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.
Democratic primary
Candidates Thomas Lee Judge, Lieutenant Governor of Montana Dick Dzivi, Majority Leader of the Montana Senate Eva Levengood Shunkwiler Dallas E. Howard David E. Burnham
Results
Republican primary
Candidates Ed Smith, rancher Frank Dunkle, former Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, former State Senator Tom A. Selstad, businessman Warren McMillan
Results
General election
Results
References