| Election Name: | 1872 Georgia gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Georgia (U.S. state) |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1871 Georgia gubernatorial special election |
| Previous Year: | 1871 (Special) |
| Next Election: | 1876 Georgia gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1876 |
| Election Date: | October 2, 1872 |
| Nominee1: | James Milton Smith |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 104,256 |
| Percentage1: | 69.47% |
| Nominee2: | Dawson A. Walker |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 45,812 |
| Percentage2: | 30.53% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | James Milton Smith |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | James Milton Smith |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1872 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on October 2, 1872,[1] [2] in order to elect the Governor of Georgia. Democratic nominee and incumbent Governor James Milton Smith defeated Republican nominee and former Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia Dawson A. Walker.[3]
On election day, October 2, 1872, Democratic nominee James Milton Smith won re-election by a margin of 58,444 votes against his opponent Republican nominee Dawson A. Walker, thereby holding Democratic control over the office of Governor. Smith was sworn in for his first full term on 12 January 1873.[4]