1972 United States Senate election in South Dakota
The 1972 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 7, 1972, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
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 County results Abourezk: 50–60% 60–70% 80–90% Hirsch: 50–60% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in South Dakota |
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Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Karl E. Mundt, who had suffered a severe stroke in 1969, did not run for re-election to a fifth term and was succeeded by Democratic nominee James Abourezk.
Despite Abourezk's 14 percentage point win, Democratic presidential nominee and fellow South Dakota Senator George McGovern lost his home state by a margin of 8.6 points in the concurrent presidential election,.[1]
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on June 6, 1972.
Candidates
- James Abourezk, incumbent U.S. Representative for South Dakota's 2nd congressional district
- George Blue, former State Senator[2] and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota in 1968
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James Abourezk | 46,931 | 79.42% | |
| Democratic | George Blue | 12,163 | 20.58% | |
| Total votes | 59,094 | 100.00% | ||
Candidates
- Robert W. Hirsch, former South Dakota Senate Majority Leader[7]
- Chuck Lien, businessman[2]
- Gordon J. Mydland, incumbent Attorney General of South Dakota
- Tom Reardon, banker[2]
- Kenneth D. Stofferahn, farmer[2]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert W. Hirsch | 27,322 | 27.37% | |
| Republican | Gordon J. Mydland | 22,297 | 22.34% | |
| Republican | Chuck Lien | 21,995 | 22.03% | |
| Republican | Kenneth D. Stofferahn | 16,615 | 16.65% | |
| Republican | Tom Reardon | 11,592 | 11.61% | |
| Total votes | 99,821 | 100.00% | ||
A state convention was held June 26 to determine the party's nominee as no candidate received the 35% required for nomination under the state's primary law. Hirsch was nominated at this convention.[8]
General election
Candidates
- Robert W. Hirsch (R)
- James Abourezk (D)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James Abourezk | 174,773 | 57.04 | |
| Republican | Robert W. Hirsch | 131,613 | 42.96 | |
| Majority | 43,160 | 14.08 | ||
| Turnout | 306,386 | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
See also
References
- "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
- "Dakotans focus on Mundt's seat". New York Times. New York City. June 4, 1972. p. 47. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 152.
- America Votes 10, p. 340.
- "SD US Senate, 1972 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- Alma Larson, Secretary of State (ed.). Official Election Returns for South Dakota: Primary Election, June 6, 1972 (PDF). p. 3.
- "South Dakota Legislature".
- America Votes 10, p. 302.
- "SD US Senate, 1972 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- Alma Larson, Secretary of State (ed.). Official Election Returns for South Dakota: Primary Election, June 6, 1972 (PDF). p. 4.
- Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 96.
- America Votes 10, p. 297.
- "SD US Senate, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- Secretary of State (ed.). Official Election Returns by counties for the State of South Dakota: General Election, November 7, 1972 (PDF). p. 3.
- Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). United States Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 4, 2015 – via Clerk.house.gov.
Bibliography
- Congressional Elections, 1946-1996. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-248-4.
- Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1973). America Votes 10: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1972. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.