1972 Indiana gubernatorial election

The 1972 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.

1972 Indiana gubernatorial election

November 7, 1972

Nominee Otis Bowen Matthew E. Welsh Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,203,903 900,489 Percentage 56.77% 42.46%

County results Bowen:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Welsh:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election Edgar Whitcomb Republican Elected Governor Otis Bowen Republican

Although during the same election cycle Indiana voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the governor to serve in office for eight out of 12 years, incumbent Republican Governor Edgar Whitcomb was term-limited due to having been elected under the prior version of the constitution.[1][2][3]

Republican nominee, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Otis Bowen defeated Democratic nominee Matthew E. Welsh with 56.77% of the vote.

Nominations

Until 1976, all nominations for statewide office in Indiana were made by state conventions.[4][5]

Results

Matthew E. Welsh, former Governor def. Larry A. Conrad, Secretary of State[6][7][8]

Results

Republican nomination results[9][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Otis Bowen	1,243	59.70
	Republican	William Sharp	364	17.48
	Republican	Phil Gutman	354	17.00
	Republican	W.W. 'Dub' Hill	108	5.19
		N/A	13	0.62
Total votes			2,082	100.00

General election

Governor

1972 Indiana gubernatorial election[11][12][13][14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Otis Bowen	1,203,903	56.77%
	Democratic	Matthew E. Welsh	900,489	42.46%
	American Independent	Berryman S. Hurley	8,525	0.40%
	Peace and Freedom	Finley C. Campbell	6,278	0.30%
	Socialist Labor	John M. Morris	1,652	0.08%
Majority			303,414	14.31%
Turnout			2,120,847	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

Lieutenant governor

1972 Indiana lieutenant gubernatorial election[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Robert D. Orr	1,149,255	55.34%
	Democratic	Richard C. Bodine	914,000	44.01%
	American Independent	Raymond Lee Clark	6,816	0.33%
	Peace and Freedom	Elizabeth Toohy	4,737	0.23%
	Socialist Labor	Casimer Kanczuzewski	1,878	0.09%
Majority			235,255	11.33%
Turnout			2,076,686	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Indiana Governor Term Limits, Amendment 2 (1972)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
2. "World War II Hero, Former Indiana Governor Edgar Whitcomb Dead At 98". www.wfyi.org. WFYI: Indianapolis' Public Radio, TV & News Station. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
3. Cole, Ryan (6 February 2016). "A Politician Who Was His Own Man: Edgar Whitcomb, R.I.P." www.nationalreview.com. National Review. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
4. America Votes 10, p. 123.
5. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 112.
6. Bowen and Du Bois 2000, p. 164.
7. Blaemire, Robert (2019). Birch Bayh: Making a Difference. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 221. ISBN 9780253039194.
8. "The 1972 Campaign". The New York Times. New York, NY. 21 June 1972. p. 28. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
9. Bowen and Du Bois 2000, pp. 103-104.
10. Dunn, Craig (9 May 2013). "Gov. Doc Bowen, with 'Kindest personal regards'" (PDF). Howey Politics Indiana. Vol. 18 no. 35. Kokomo, Indiana. p. 9. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
11. "IN Governor, 1972". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
12. "1972 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
13. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 50.
14. America Votes 10, p. 116.
15. "1972 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results – Indiana". US Election Atlas. Retrieved 9 May 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787–1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1973). America Votes 10: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1972. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.
• Brown, Otis R.; Du Bois, William (2000). Doc: Memories from a Life in Public Service. Bloomington, Illinois: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-33767-4.