| Election Name: | 1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Country: | North Carolina |
| Flag Year: | 1885 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1968 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1968 |
| Next Election: | 1976 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1976 |
| Election Date: | November 7, 1972 |
| Image1: | File:James Holshouser official photo (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | James Holshouser |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 767,470 |
| Percentage1: | 51.00% |
| Nominee2: | Skipper Bowles |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 729,104 |
| Percentage2: | 48.45% |
| Map Size: | 325px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Robert W. Scott |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | James Holshouser |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
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 since 1896.
This election was also the first time in a century (since the 1872 election) that a Republican candidate won an outright majority of the vote.
Primary elections were held on May 6, 1972.[1]
Major party candidates
Other candidates