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1972 Utah gubernatorial election

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1972 Utah gubernatorial election

← 1968 November 7, 1972 1976 →
 
Nominee Cal Rampton Nicholas L. Strike
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 331,998 144,449
Percentage 69.69% 30.31%

County results
Rampton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Strike:      50–60%

Governor before election

Cal Rampton
Democratic

Elected Governor

Cal Rampton
Democratic

The 1972 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Democratic incumbent Cal Rampton defeated Republican nominee Nicholas L. Strike with 69.69% of the vote. Rampton's victory was despite incumbent Republican president Richard Nixon winning the state with over 67% of the vote in the concurrent presidential election.[1]

Campaign

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It is suggested that Rampton, as a moderate Democrat, was acceptable enough to Utah's Republican Party that in both the 1968 and 1972 elections, they put forward only token candidates.[2] By October 1972, Rampton was seen as very likely to win, with his election appearing "assured" according to The New York Times.[3]

General election

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Candidates

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  • Cal Rampton, incumbent Governor (Democratic)
  • Nicholas L. Strike, former Navy officer, former Mormon Church leader, and President of the Utah Manufacturer's Association from 1968 to 1969 (Republican)

Results

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1972 Utah gubernatorial election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Cal Rampton (incumbent) 331,998 69.69%
Republican Nicholas L. Strike 144,449 30.31%
Majority 187,549 39.38
Turnout 476,447
Democratic hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ "1972 Presidential General Election Results – Utah". Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "RAMPTON, CALVIN L." Utah History Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Warren Weaver Jr. (October 15, 1972). "THE 1972 CAMPAIGN". The New York Times. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "UT Governor". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 4, 2020.