United States Senate elections, 1972

United States Senate elections, 1972

November 7, 1972

34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority   Majority party Minority party   Leader Mike Mansfield Hugh Scott Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat Montana Pennsylvania Last election 54 seats 44 seats Seats won 56 42 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 17,199,567 19,821,203 Percentage 45.5% 52.4% Swing 6.9% 12.5%   Third party Fourth party   Party Independent Conservative (N.Y.) Last election 1 seat 1 seat Seats before 1 1 Seats won 1 1 Seat change

Democratic gain   Democratic hold   Independent hold   Republican gain   Republican hold

Majority Leader before election Mike Mansfield Democratic Elected Majority Leader Mike Mansfield Democratic

The 1972 United States Senate election was an election for the United States Senate coinciding with the landslide reelection of Republican Richard Nixon. Despite Nixon's victory, Democrats increased their majority by two seats. After the election, Democrats held 56 seats and Republicans held 42 seats, with 1 Conservative and 1 independent Senator.

Results summary

Parties		Total Seats									Popular Vote
		Incumbents	Not up	This election					Result	+/-	Vote	%
				Up	Re- elected	Held	Gained	Lost
	Democratic	54	40	14	8	2	6	4	56	2	17,199,567	45.49%
	Republican	44	24	20	13	1	4	6	42	2	19,821,203	52.42%
	Independent	1	1	0	0	0			1		318,238	0.84%
	Conservative	1	1	0	0	0			1		42,348	0.11%
	Others	0	0	0	0	0			0		470,090	1.24%
Total		100	66	34	21	3	10	10	100		37,809,098	100.0%

Source: "Election Statistics". U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk. 

Change in Senate composition

Senate composition before the elections

Senate composition as a result of the elections

Gains and losses

Democratic pickups included open seats in Kentucky and South Dakota, and defeats of Senators Gordon L. Allott of Colorado, J. Caleb Boggs of Delaware, Jack Miller of Iowa, and Margaret Chase Smith of Maine.

Republican pickups included open seats in New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, and the defeat of incumbent William B. Spong, Jr. of Virginia.

Appointment

In 1974, William B. Saxbe of Ohio resigned to become Attorney General, and Democrat Howard Metzenbaum was appointed to replace him. This is not included in the party balances.

Complete list of races

All elections are class 2 unless otherwise indicated.

Bold states links to a separate article about that state's election.

Bold candidates indicates the winner.

See also

• United States presidential election, 1972
• United States House elections, 1972