The 1972 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Democratic nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt defeated incumbent Republican Governor Russell W. Peterson with 51.27% of the vote. This was the last time a Democrat won a gubernatorial election in Delaware until 1992, when Tom Carper (future U.S. senator) won the gubernatorial election over Republican B. Gary Scott.
Nominations
From 1972 to 1992, Delaware used a system of "challenge" primaries, in which a candidate for statewide office who received at least 35 percent of the convention vote could challenge the endorsed candidate in a primary. Democratic nominee Tribbitt avoided such a primary in 1972.
Republican primary
Candidates
- David P. Buckson, former governor
- Russell W. Peterson, incumbent governor
General election
Candidates
- Harry H. Conner, Prohibition
- Virginia M. Lyndall, American
- Russell W. Peterson, Republican, incumbent governor
- Sherman W. Tribbitt, Democratic, Delaware House of Representatives minority leader and former lieutenant governor
Results
By county
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic