The 1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.

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 ...

nominee James Holshouser defeated Democratic nominee

Skipper Bowles Hargrove "Skipper" Bowles Jr. (November 16, 1919 – September 7, 1986) was an American Democratic politician and businessman, based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Early life Hargrove Bowles Jr. was born on November 16, 1919 in Monroe, North ...

with 51% of the vote. Holshouser thus became the first Republican elected governor of the state since 1896. This election was also the first time in a century (since the 1872 election) that a Republican candidate won an outright majority of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 6, 1972.

Democratic primary

Candidates

, State Senator * Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr., incumbent Lieutenant Governor * Reginald A. Hawkins, civil rights activist and dentist *

Wilbur Hobby Wilbur Hobby (November 8, 1925 – May 9, 1992) was an American labor unionist. He was the president of the North Carolina chapter of the American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) from 1969 to 1981. Hobby also ...

, labor union leader *C. Eugene Leggett *Zeb V.K. Dickson

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

* James Holshouser, State Representative *

Jim Gardner James or Jim Gardner may refer to: * James Gardner (surveyor), British engineer * James Gardner (designer) (1907–1995), British industrial designer * James Gardner (musician) (born 1962), British musician and composer * James A. Gardner (1943� ...

, former

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

*Leroy Gibson *Thomas E. Chappell

Results

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates *James Holshouser, Republican *Skipper Bowles, Democratic Other candidates *Arlis F. Pettyjohn, American

Results

References

{{United States elections, 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 mean solar tim ...

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

Gubernatorial A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...