The 1972 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Governor of Washington Daniel J. Evans, who was first elected eight years earlier, and then re-elected in 1968, was eligible for re-election, as Washington does not have gubernatorial term limits.
On election day, Evans defeated former governor Albert D. Rosellini by a comfortable margin of 117,212 votes, in a rematch of the 1964 contest. Businessman Vick Gould, who ran with the Taxpayers Party, a third party of Gould's own creation, also received 5.9% of the vote. Evans was the first governor of Washington to be elected to a third consecutive term.
Primary election
A total of nine candidates filed for the blanket primary on September 19, 1972. Evans and Rosellini won their party's nominations, receiving 24.66% and 30.27% of the votes in the primary, respectively.
Candidates
Republican Party
- Daniel J. Evans, incumbent governor
- L. R. Kemore, candidate for governor in 1948
- Earl Monaghan
- John "Hugo Frye" Patric, perennial candidate
- Perry B. Woodall, state senator
Democratic Party
- Martin J. Durkan, state senator
- James A. McDermott, psychiatrist and state representative
- Albert D. Rosellini, former governor
- Rudolfo Valdez
General election
Candidates
- Robin David (SWP)
- Daniel J. Evans (R), incumbent governor
- Vick Gould (Taxpayers), businessman
- Henry Killman (SLP), perennial candidate
- Albert D. Rosellini (D), former governor
Results by county
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Ferry
- Kitsap
- Lewis
- Okanogan
- Skagit
- Stevens
- Wahkiakum