell 957 0.56
Total votes 170,583 100.00
Republican primary runoff results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James Holshouser 69,916 50.65
Republican Jim Gardner 68,134 49.36
Total votes 138,050 100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

  • James Holshouser, Republican
  • Skipper Bowles, Democratic

Other candidates

  • Arlis F. Pettyjohn, American

Results
1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican James Holshouser 767,470 51.00%
Democratic Skipper Bowles 729,104 48.45%
American Arlis F. Pettyjohn 8,211 0.55%
Majority 38,366
Turnout 1,504,785
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

References
  1. "North Carolina Manual". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2019-01-07.
  2. "America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2019-01-07.
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