1972 Montana gubernatorial election

The 1972 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Governor of Montana Forrest H. Anderson, who was first elected in 1968, declined to seek re-election. Thomas Lee Judge, the Lieutenant Governor of Montana, won a competitive Democratic primary, and moved on to the general election, where he faced Ed Smith, a rancher and the Republican nominee. Although then-President Richard Nixon won the state in a landslide in that year's presidential election, Judge managed to handily defeat Smith, winning his first of two terms as governor.

1972 Montana gubernatorial election

November 7, 1972
 
Nominee Thomas Lee Judge Ed Smith
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 172,523 146,231
Percentage 54.12% 45.88%

County results
Anderson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Smith:      50-60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election

Forrest H. Anderson
Democratic

Elected Governor

Thomas Lee Judge
Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas Lee Judge 75,917 59.87
Democratic Dick Dzivi 38,639 30.47
Democratic Eva Levengood Shunkwiler 5,707 4.50
Democratic Dallas E. Howard 4,255 3.36
Democratic David E. Burnham 2,276 1.80
Total votes 126,794 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Smith 39,552 40.65
Republican Frank Dunkle 37,375 38.41
Republican Tom A. Selstad 18,046 18.55
Republican Warren McMillan 2,331 2.40
Total votes 97,304 100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1972[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas Lee Judge 172,523 54.12% +7.58%
Republican Ed Smith 146,231 45.88% +4.01%
Majority 26,292 8.25% -3.99%
Turnout 318,754
Democratic hold Swing

References

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