The 1972 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent
Governor of Washington Daniel J. Evans
Daniel Jackson Evans (born October 16, 1925) is an American politician who served as the List of governors of Washington, 16th governor of Washington from 1965 to 1977, and as United States Senator, United States senator representing Washington S ...
, who was first elected eight years earlier, and then re-elected in 1968, was eligible for re-election, as Washington does not have gubernatorial term limits.
A total of nine candidates filed for the primary on September 19. In the general election, incumbent
Republican Governor Evans was challenged by former governor
Albert Rosellini
Albert Dean Rosellini (January 21, 1910 – October 10, 2011) was an American politician who served as the List of governors of Washington, 15th governor of Washington from 1957 to 1965 and was both the first Italian Americans, Italian-Americ ...
, who ran as a
Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
, and by businessman Vick Gould, who ran with the Taxpayers' Party, a third party of Gould's own creation.
Evans and Rosellini received 24.66% and 30.27% of the votes in the primary, respectively. On election day, Evans defeated Rosellini by a comfortable margin of 50.78%-42.82% in a rematch of the
1964 contest.
Primary
Candidates
Republican Party
*
Daniel J. Evans
Daniel Jackson Evans (born October 16, 1925) is an American politician who served as the List of governors of Washington, 16th governor of Washington from 1965 to 1977, and as United States Senator, United States senator representing Washington S ...
, incumbent
Governor
*L. R. Kemore, candidate for governor in 1948
*Earl Monaghan
*
John "Hugo Frye" Patric,
perennial candidate
*
Perry Woodall,
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature.
Description
A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...
Democratic Party
*
Martin Durkan Sr.,
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature.
Description
A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...
*
Jim McDermott, psychiatrist and
State Representative
A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system.
Two federations literally use the term "state legislature":
* The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...
*
Albert Rosellini
Albert Dean Rosellini (January 21, 1910 – October 10, 2011) was an American politician who served as the List of governors of Washington, 15th governor of Washington from 1957 to 1965 and was both the first Italian Americans, Italian-Americ ...
, former governor
*Rudolfo Valdez
Results
General election
Candidates
*
Albert Rosellini
Albert Dean Rosellini (January 21, 1910 – October 10, 2011) was an American politician who served as the List of governors of Washington, 15th governor of Washington from 1957 to 1965 and was both the first Italian Americans, Italian-Americ ...
(D), former governor
*
Daniel J. Evans
Daniel Jackson Evans (born October 16, 1925) is an American politician who served as the List of governors of Washington, 16th governor of Washington from 1965 to 1977, and as United States Senator, United States senator representing Washington S ...
(R), incumbent
Governor
Results
See also
*
Arthur B. Langlie
Arthur Bernard Langlie (July 25, 1900 – July 24, 1966) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Seattle, Washington and was the 12th and 14th governor of the U.S. state of Washington from 1941 to 1945 and 1949 to 1957. To date ...
– A former governor of Washington who made a successful comeback in 1940
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington Gubernatorial Election, 1972
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 Solar time, me ...
1972 United States gubernatorial elections
Gubernatorial