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1972 United States presidential election in California
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| election_name | 1972 United States presidential election in California |
| country | California |
| type | presidential |
| ongoing | no |
| previous_election | 1968 United States presidential election in California |
| previous_year | 1968 |
| next_election | 1976 United States presidential election in California |
| next_year | 1976 |
| turnout | 82.13% (of registered voters) 3.62 pp |
| 64.52% (of eligible voters) 2.18 pp | |
| election_date | November 7, 1972 |
| image_size | x200px |
| image1 | Richard Nixon presidential portrait (1).jpg |
| nominee1 | **Richard Nixon** |
| party1 | Republican Party (United States) |
| home_state1 | California |
| running_mate1 | **Spiro Agnew** |
| electoral_vote1 | **45** |
| popular_vote1 | **4,602,096** |
| percentage1 | **55.00%** |
| image2 | George McGovern (D-SD) (3x4-1).jpg |
| nominee2 | George McGovern |
| party2 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| home_state2 | South Dakota |
| running_mate2 | Sargent Shriver |
| electoral_vote2 | 0 |
| popular_vote2 | 3,475,847 |
| percentage2 | 41.54% |
| map_image | 325px |
| map_size | 325px |
| map_caption | County results |
| title | President |
| before_election | Richard Nixon |
| before_party | Republican Party (United States) |
| after_election | Richard Nixon |
| after_party | Republican Party (United States) |
Main article: 1972 United States presidential election
64.52% (of eligible voters) 2.18 pp Nixon McGovern
The 1972 United States presidential election in California took place on November 7, 1972, as part of the 1972 United States presidential election. State voters chose 45 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
California voted for the Republican incumbent, Richard Nixon, over the Democratic challenger, South Dakota Senator George McGovern. Nixon took 55.00% of the vote to McGovern's 41.54%, a margin of 13.46%. Though Nixon won a commanding victory in his home state over McGovern, this result nevertheless meant California voted almost ten points to the left of the nation at large and was one of McGovern's strongest states in the 1972 election.
Nixon had previously won California against John F. Kennedy in 1960 and then against Hubert Humphrey in 1968. This was the first presidential election in which California had the most electoral college votes as a result of the 1970 census, a status it has maintained ever since.
Primaries
Democratic
McGovern Humphrey
George McGovern would defeat previous Democratic nominee, Hubert Humphrey, by just under 200,000 votes.
Republican
Richard Nixon would easily win the California Republican Primary by a wide margin over his only state challenger.
Results
| 1972 United States presidential election in California | Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Republican** | **Richard Nixon (incumbent)** | **4,602,096** | **55.00%** | **45** | |
| Democratic | George McGovern | 3,475,847 | 41.54% | 0 | |
| American Independent | John G. Schmitz | 232,554 | 2.78% | 0 | |
| Peace and Freedom | Benjamin Spock | 55,167 | 0.66% | 0 | |
| Libertarian | John Hospers (write-in) | 980 | 0.01% | 0 | |
| Socialist Workers | Linda Jenness (write-in) | 574 | 0.01% | 0 | |
| Communist | Gus Hall (write-in) | 373 | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Socialist Labor | Louis Fisher (write-in) | 197 | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Prohibition Party | E. Harold Munn (write-in) | 53 | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Universal Party | Gabriel Green (write-in) | 21 | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | — | ||||
| **Totals** | **8,367,862** | **100.00%** | **45** | ||
| Voter turnout | — |
Results by county
| County | Richard Nixon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George McGovern | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic | John G. Schmitz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| American Independent | Various candidates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other parties | Margin | Total votes cast | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | Total | 4,602,096 | 55.00% | 3,475,847 | 41.54% | 232,554 | 2.78% | 57,365 | 0.69% | 1,126,249 | 13.46% | 8,367,862 | ||||||||||||||||
| Alameda | 201,862 | 42.84% | 259,254 | 55.02% | 6,930 | 1.47% | 3,149 | 0.67% | -57,392 | -12.18% | 471,195 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alpine | 366 | 63.54% | 195 | 33.85% | 7 | 1.22% | 8 | 1.39% | 171 | 29.69% | 576 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amador | 3,533 | 53.40% | 2,705 | 40.89% | 340 | 5.14% | 38 | 0.57% | 828 | 12.51% | 6,616 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Butte | 28,819 | 57.61% | 18,401 | 36.78% | 2,468 | 4.93% | 340 | 0.68% | 10,418 | 20.83% | 50,028 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calaveras | 4,119 | 60.76% | 2,268 | 33.46% | 304 | 4.48% | 88 | 1.30% | 1,851 | 27.30% | 6,779 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colusa | 2,715 | 57.56% | 1,810 | 38.37% | 167 | 3.54% | 25 | 0.53% | 905 | 19.19% | 4,717 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contra Costa | 139,044 | 54.13% | 111,718 | 43.49% | 4,701 | 1.83% | 1,421 | 0.55% | 27,326 | 10.64% | 256,884 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Del Norte | 2,927 | 51.82% | 2,156 | 38.17% | 515 | 9.12% | 50 | 0.89% | 771 | 13.65% | 5,648 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| El Dorado | 11,330 | 54.20% | 8,654 | 41.40% | 794 | 3.80% | 127 | 0.61% | 2,676 | 12.80% | 20,905 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fresno | 79,051 | 50.44% | 72,682 | 46.38% | 3,927 | 2.51% | 1,059 | 0.68% | 6,369 | 4.06% | 156,719 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glenn | 4,569 | 59.01% | 2,681 | 34.62% | 458 | 5.92% | 35 | 0.45% | 1,888 | 24.39% | 7,743 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Humboldt | 22,345 | 48.83% | 21,132 | 46.18% | 1,896 | 4.14% | 390 | 0.85% | 1,213 | 2.65% | 45,763 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Imperial | 14,178 | 62.05% | 7,982 | 34.93% | 607 | 2.66% | 82 | 0.36% | 6,196 | 27.12% | 22,849 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inyo | 4,873 | 68.07% | 2,006 | 28.02% | 240 | 3.35% | 40 | 0.56% | 2,867 | 40.05% | 7,159 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kern | 71,686 | 60.14% | 41,937 | 35.18% | 5,112 | 4.29% | 458 | 0.38% | 29,479 | 24.96% | 119,193 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kings | 10,509 | 56.52% | 7,274 | 39.12% | 742 | 3.99% | 70 | 0.38% | 3,235 | 17.40% | 18,595 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lake | 6,477 | 55.12% | 4,715 | 40.13% | 509 | 4.33% | 49 | 0.42% | 1,762 | 14.99% | 11,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lassen | 3,618 | 50.80% | 3,134 | 44.00% | 320 | 4.49% | 50 | 0.70% | 484 | 6.80% | 7,122 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles | 1,549,717 | 54.75% | 1,189,977 | 42.04% | 71,978 | 2.54% | 18,698 | 0.66% | 359,740 | 12.71% | 2,830,370 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Madera | 7,835 | 52.61% | 6,580 | 44.18% | 428 | 2.87% | 49 | 0.33% | 1,255 | 8.43% | 14,892 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marin | 54,123 | 52.10% | 47,414 | 45.64% | 1,326 | 1.28% | 1,020 | 0.98% | 6,709 | 6.46% | 103,883 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mariposa | 2,122 | 56.15% | 1,487 | 39.35% | 141 | 3.73% | 29 | 0.77% | 635 | 16.80% | 3,779 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mendocino | 11,128 | 51.01% | 9,435 | 43.25% | 1,050 | 4.81% | 201 | 0.92% | 1,693 | 7.76% | 21,814 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Merced | 17,737 | 54.33% | 13,914 | 42.62% | 836 | 2.56% | 161 | 0.49% | 3,823 | 11.71% | 32,648 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Modoc | 2,085 | 58.49% | 1,271 | 35.65% | 188 | 5.27% | 21 | 0.59% | 814 | 22.84% | 3,565 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mono | 1,872 | 66.88% | 828 | 29.58% | 78 | 2.79% | 21 | 0.75% | 1,044 | 37.30% | 2,799 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monterey | 47,004 | 57.04% | 32,545 | 39.49% | 2,274 | 2.76% | 585 | 0.71% | 14,459 | 17.55% | 82,408 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Napa | 23,403 | 59.61% | 14,529 | 37.01% | 1,141 | 2.91% | 188 | 0.48% | 8,874 | 22.60% | 39,261 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nevada | 8,004 | 54.68% | 5,693 | 38.89% | 868 | 5.93% | 73 | 0.50% | 2,311 | 15.79% | 14,638 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orange | 448,291 | 68.27% | 176,847 | 26.93% | 28,634 | 4.36% | 2,881 | 0.44% | 271,444 | 41.34% | 656,653 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Placer | 18,597 | 50.34% | 16,911 | 45.77% | 1,251 | 3.39% | 186 | 0.50% | 1,686 | 4.57% | 36,945 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plumas | 2,952 | 46.42% | 3,057 | 48.07% | 318 | 5.00% | 33 | 0.52% | -105 | -1.65% | 6,360 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Riverside | 108,120 | 58.00% | 71,591 | 38.41% | 5,843 | 3.13% | 850 | 0.46% | 36,529 | 19.59% | 186,404 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sacramento | 141,218 | 49.00% | 137,287 | 47.63% | 7,841 | 2.72% | 1,875 | 0.65% | 3,931 | 1.37% | 288,221 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Benito | 3,961 | 57.56% | 2,582 | 37.52% | 308 | 4.48% | 30 | 0.44% | 1,379 | 20.04% | 6,881 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Bernardino | 144,689 | 59.73% | 85,986 | 35.49% | 10,342 | 4.27% | 1,239 | 0.51% | 58,703 | 24.24% | 242,256 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Diego | 371,627 | 61.82% | 206,455 | 34.34% | 20,188 | 3.36% | 2,867 | 0.48% | 165,172 | 27.48% | 601,137 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Francisco | 127,461 | 41.82% | 170,882 | 56.07% | 3,702 | 1.21% | 2,725 | 0.89% | -43,421 | -14.25% | 304,770 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Joaquin | 61,646 | 55.30% | 44,062 | 39.53% | 5,027 | 4.51% | 734 | 0.66% | 17,584 | 15.77% | 111,469 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Luis Obispo | 28,566 | 55.98% | 20,779 | 40.72% | 1,156 | 2.27% | 532 | 1.04% | 7,787 | 15.26% | 51,033 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Mateo | 135,377 | 52.82% | 109,745 | 42.82% | 4,079 | 1.59% | 7,096 | 2.77% | 25,632 | 10.00% | 256,297 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Santa Barbara | 67,075 | 55.19% | 50,609 | 41.64% | 3,103 | 2.55% | 754 | 0.62% | 16,466 | 13.55% | 121,541 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Santa Clara | 237,334 | 51.90% | 208,506 | 45.60% | 8,236 | 1.80% | 3,217 | 0.70% | 28,828 | 6.30% | 457,293 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Santa Cruz | 34,799 | 49.88% | 32,336 | 46.35% | 1,931 | 2.77% | 693 | 0.99% | 2,463 | 3.53% | 69,759 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shasta | 16,618 | 46.68% | 17,214 | 48.35% | 1,595 | 4.48% | 176 | 0.49% | -596 | -1.67% | 35,603 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sierra | 629 | 47.51% | 658 | 49.70% | 27 | 2.04% | 10 | 0.76% | -29 | -2.19% | 1,324 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Siskiyou | 7,563 | 51.46% | 6,434 | 43.78% | 621 | 4.23% | 78 | 0.53% | 1,129 | 7.68% | 14,696 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Solano | 31,314 | 54.02% | 24,766 | 42.73% | 1,616 | 2.79% | 269 | 0.46% | 6,548 | 11.29% | 57,965 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sonoma | 57,697 | 54.72% | 43,746 | 41.49% | 3,192 | 3.03% | 799 | 0.76% | 13,951 | 13.23% | 105,434 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stanislaus | 39,521 | 51.41% | 35,005 | 45.54% | 1,943 | 2.53% | 398 | 0.52% | 4,516 | 5.87% | 76,867 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sutter | 10,224 | 62.45% | 5,409 | 33.04% | 647 | 3.95% | 92 | 0.56% | 4,815 | 29.41% | 16,372 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tehama | 6,054 | 48.73% | 5,175 | 41.65% | 1,161 | 9.34% | 34 | 0.27% | 879 | 7.08% | 12,424 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trinity | 1,868 | 50.75% | 1,621 | 44.04% | 169 | 4.59% | 23 | 0.62% | 247 | 6.71% | 3,681 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulare | 36,048 | 59.93% | 21,775 | 36.20% | 2,076 | 3.45% | 251 | 0.42% | 14,273 | 23.73% | 60,150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuolumne | 5,894 | 54.29% | 4,596 | 42.34% | 299 | 2.75% | 67 | 0.62% | 1,298 | 11.95% | 10,856 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ventura | 95,310 | 63.20% | 49,307 | 32.70% | 5,586 | 3.70% | 602 | 0.40% | 46,003 | 30.50% | 150,805 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yolo | 17,969 | 42.04% | 23,694 | 55.44% | 800 | 1.87% | 275 | 0.64% | -5,725 | -13.40% | 42,738 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yuba | 6,623 | 56.95% | 4,435 | 38.13% | 518 | 4.45% | 54 | 0.46% | 2,188 | 18.82% | 11,630 |
References
References
- "Historical Voter Registration and Participation in Statewide General Elections 1910-2018".
- "STATEMENT OF VOTE - STATE OF CALIFORNIA - CONSOLIDATED PRIMARY ELECTION JUNE 6, 1972". California Secretary of State.
- "1972 Presidential General Election Results - California". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.
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