The United States Senate election of 1972 in Massachusetts was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
Senator
Edward Brooke
Edward William Brooke III (October 26, 1919 – January 3, 2015) was an American politician of the Republican Party, who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1967 until 1979. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served as th ...
defeated
Democratic nominee John Droney in a landslide. , this remains the last time that a Republican has
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
’s Class 2 Senate seat and the last time a Republican has been elected to either Senate seat for a full term. This was also the last time until
2010 that a Republican would win any U.S. Senate election in the state.
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Edward Brooke
Edward William Brooke III (October 26, 1919 – January 3, 2015) was an American politician of the Republican Party, who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1967 until 1979. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served as th ...
, incumbent Senator since 1967
Senator Edward Brooke was unopposed for re-nomination. At the state convention on June 24, he was renominated by acclamation.
Democratic primary
Candidates
* John J. Droney, Middlesex County District Attorney
*
Gerald O'Leary,
Boston City Councilor
* John P. Lynch,
Hampden County Register of Deeds
Declined
*
John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth Galbraith (October 15, 1908 – April 29, 2006), also known as Ken Galbraith, was a Canadian-American economist, diplomat, public official, and intellectual. His books on economic topics were bestsellers from the 1950s through t ...
, economist and former U.S. Ambassador to India
Campaign
John Droney won the party endorsement at the June 11 convention on the sixth ballot. The party platform endorsed legalized marijuana and an end to the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...
.
During the campaign, Droney declined to prosecute Senator Brooke for perjury stemming admitted misstatements during his divorce proceedings, citing a lack of jurisdiction as the proceedings had taken place in Boston.
Results
General election
Candidates
*
Edward Brooke
Edward William Brooke III (October 26, 1919 – January 3, 2015) was an American politician of the Republican Party, who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1967 until 1979. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served as th ...
, incumbent Senator since 1967 (Republican)
* John J. Droney, Middlesex County District Attorney (Democratic)
* Donald Gurewitz, anti-war activist (Socialist Workers)
Results
See also
*
United States Senate elections, 1972
The 1972 United States Senate elections coincided with the landslide re-election of Republican President Richard Nixon. Despite Nixon's landslide victory, Democrats increased their majority by two seats. The Democrats picked up open seats in Ken ...
External links and references
Race detailsat ourcampaigns.com
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using mean solar tim ...
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
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