1972 United States House of Representatives elections


The 1972 United States House of Representatives elections coincided with the landslide reelection victory of President Richard M. Nixon. Nixon's Republican Party managed to gain a net of twelve House of Representatives seats from the Democratic Party, although the Democrats retained a majority.
This was the first election in which citizens at least 18 years of age could vote, due to the recent passage of the 26th Amendment.

Special elections

Six special elections were also held throughout the year, six before November and one concurrent with the November general election.
DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
Robert StaffordRepublican1960Incumbent resigned September 16, 1971 when appointed U.S. Senator.
New member elected January 7, 1972.
Republican hold.
Winner was [|re-elected in November].
George W. AndrewsDemocratic1944 Incumbent died December 25, 1971.
New member elected April 4, 1972.
Democratic hold.
Winner [|did not run for re-election in November].
Charlotte Thompson ReidRepublican1962Incumbent resigned October 7, 1971 to become Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission.
New member elected April 4, 1972.
Republican hold.
Winner was re-elected in November.
James G. FultonRepublican1944Incumbent died October 6, 1971.
New member elected April 25, 1972.
Republican hold.
Winner was not renominated in primary for election to full term in November.
Edwin EdwardsDemocratic1965 Incumbent resigned May 9, 1972 when elected Governor of Louisiana.
New member elected September 30, 1972.
Democratic hold.
Winner was re-elected in November.
Richard Harding PoffRepublican1952Incumbent resigned August 29, 1972 to become judge of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
New member elected November 7, 1972.
Republican hold.
Winner was also [|elected the same day to the next term].

Summary of results

Source:

Incumbents retiring

Democratic gains

Incumbents defeated in primary

  1. : George P. Miller
  2. : John G. Schmitz
  3. : Wayne Aspinall
  4. : George Elliott Hagan
  5. : Jack H. McDonald
  6. : Walter S. Baring Jr.
  7. : Cornelius Edward Gallagher
  8. : Emanuel Celler
  9. : James H. Scheuer
  10. : James A. Byrne
  11. : William Sheldrick Conover
  12. : John L. McMillan
  13. : James Kee

    Incumbents defeated in general election

  14. : Mike McKevitt
  15. : John S. Monagan
  16. : Abner J. Mikva
  17. : Andrew Jacobs Jr.
  18. : Fred Schwengel
  19. : John Henry Kyl
  20. : Louise Day Hicks
  21. : John G. Dow
  22. : William Anderson
  23. : Earle Cabell
  24. : Graham B. Purcell Jr.
  25. : Sherman P. Lloyd
  26. : Alvin E. O'Konski

    Alabama

Alabama was reapportioned from 8 to 7 seats and eliminated the old, dividing it between the old 2nd and 4th and making compensating boundary changes elsewhere.
DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Jack EdwardsRepublican1964Incumbent re-elected.
William Louis DickinsonRepublican1964Incumbent re-elected.
Elizabeth B. Andrews
Democratic1972 Incumbent retired.
Democratic loss.
Bill Nichols
Democratic1966Incumbent re-elected.
Tom Bevill
Democratic1966Incumbent re-elected.
Robert E. Jones Jr.
Democratic1947 Incumbent re-elected.
John Hall Buchanan Jr.Republican1964Incumbent re-elected.
Walter Flowers
Democratic1968Incumbent re-elected.

Alaska

Incumbent Nick Begich won re-election three weeks after having disappeared in a plane crash October 16; challenger Don Young would later win a March special election after Begich was declared dead on December 29.
DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Nick BegichDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.

Arizona

Arizona was reapportioned from 3 seats to 4 and carved a new district in the Phoenix suburbs and the northeast from parts of the existing districts.

Arkansas

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
William Vollie Alexander Jr.Democratic1968Incumbent re-elected.
Wilbur MillsDemocratic1938Incumbent re-elected.
John Paul HammerschmidtRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
David PryorDemocratic1966Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

California

California was reapportioned from 38 to 43 seats, adding one seat in the Bay Area, one in the Central Valley, and 3 in southern California; three went to Democrats, two to Republicans. Despite a retirement and two lost renominations, both parties held their seats in this election, bringing the Democrats up from 20 seats to 23 and the Republicans up from 18 seats to 20.

Colorado

Colorado was reapportioned from 4 to 5 seats, constructing a new east and south of Denver.

Connecticut

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
William R. CotterDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Robert H. SteeleRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
Robert GiaimoDemocratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
Stewart McKinneyRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
John S. MonaganDemocratic1958Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Ella GrassoDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.

Delaware

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Pete du PontRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.

Florida

Florida was reapportioned from 12 to 15 seats, adding a seat in central and two in south Florida.

Georgia

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
George Elliott HaganDemocratic1960Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Dawson MathisDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Jack BrinkleyDemocratic1966Incumbent re-elected.
Benjamin B. BlackburnRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Fletcher ThompsonRepublican1966Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
John FlyntDemocratic1954Incumbent re-elected.
John William DavisDemocratic1960Incumbent re-elected.
W. S. Stuckey Jr.Democratic1966Incumbent re-elected.
Phillip M. LandrumDemocratic1952Incumbent re-elected.
Robert Grier Stephens Jr.Democratic1960Incumbent re-elected.

Hawaii

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Spark MatsunagaDemocratic1962Incumbent re-elected.
Patsy MinkDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.

Idaho

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
James A. McClureRepublican1966Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Orval H. HansenRepublican1968Incumbent re-elected.

Illinois

Indiana

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Ray MaddenDemocratic1942Incumbent re-elected.
Earl LandgrebeRepublican1968Incumbent re-elected.
John BrademasDemocratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
J. Edward RoushDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Elwood HillisRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
William G. BrayRepublican1950Incumbent re-elected.
John T. MyersRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Roger H. ZionRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Lee H. HamiltonDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.
David W. DennisRepublican1968Incumbent re-elected.
Andrew Jacobs Jr.Democratic1964Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Iowa

Iowa was reapportioned from 7 seats to 6, dividing the old around Des Moines between its neighbors. Its incumbent, Neal Smith, won again in the south-central Iowa.
DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Fred SchwengelRepublican1966Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
John C. CulverDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.
H. R. GrossRepublican1948Incumbent re-elected.
Neal Smith
Democratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
John Henry KylRepublican1966Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican loss.
William J. Scherle
Republican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Wiley MayneRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.

Kansas

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Keith SebeliusRepublican1968Incumbent re-elected.
William R. RoyDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Larry WinnRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Garner E. ShriverRepublican1960Incumbent re-elected.
Joe SkubitzRepublican1962Incumbent re-elected.

Kentucky

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Frank StubblefieldDemocratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
William NatcherDemocratic1953Incumbent re-elected.
Romano MazzoliDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Gene SnyderRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Tim Lee CarterRepublican1964Incumbent re-elected.
William P. Curlin Jr.Democratic1971Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Carl D. PerkinsDemocratic1948Incumbent re-elected.

Louisiana

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
F. Edward HébertDemocratic1940Incumbent re-elected.
Hale BoggsDemocratic1946Incumbent re-elected.
Patrick T. CafferyDemocratic1968Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Joe WaggonnerDemocratic1961Incumbent re-elected.
Otto PassmanDemocratic1946Incumbent re-elected.
John RarickDemocratic1966Incumbent re-elected.
John BreauxDemocratic1972 Incumbent re-elected.
Speedy LongDemocratic1964Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.

Maine

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Peter KyrosDemocratic1966Incumbent re-elected.
William HathawayDemocratic1964Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Maryland

Maryland's redistricting eliminated a seat in Baltimore in favor of an additional seat in the DC suburbs.

Massachusetts

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Silvio O. ConteRepublican1958Incumbent re-elected.
Edward BolandDemocratic1952Incumbent re-elected.
Harold Donohue
Democratic1946Incumbent re-elected.
Robert Drinan
Democratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
F. Bradford MorseRepublican1960Resigned when appointed to United Nations
Republican hold.
Michael J. HarringtonDemocratic1969Incumbent re-elected.
Torbert MacdonaldDemocratic1954Incumbent re-elected.
Tip O'NeillDemocratic1952Incumbent re-elected.
Louise Day HicksDemocratic1970Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Margaret HecklerRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
James A. BurkeDemocratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
Hastings KeithRepublican1958Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Michigan

Minnesota

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Al QuieRepublican1958Incumbent re-elected.
Ancher NelsenRepublican1958Incumbent re-elected.
Bill FrenzelRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
Joseph KarthDemocratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
Donald M. FraserDemocratic1962Incumbent re-elected.
John M. ZwachRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Robert BerglandDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
John BlatnikDemocratic1946Incumbent re-elected.

Mississippi

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Jamie Whitten
Democratic1941Incumbent re-elected.
Thomas Abernethy
Democratic1942Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Sonny Montgomery
Democratic1966Incumbent re-elected.
Charles H. Griffin
Democratic1968Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
William M. ColmerDemocratic1932Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Missouri

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Bill ClayDemocratic1968Incumbent re-elected.
James W. SymingtonDemocratic1968Incumbent re-elected.
Leonor SullivanDemocratic1952Incumbent re-elected.
William J. RandallDemocratic1959Incumbent re-elected.
Richard Walker BollingDemocratic1948Incumbent re-elected.
William Raleigh Hull Jr.Democratic1954Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Durward Gorham HallRepublican1960Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Richard Howard Ichord Jr.Democratic1960Incumbent re-elected.
William L. HungateDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.
Bill BurlisonDemocratic1968Incumbent re-elected.

Montana

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Richard G. ShoupRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
John MelcherDemocratic1969 Incumbent re-elected.

Nebraska

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Charles ThoneRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
John Y. McCollisterRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
David MartinRepublican1960Incumbent re-elected.

Nevada

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Walter S. Baring Jr.Democratic1956Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

New Hampshire

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Louis C. WymanRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
James Colgate ClevelandRepublican1962Incumbent re-elected.

New Jersey

New Mexico

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Manuel Lujan Jr.Republican1968Incumbent re-elected.
Harold L. RunnelsDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.

New York

North Carolina

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Walter B. Jones Sr.Democratic1966Incumbent re-elected.
Lawrence H. FountainDemocratic1952Incumbent re-elected.
David N. HendersonDemocratic1960Incumbent re-elected.
Nick GalifianakisDemocratic1966Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Wilmer MizellRepublican1968Incumbent re-elected.
L. Richardson PreyerDemocratic1968Incumbent re-elected.
Alton LennonDemocratic1956Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Earl B. RuthRepublican1968Incumbent re-elected.
Charles R. JonasRepublican1952Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Jim BroyhillRepublican1962Incumbent re-elected.
Roy A. TaylorDemocratic1960Incumbent re-elected.

North Dakota

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Mark Andrews
Republican1963Incumbent re-elected.
Arthur A. Link
Democratic1970Retired to run for Governor
Democratic loss.

Ohio

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
William J. KeatingRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
Donald D. ClancyRepublican1960Incumbent re-elected.
Charles W. Whalen Jr.Republican1966Incumbent re-elected.
William Moore McCullochRepublican1947Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Jackson Edward Betts
Republican1950Incumbent retired.
Republican loss.
Del LattaRepublican1958Incumbent re-elected.
Bill HarshaRepublican1960Incumbent re-elected.
Clarence J. Brown Jr.Republican1965Incumbent re-elected.
Walter E. Powell
Republican1970Incumbent re-elected.
Thomas L. AshleyDemocratic1954Incumbent re-elected.
Clarence E. MillerRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
J. William StantonRepublican1964Incumbent re-elected.
Samuel L. DevineRepublican1958Incumbent re-elected.
Charles Adams MosherRepublican1960Incumbent re-elected.
John F. SeiberlingDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Chalmers P. WylieRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Frank T. BowRepublican1950Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
John M. AshbrookRepublican1960Incumbent re-elected.
Wayne L. HaysDemocratic1948Incumbent re-elected.
Charles J. CarneyDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
James V. StantonDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Louis StokesDemocratic1968Incumbent re-elected.
Charles VanikDemocratic1954Incumbent re-elected.
William Edwin Minshall Jr.Republican1954Incumbent re-elected.

Oklahoma

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Page BelcherRepublican1950Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Ed EdmondsonDemocratic1952Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
Carl AlbertDemocratic1946Incumbent re-elected.
Tom SteedDemocratic1948Incumbent re-elected.
John JarmanDemocratic1950Incumbent re-elected.
John Newbold CampRepublican1968Incumbent re-elected.

Oregon

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Wendell WyattRepublican1964Incumbent re-elected.
Albert C. UllmanDemocratic1956Incumbent re-elected.
Edith GreenDemocratic1954Incumbent re-elected.
John R. DellenbackRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Fernand St. GermainDemocratic1960Incumbent re-elected.
Robert TiernanDemocratic1967Incumbent re-elected.

South Carolina

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Mendel Jackson DavisDemocratic1971Incumbent re-elected.
Floyd SpenceRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
William Jennings Bryan DornDemocratic1950Incumbent re-elected.
James R. MannDemocratic1968Incumbent re-elected.
Thomas S. GettysDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.
John L. McMillanDemocratic1938Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

South Dakota

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Frank E. DenholmDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
James AbourezkDemocratic1970Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
New member elected.
Republican gain.

Tennessee

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Jimmy QuillenRepublican1962Incumbent re-elected.
John Duncan Sr.Republican1964Incumbent re-elected.
LaMar BakerRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
Joe L. EvinsDemocratic1946Incumbent re-elected.
Richard FultonDemocratic1962Incumbent re-elected.
William AndersonDemocratic1964Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Robin Beard 55.3%
William Anderson 43.1%
William N. Doss 1.6%
Ray Blanton
Democratic1966Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
Democratic loss.
Robin Beard 55.3%
William Anderson 43.1%
William N. Doss 1.6%
Ed Jones
Democratic1969Incumbent re-elected.
Dan Kuykendall
Republican1966Incumbent re-elected.

Texas

Utah

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
K. Gunn McKayDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Sherman P. LloydRepublican1966Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Vermont

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Richard W. MallaryRepublican1972 Incumbent re-elected.

Virginia

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Thomas N. DowningDemocratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
G. William WhitehurstRepublican1968Incumbent re-elected.
David E. Satterfield IIIDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.
Watkins Moorman AbbittDemocratic1948Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican gain.
Dan DanielDemocratic1968Incumbent re-elected.
Richard Harding PoffRepublican1952Resigned to become justice of Supreme Court of Virginia
Republican hold.
J. Kenneth RobinsonRepublican1970Incumbent re-elected.
William L. ScottRepublican1966Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
William C. WamplerRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Joel T. BroyhillRepublican1952Incumbent re-elected.

Washington

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Thomas PellyRepublican1952Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Lloyd MeedsDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.
Julia Butler HansenDemocratic1960Incumbent re-elected.
Mike McCormackDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Tom FoleyDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.
Floyd Verne HicksDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.
Brock AdamsDemocratic1964Incumbent re-elected.

West Virginia

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Bob MollohanDemocratic1968Incumbent re-elected.
Harley O. StaggersDemocratic1948Incumbent re-elected.
John M. Slack Jr.Democratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
Ken HechlerDemocratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
James Kee
Democratic1964Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic loss.

Wisconsin

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Les AspinDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.
Robert W. KastenmeierDemocratic1958Incumbent re-elected.
Vernon Wallace ThomsonRepublican1960Incumbent re-elected.
Clement J. ZablockiDemocratic1948Incumbent re-elected.
Henry S. ReussDemocratic1954Incumbent re-elected.
William A. SteigerRepublican1966Incumbent re-elected.
Dave ObeyDemocratic1969 Incumbent re-elected.
Alvin E. O'Konski
Republican1942Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican loss.
John W. ByrnesRepublican1944Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
Glenn R. DavisRepublican1964Incumbent re-elected.

Wyoming

DistrictIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Teno RoncalioDemocratic1970Incumbent re-elected.

Non-voting delegates

The non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives from the District of Columbia is elected for two-year terms, as are all other Representatives and Delegates minus the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, who is elected to a four-year term.

District of Columbia

The election for the Delegate from the District of Columbia featured winner Walter E. Fauntroy, who won his first re-election after winning the special election in the previous year.
Walter E. Fauntroy, a Democrat, sought re-election for his second term to the United States House of Representatives. Fauntroy was opposed in this election by Republican challenger William Chin-Lee who received 25.12%, and Statehood Party candidate Charles I. Cassell who received 11.92%. This resulted in Fauntroy being elected with 60.64% of the vote.