The 1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Republican nominee James Holshouser defeated Democratic nominee Skipper Bowles with 51% of the vote. Holshouser thus became the first Republican elected governor of the state since 1896.
This election was also the first time in a century (since the 1872 election) that a Republican candidate won an outright majority of the vote.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on May 6, 1972.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Skipper Bowles, state senator
- Zeb V.K. Dickson
- Reginald A. Hawkins, civil rights activist and dentist
- Wilbur Hobby, labor union leader
- C. Eugene Leggett
- Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr., incumbent lieutenant governor
22.8% of the voting-age population participated in the Democratic primary.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Thomas E. Chappell
- Jim Gardner, former U.S. representative
- Leroy Gibson
- James Holshouser, state representative
4.9% of the voting-age population participated in the Republican primary.
General election
Candidates
Major party candidates
- Skipper Bowles, Democratic
- James Holshouser, Republican
Other candidates
- Arlis F. Pettyjohn, American