The 1972 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Governor of Washington Daniel J. Evans, 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.

On election day, Evans defeated former governor Albert D. Rosellini by a comfortable margin of 117,212 votes, in a rematch of the 1964 contest. Businessman Vick Gould, who ran with the Taxpayers Party, a third party of Gould's own creation, also received 5.9% of the vote. Evans was the first governor of Washington to be elected to a third consecutive term.

Primary election A total of nine candidates filed for the blanket primary on September 19, 1972. Evans and Rosellini won their party's nominations, receiving 24.66% and 30.27% of the votes in the primary, respectively.

Candidates Republican Party Daniel J. Evans, incumbent governor L. R. Kemore, candidate for governor in 1948 Earl Monaghan John "Hugo Frye" Patric, perennial candidate Perry B. Woodall, state senator

Democratic Party Martin J. Durkan, state senator James A. McDermott, psychiatrist and state representative Albert D. Rosellini, former governor Rudolfo Valdez

Results

General election Candidates Robin David (SWP) Daniel J. Evans (R), incumbent governor Vick Gould (Taxpayers), businessman Henry Killman (SLP), perennial candidate Albert D. Rosellini (D), former governor

Results

Results by county CountyDaniel J. EvansRepublicanAlbert D. RoselliniDemocraticVick GouldTaxpayersRobin DavidSocialist WorkersHenry KillmanSocialist LaborMarginTotal votes cast#%#%#%#%#%#%Adams2,58357.17%1,72738.22%2044.52%10.02%30.07%85618.95%4,518Asotin2,85149.78%2,75048.02%1222.13%20.03%20.03%1011.76%5,727Benton17,01055.50%12,54040.91%1,0033.27%680.22%280.09%4,47014.58%30,649Chelan9,14552.66%7,14341.13%1,0155.84%400.23%230.13%2,00211.53%17,366Clallam8,15350.12%7,19644.23%8885.46%180.11%130.08%9575.88%16,268Clark30,55751.93%24,73342.03%3,2575.54%2090.36%870.15%5,8249.90%58,843Columbia1,09452.29%91443.69%813.87%00.00%30.14%1808.60%2,092Cowlitz13,79749.17%13,46848.00%6842.44%540.19%540.19%3291.17%28,057Douglas3,57848.23%3,38445.62%4516.08%40.05%10.01%1942.62%7,418Ferry55036.28%77751.25%18712.34%10.07%10.07%-227-14.97%1,516Franklin5,01147.73%5,12148.78%3383.22%140.13%140.13%-110-1.05%10,498Garfield83253.68%68544.19%322.06%10.06%00.00%1479.48%1,550Grant7,62948.79%7,15645.77%8085.17%230.15%190.12%4733.03%15,635Grays Harbor9,27738.51%13,30355.22%1,3695.68%480.20%920.38%-4,026-16.71%24,089Island6,45658.94%4,00636.57%4604.20%190.17%120.11%2,45022.37%10,953Jefferson2,06839.97%2,71752.51%3476.71%230.44%190.37%-649-12.54%5,174King292,61655.41%204,21238.67%27,8765.28%2,1440.41%1,2720.24%88,40416.74%528,120Kitsap19,72042.70%23,65251.21%2,6125.66%1190.26%800.17%-3,932-8.51%46,183Kittitas5,48854.04%4,24141.76%3823.76%380.37%70.07%1,24712.28%10,156Klickitat3,08455.35%2,26740.69%2143.84%40.07%30.05%81714.66%5,572Lewis8,33940.11%10,95552.69%1,4607.02%250.12%110.05%-2,616-12.58%20,790Lincoln2,75752.48%2,13740.68%3556.76%10.02%30.06%62011.80%5,253Mason4,09340.84%5,38653.75%5205.19%120.12%100.10%-1,293-12.90%10,021Okanogan4,19740.22%5,14149.27%1,07010.25%140.13%130.12%-944-9.05%10,435Pacific2,67437.32%4,31060.15%1612.25%100.14%100.14%-1,636-22.83%7,165Pend Oreille1,19740.76%1,54052.43%1956.64%30.10%20.07%-343-11.68%2,937Pierce63,49742.99%75,72351.27%7,9865.41%2740.19%2140.14%12,2268.28%147,694San Juan1,82866.79%69925.54%1816.61%180.66%110.40%1,12941.25%2,737Skagit11,96347.82%11,97747.88%9973.99%560.22%230.09%-14-0.06%25,016Skamania1,01136.92%1,15442.15%56520.64%50.18%30.11%-143-5.22%2,738Snohomish50,87747.88%46,60843.86%8,2557.77%3280.31%1940.18%4,2694.02%106,262Spokane60,78948.34%50,70640.33%13,60710.82%4220.34%2180.17%10,0838.02%125,742Stevens3,23240.99%3,56845.26%1,06013.44%100.13%140.18%-336-4.26%7,884Thurston18,67347.71%17,86945.66%2,4296.21%1140.29%530.14%8042.05%39,138Wahkiakum79346.67%81748.09%784.59%30.18%80.47%-24-1.41%1,699Walla Walla10,04254.54%8,00443.47%3371.83%180.10%110.06%2,03811.07%18,412Whatcom22,77659.47%12,74133.27%2,3886.24%2680.70%1240.32%10,03526.20%38,297Whitman10,91567.99%4,42827.58%6053.77%830.52%240.15%6,48740.40%16,055Yakima26,67349.50%24,85846.13%2,2644.20%580.11%300.06%1,8153.37%53,883Totals747,82550.78%630,61342.82%86,8435.90%4,5520.31%2,7090.18%117,2127.96%1,472,542

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Clark Cowlitz

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Ferry Kitsap Lewis Okanogan Skagit Stevens Wahkiakum

See also Arthur B. Langlie – A former governor of Washington who made a successful comeback in 1940

Notes

References