See main article: 1972 United States presidential election.
Election Name: | 1972 United States presidential election in Michigan |
Country: | Michigan |
Type: | presidential |
Ongoing: | no |
Previous Election: | 1968 United States presidential election in Michigan |
Previous Year: | 1968 |
Next Election: | 1976 United States presidential election in Michigan |
Next Year: | 1976 |
Votes For Election: | All 21 Michigan votes to the Electoral College |
Turnout: | 59.4% [1] |
Election Date: | November 7, 1972[2] |
Image1: | Richard Nixon presidential portrait (1).jpg |
Nominee1: | Richard Nixon |
Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
Home State1: | California |
Running Mate1: | Spiro Agnew |
Electoral Vote1: | 21 |
Popular Vote1: | 1,961,721 |
Percentage1: | 56.20% |
Nominee2: | George McGovern |
Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Home State2: | South Dakota |
Running Mate2: | Sargent Shriver |
Electoral Vote2: | 0 |
Popular Vote2: | 1,459,435 |
Percentage2: | 41.81% |
President | |
Before Election: | Richard Nixon |
Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
After Election: | Richard Nixon |
After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
Map Size: | 375px |
The 1972 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November7, 1972, as part of the 1972 United States presidential election. Voters chose 21[3] representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
Michigan was won by incumbent President Richard Nixon (R–California), with 56.20% of the popular vote, against George McGovern (D–South Dakota), with 41.81% of the popular vote—a victory margin of 14.4%.[4] [5] John G. Schmitz was the only other candidate on the ballot, and, as the candidate for the American Independent Party, he received over 63,000 votes. Despite voting for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time since 1956, this result nonetheless made Michigan 8.8% more Democratic than the nation at large.
Nixon's victory was the first of five consecutive Republican victories in the state, as Michigan would not vote for a Democratic candidate again until Bill Clinton in 1992. Since then it has become a Democratic-leaning swing state.
Delta, Lake, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties were the only four of Michigan's 83 counties to vote for McGovern. Washtenaw was one of only six counties outside South Dakota (McGovern's home state) to vote for McGovern after voting for Richard Nixon in 1968. Nixon became the first Republican to win the White House without carrying Washtenaw since Benjamin Harrison in 1888.
As of the 2020 presidential election, this is the last time Wayne County was decided by a single-digit margin. It is also the last election in which Michigan voted to the left of New York.
County | Richard Nixon Republican | George McGovern Democratic | John G. Schmitz American Independent | Louis Fisher Socialist Labor | Linda Jenness Socialist Workers | Gus Hall Communist | Various candidates Write-ins | Margin | Total votes cast[6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alcona | 2,434 | 65.91% | 1,195 | 32.36% | 63 | 1.71% | 1 | 0.03% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,239 | 33.55% | 3,693 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Alger | 2,035 | 52.48% | 1,803 | 46.49% | 35 | 0.90% | 1 | 0.03% | 2 | 0.05% | 2 | 0.05% | 232 | 5.99% | 3,878 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allegan | 18,407 | 68.47% | 7,883 | 29.32% | 554 | 2.06% | 18 | 0.07% | 4 | 0.01% | 7 | 0.03% | 11 | 0.04% | 10,524 | 39.15% | 26,884 | ||||||||||||||||||
Alpena | 6,513 | 55.05% | 5,104 | 43.14% | 204 | 1.72% | 6 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.01% | 3 | 0.03% | 1,409 | 11.91% | 11,831 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Antrim | 4,068 | 64.77% | 2,000 | 31.84% | 200 | 3.18% | 5 | 0.08% | 2 | 0.03% | 5 | 0.08% | 1 | 0.02% | 2,068 | 32.93% | 6,281 | ||||||||||||||||||
Arenac | 2,588 | 57.43% | 1,829 | 40.59% | 85 | 1.89% | 2 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.02% | 1 | 0.02% | 759 | 16.84% | 4,506 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Baraga | 1,905 | 54.93% | 1,517 | 43.74% | 38 | 1.10% | 6 | 0.17% | 2 | 0.06% | 0 | 0.00% | 388 | 11.19% | 3,468 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Barry | 10,393 | 64.02% | 5,484 | 33.78% | 340 | 2.09% | 7 | 0.04% | 2 | 0.01% | 3 | 0.02% | 4 | 0.02% | 4,909 | 30.24% | 16,233 | ||||||||||||||||||
Bay | 23,094 | 50.08% | 21,712 | 47.08% | 1,254 | 2.72% | 31 | 0.07% | 14 | 0.03% | 13 | 0.03% | 1,382 | 3.00% | 46,118 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Benzie | 2,686 | 66.26% | 1,310 | 32.31% | 55 | 1.36% | 2 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.02% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,376 | 33.95% | 4,054 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Berrien | 43,047 | 68.26% | 18,597 | 29.49% | 1,333 | 2.11% | 34 | 0.05% | 21 | 0.03% | 19 | 0.03% | 9 | 0.01% | 24,450 | 38.77% | 63,060 | ||||||||||||||||||
Branch | 8,388 | 62.01% | 4,887 | 36.13% | 215 | 1.59% | 18 | 0.13% | 6 | 0.04% | 7 | 0.05% | 5 | 0.04% | 3,501 | 25.88% | 13,526 | ||||||||||||||||||
Calhoun | 32,531 | 58.27% | 22,154 | 39.68% | 1,002 | 1.79% | 59 | 0.11% | 52 | 0.09% | 30 | 0.05% | 10,377 | 18.59% | 55,828 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cass | 10,398 | 66.31% | 4,982 | 31.77% | 286 | 1.82% | 6 | 0.04% | 2 | 0.01% | 5 | 0.03% | 2 | 0.01% | 5,416 | 34.54% | 15,681 | ||||||||||||||||||
Charlevoix | 4,522 | 59.04% | 2,831 | 36.96% | 301 | 3.93% | 4 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.01% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,691 | 22.08% | 7,659 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cheboygan | 4,529 | 59.11% | 2,985 | 38.96% | 142 | 1.85% | 1 | 0.01% | 4 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.01% | 1,544 | 20.15% | 7,662 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chippewa | 7,028 | 59.03% | 4,744 | 39.85% | 132 | 1.11% | 1 | 0.01% | 1 | 0.01% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,284 | 19.18% | 11,906 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Clare | 4,402 | 62.99% | 2,434 | 34.83% | 144 | 2.06% | 1 | 0.01% | 3 | 0.04% | 2 | 0.03% | 2 | 0.03% | 1,968 | 28.16% | 6,988 | ||||||||||||||||||
Clinton | 13,438 | 68.38% | 5,870 | 29.87% | 322 | 1.64% | 11 | 0.06% | 5 | 0.03% | 2 | 0.01% | 5 | 0.03% | 7,568 | 38.51% | 19,653 | ||||||||||||||||||
Crawford | 1,953 | 61.98% | 1,143 | 36.27% | 50 | 1.59% | 4 | 0.13% | 1 | 0.03% | 0 | 0.00% | 810 | 25.71% | 3,151 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Delta | 7,647 | 48.14% | 8,003 | 50.38% | 220 | 1.38% | 10 | 0.06% | 2 | 0.01% | 4 | 0.03% | -356 | -2.24% | 15,886 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dickinson | 5,989 | 51.12% | 5,339 | 45.57% | 378 | 3.23% | 6 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.01% | 2 | 0.02% | 650 | 5.55% | 11,715 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Eaton | 20,413 | 68.47% | 8,986 | 30.14% | 386 | 1.29% | 10 | 0.03% | 11 | 0.04% | 5 | 0.02% | 11,427 | 38.33% | 29,811 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Emmet | 5,288 | 61.91% | 3,081 | 36.07% | 163 | 1.91% | 4 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.01% | 4 | 0.05% | 2,207 | 25.84% | 8,541 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Genesee | 85,747 | 52.78% | 73,896 | 45.49% | 2,602 | 1.60% | 73 | 0.04% | 72 | 0.04% | 59 | 0.04% | 11,851 | 7.29% | 162,449 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gladwin | 3,484 | 61.94% | 2,016 | 35.84% | 123 | 2.19% | 1 | 0.02% | 1 | 0.02% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,468 | 26.10% | 5,625 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gogebic | 5,631 | 52.26% | 4,984 | 46.25% | 151 | 1.40% | 6 | 0.06% | 3 | 0.03% | 1 | 0.01% | 647 | 6.01% | 10,776 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Grand Traverse | 11,421 | 64.81% | 5,810 | 32.97% | 372 | 2.11% | 6 | 0.03% | 6 | 0.03% | 6 | 0.03% | 5,611 | 31.84% | 17,621 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gratiot | 9,904 | 68.41% | 4,370 | 30.18% | 184 | 1.27% | 8 | 0.06% | 5 | 0.03% | 7 | 0.05% | 5,534 | 38.23% | 14,478 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hillsdale | 9,261 | 68.64% | 3,942 | 29.22% | 276 | 2.05% | 4 | 0.03% | 1 | 0.01% | 8 | 0.06% | 5,319 | 39.42% | 13,492 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Houghton | 9,053 | 58.07% | 6,402 | 41.06% | 131 | 0.84% | 1 | 0.01% | 3 | 0.02% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,651 | 17.01% | 15,590 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Huron | 9,832 | 67.36% | 4,456 | 30.53% | 292 | 2.00% | 6 | 0.04% | 7 | 0.05% | 2 | 0.01% | 1 | 0.01% | 5,376 | 36.83% | 14,596 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ingham | 63,376 | 53.60% | 53,458 | 45.21% | 1,079 | 0.91% | 118 | 0.10% | 110 | 0.09% | 41 | 0.03% | 61 | 0.05% | 9,918 | 8.39% | 118,243 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ionia | 10,898 | 62.57% | 6,240 | 35.83% | 255 | 1.46% | 7 | 0.04% | 4 | 0.02% | 8 | 0.05% | 4 | 0.02% | 4,658 | 26.74% | 17,416 | ||||||||||||||||||
Iosco | 5,750 | 64.10% | 3,065 | 34.17% | 150 | 1.67% | 2 | 0.02% | 3 | 0.03% | 1 | 0.01% | 2,685 | 29.93% | 8,971 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Iron | 3,630 | 49.21% | 3,512 | 47.61% | 229 | 3.10% | 3 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.01% | 1 | 0.01% | 118 | 1.60% | 7,376 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Isabella | 9,682 | 55.47% | 7,446 | 42.66% | 248 | 1.42% | 22 | 0.13% | 35 | 0.20% | 10 | 0.06% | 11 | 0.06% | 2,236 | 12.81% | 17,454 | ||||||||||||||||||
Jackson | 34,220 | 62.33% | 19,350 | 35.24% | 1,254 | 2.28% | 32 | 0.06% | 18 | 0.03% | 17 | 0.03% | 12 | 0.02% | 14,870 | 27.09% | 54,903 | ||||||||||||||||||
Kalamazoo | 50,405 | 58.77% | 33,324 | 38.85% | 1,819 | 2.12% | 81 | 0.09% | 48 | 0.06% | 33 | 0.04% | 60 | 0.07% | 17,081 | 19.92% | 85,770 | ||||||||||||||||||
Kalkaska | 1,855 | 64.39% | 924 | 32.07% | 100 | 3.47% | 2 | 0.07% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 931 | 32.32% | 2,881 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kent | 104,041 | 59.30% | 67,587 | 38.52% | 3,563 | 2.03% | 134 | 0.08% | 55 | 0.03% | 61 | 0.03% | 20 | 0.01% | 36,454 | 20.78% | 175,461 | ||||||||||||||||||
Keweenaw | 715 | 60.49% | 456 | 38.58% | 9 | 0.76% | 1 | 0.08% | 1 | 0.08% | 0 | 0.00% | 259 | 21.91% | 1,182 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lake | 1,532 | 48.93% | 1,548 | 49.44% | 47 | 1.50% | 1 | 0.03% | 1 | 0.03% | 2 | 0.06% | -16 | -0.51% | 3,131 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lapeer | 11,615 | 66.02% | 5,531 | 31.44% | 421 | 2.39% | 7 | 0.04% | 2 | 0.01% | 9 | 0.05% | 7 | 0.04% | 6,084 | 34.58% | 17,592 | ||||||||||||||||||
Leelanau | 3,809 | 65.82% | 1,855 | 32.05% | 118 | 2.04% | 3 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.02% | 1 | 0.02% | 1,954 | 33.77% | 5,787 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lenawee | 19,125 | 62.39% | 11,018 | 35.94% | 473 | 1.54% | 14 | 0.05% | 13 | 0.04% | 4 | 0.01% | 7 | 0.02% | 8,107 | 26.45% | 30,654 | ||||||||||||||||||
Livingston | 16,856 | 66.85% | 7,634 | 30.28% | 694 | 2.75% | 15 | 0.06% | 8 | 0.03% | 3 | 0.01% | 5 | 0.02% | 9,222 | 36.57% | 25,215 | ||||||||||||||||||
Luce | 1,579 | 63.49% | 862 | 34.66% | 46 | 1.85% | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 717 | 28.83% | 2,487 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Mackinac | 3,096 | 60.66% | 1,937 | 37.95% | 64 | 1.25% | 4 | 0.08% | 1 | 0.02% | 2 | 0.04% | 1,159 | 22.71% | 5,104 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Macomb | 147,777 | 62.67% | 82,346 | 34.92% | 5,286 | 2.24% | 180 | 0.08% | 92 | 0.04% | 65 | 0.03% | 47 | 0.02% | 65,431 | 27.75% | 235,793 | ||||||||||||||||||
Manistee | 5,070 | 57.20% | 3,625 | 40.90% | 160 | 1.81% | 4 | 0.05% | 2 | 0.02% | 2 | 0.02% | 1,445 | 16.30% | 8,863 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Marquette | 13,249 | 52.67% | 11,555 | 45.93% | 329 | 1.31% | 10 | 0.04% | 7 | 0.03% | 7 | 0.03% | 1,694 | 6.74% | 25,157 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mason | 6,811 | 63.57% | 3,697 | 34.50% | 173 | 1.61% | 9 | 0.08% | 10 | 0.09% | 3 | 0.03% | 12 | 0.11% | 3,114 | 29.07% | 10,715 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mecosta | 7,158 | 64.29% | 3,799 | 34.12% | 157 | 1.41% | 11 | 0.10% | 3 | 0.03% | 6 | 0.05% | 3,359 | 30.17% | 11,134 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Menominee | 6,060 | 55.19% | 4,657 | 42.41% | 260 | 2.37% | 2 | 0.02% | 1 | 0.01% | 1 | 0.01% | 1,403 | 12.78% | 10,981 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Midland | 16,473 | 61.38% | 9,504 | 35.42% | 809 | 3.01% | 16 | 0.06% | 13 | 0.05% | 10 | 0.04% | 11 | 0.04% | 6,969 | 25.96% | 26,836 | ||||||||||||||||||
Missaukee | 2,647 | 71.79% | 924 | 25.06% | 110 | 2.98% | 2 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.03% | 1 | 0.03% | 2 | 0.05% | 1,723 | 46.73% | 3,687 | ||||||||||||||||||
Monroe | 23,263 | 54.76% | 17,726 | 41.73% | 1,431 | 3.37% | 23 | 0.05% | 12 | 0.03% | 10 | 0.02% | 14 | 0.03% | 5,537 | 13.03% | 42,479 | ||||||||||||||||||
Montcalm | 9,591 | 61.97% | 5,602 | 36.19% | 270 | 1.74% | 6 | 0.04% | 7 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.01% | 1 | 0.01% | 3,989 | 25.78% | 15,478 | ||||||||||||||||||
Montmorency | 1,798 | 64.49% | 914 | 32.78% | 74 | 2.65% | 1 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% | 884 | 31.71% | 2,788 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Muskegon | 36,428 | 59.60% | 22,804 | 37.31% | 1,756 | 2.87% | 71 | 0.12% | 32 | 0.05% | 18 | 0.03% | 16 | 0.03% | 13,624 | 22.29% | 61,125 | ||||||||||||||||||
Newaygo | 8,245 | 65.62% | 3,978 | 31.66% | 324 | 2.58% | 11 | 0.09% | 3 | 0.02% | 4 | 0.03% | 4,267 | 33.96% | 12,565 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Oakland | 241,613 | 63.78% | 129,400 | 34.16% | 7,088 | 1.87% | 318 | 0.08% | 134 | 0.04% | 87 | 0.02% | 211 | 0.06% | 112,213 | 29.62% | 378,851 | ||||||||||||||||||
Oceana | 4,992 | 64.20% | 2,525 | 32.47% | 253 | 3.25% | 1 | 0.01% | 4 | 0.05% | 1 | 0.01% | 2,467 | 31.73% | 7,776 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ogemaw | 3,367 | 60.77% | 2,056 | 37.11% | 112 | 2.02% | 3 | 0.05% | 3 | 0.05% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,311 | 23.66% | 5,541 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ontonagon | 3,040 | 57.51% | 2,140 | 40.48% | 105 | 1.99% | 1 | 0.02% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 900 | 17.03% | 5,286 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Osceola | 4,441 | 69.95% | 1,706 | 26.87% | 184 | 2.90% | 7 | 0.11% | 4 | 0.06% | 3 | 0.05% | 4 | 0.06% | 2,735 | 43.08% | 6,349 | ||||||||||||||||||
Oscoda | 1,561 | 67.61% | 678 | 29.36% | 67 | 2.90% | 2 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% | 883 | 38.25% | 2,309 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Otsego | 2,854 | 58.93% | 1,912 | 39.48% | 69 | 1.42% | 1 | 0.02% | 2 | 0.04% | 5 | 0.10% | 942 | 19.45% | 4,843 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ottawa | 42,169 | 71.99% | 15,119 | 25.81% | 1,201 | 2.05% | 41 | 0.07% | 16 | 0.03% | 13 | 0.02% | 17 | 0.03% | 27,050 | 46.18% | 58,576 | ||||||||||||||||||
Presque Isle | 3,372 | 56.23% | 2,440 | 40.69% | 184 | 3.07% | 1 | 0.02% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 932 | 15.54% | 5,997 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Roscommon | 4,136 | 64.17% | 2,187 | 33.93% | 114 | 1.77% | 2 | 0.03% | 5 | 0.08% | 1 | 0.02% | 1,949 | 30.24% | 6,445 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saginaw | 47,920 | 61.03% | 29,424 | 37.47% | 1,068 | 1.36% | 46 | 0.06% | 35 | 0.04% | 28 | 0.04% | 18,496 | 23.56% | 78,521 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sanilac | 11,031 | 72.93% | 3,780 | 24.99% | 302 | 2.00% | 4 | 0.03% | 2 | 0.01% | 5 | 0.03% | 1 | 0.01% | 7,251 | 47.94% | 15,125 | ||||||||||||||||||
Schoolcraft | 2,310 | 56.01% | 1,759 | 42.65% | 53 | 1.29% | 1 | 0.02% | 1 | 0.02% | 0 | 0.00% | 551 | 13.36% | 4,124 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shiawassee | 15,489 | 61.62% | 8,932 | 35.53% | 689 | 2.74% | 13 | 0.05% | 6 | 0.02% | 7 | 0.03% | 6,557 | 26.09% | 25,136 | ||||||||||||||||||||
St. Clair | 28,471 | 63.05% | 15,712 | 34.79% | 925 | 2.05% | 17 | 0.04% | 18 | 0.04% | 16 | 0.04% | 12,759 | 28.26% | 45,159 | ||||||||||||||||||||
St. Joseph | 12,438 | 69.15% | 5,119 | 28.46% | 418 | 2.32% | 5 | 0.03% | 3 | 0.02% | 5 | 0.03% | 7,319 | 40.69% | 17,988 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuscola | 12,198 | 67.96% | 5,449 | 30.36% | 280 | 1.56% | 6 | 0.03% | 2 | 0.01% | 12 | 0.07% | 2 | 0.01% | 6,749 | 37.60% | 17,949 | ||||||||||||||||||
Van Buren | 13,903 | 64.57% | 7,159 | 33.25% | 428 | 1.99% | 15 | 0.07% | 7 | 0.03% | 8 | 0.04% | 11 | 0.05% | 6,744 | 31.32% | 21,531 | ||||||||||||||||||
Washtenaw | 50,535 | 46.98% | 55,350 | 51.45% | 1,517 | 1.41% | 54 | 0.05% | 82 | 0.08% | 37 | 0.03% | -4,815 | -4.47% | 107,575 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wayne | 435,877 | 45.08% | 514,913 | 53.26% | 14,294 | 1.48% | 758 | 0.08% | 569 | 0.06% | 466 | 0.05% | -79,036 | -8.18% | 966,877 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wexford | 5,221 | 61.43% | 3,048 | 35.86% | 229 | 2.69% | 1 | 0.01% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,173 | 25.57% | 8,499 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Totals | 1,961,721 | 56.20% | 1,459,435 | 41.81% | 63,321 | 1.81% | 2,437 | 0.07% | 1,603 | 0.05% | 1,210 | 0.03% | 598 | 0.02% | 502,286 | 14.39% | 3,490,325 |