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1972 United States Senate election in Texas

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1972 United States Senate election in Texas

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →
 
Nominee John Tower Barefoot Sanders
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,822,877 1,511,985
Percentage 53.41% 44.30%

County results
Tower:      40–50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Sanders:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
     70–80%      80–90%
Amaya:      30–40%

U.S. senator before election

John Tower
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John Tower
Republican

The 1972 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Tower won re-election to a third term.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1972 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ralph Yarborough 1,032,606 49.99%
Democratic Barefoot Sanders 787,504 38.12%
Democratic Hugh Wilson 125,460 6.07%
Democratic Thomas M. Cartlidge 66,240 3.21%
Democratic Alfonso Veloz 53,938 2.61%
Total votes 2,065,748 100.00%

Although he received over one million votes, Yarborough was 269 short of a majority. He and Sanders advanced to a runoff election held June 3.

Runoff campaign

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1972 Democratic U.S. Senate runoff[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Barefoot Sanders 1,008,499 52.08% Increase13.96
Democratic Ralph Yarborough 928,132 47.93% Decrease2.06
Total votes 1,936,631 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Tower (incumbent) 1,822,877 53.41% −2.98%
Democratic Barefoot Sanders 1,511,985 44.30% +1.15%
Raza Unida Flores Amaya 63,543 1.86% N/A
Socialist Workers Tom Leonard 14,464 0.42% N/A

References

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  1. ^ "US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  2. ^ "US Senate - D Runoff". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns - TX US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972".