1972 Montana gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1972 Montana gubernatorial election
Country:Montana
Flag Year:1905
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1968 Montana gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1968
Next Election:1976 Montana gubernatorial election
Next Year:1976
Election Date:November 7, 1972
Nominee1:Thomas Lee Judge
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:172,523
Percentage1:54.12%
Nominee2:Ed Smith
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:146,231
Percentage2:45.88%
Map Size:300px
Governor
Before Election:Forrest H. Anderson
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Thomas Lee Judge
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:84.60%1.80[1]

The 1972 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Governor of Montana Forrest H. Anderson, who was first elected in 1968, declined to seek re-election. Thomas Lee Judge, the Lieutenant Governor of Montana, won a competitive Democratic primary, and moved on to the general election, where he faced Ed Smith, a rancher and the Republican nominee. Although then-President Richard Nixon won the state in a landslide in that year's presidential election, Judge managed to handily defeat Smith, winning his first of two terms as governor.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Montana Voter Turnout. Montana Secretary of State. 22 February 2018 . 2022-05-26.