1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries
{{Short description|Selection of the Democratic Party nominee}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries
| country = United States
| type = primary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries
| previous_year = 1968
| election_date = January 24 to June 20, 1972
| next_election = 1976 Democratic Party presidential primaries
| next_year = 1976
| votes_for_election = 3,014 delegates to the Democratic National Convention
| needed_votes = 1,508 (majority)
| image1 = File:George McGovern (D-SD) (3x4-1).jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| colour1 = ff0000
| candidate1 = George McGovern
| home_state1 = South Dakota
| delegate_count1 = 1,319.55
| states_carried1 = 16
| popular_vote1 = 4,053,451
| percentage1 = 25.00%
| image2 = George Wallace (D-AL) (3x4).jpg
| candidate2 = George Wallace
| colour2 = 008000
| home_state2 = Alabama
| delegate_count2 = 371
| states_carried2 = 7
| popular_vote2 = 3,755,424
| percentage2 = 23.17%
| image3 = Hubert Humphrey 1968 DNC.jpg
| candidate3 = Hubert Humphrey
| colour3 = 0000ff
| home_state3 = Minnesota
| delegate_count3 = 345.85
| states_carried3 = 5
| popular_vote3 = 4,121,372
| percentage3 = 25.42%
| image4 = Edmund Muskie 1968 DNC.jpg
| candidate4 = Edmund Muskie
| colour4 = 803300
| home_state4 = Maine
| delegate_count4 = 172.5
| states_carried4 = 5
| popular_vote4 = 1,840,217
| percentage4 = 11.34%
| image5 =Scoop Jackson campaigning in 1976 (cropped).jpg
| candidate5 = Henry M. Jackson
| colour5 = 6500ea
| home_state5 = Washington
| delegate_count5 = 52
| states_carried5 = 1
| popular_vote5 = 505,198
| percentage5 = 3.11%
| image6 = Terry Sanford 1961.jpg
| candidate6 = Terry Sanford
| colour6 = ff6600
| home_state6 = North Carolina
| delegate_count6 = 28
| states_carried6 = 0
| popular_vote6 = 331,415
| percentage6 = 2.04%
| image7 = File:U.S. Representative Wilbur Mills, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, half-length portrait, standing, facing front, holding a copy of the Budget of the United States (cropped) (cropped).jpg
| candidate7 = Wilbur Mills
| colour7 = 00b6a4
| home_state7 = Arkansas
| delegate_count7 = 28
| states_carried7 = 1
| popular_vote7 = 37,401
| percentage7 = 0.23%
| image8 = Shirley Chisholm-cropped.jpg
| candidate8 = Shirley Chisholm
| colour8 = 808000
| home_state8 = New York
| delegate_count8 = 22
| states_carried8 = 1
| popular_vote8 = 430,703
| percentage8 = 2.66%
| image9 = John Lindsay 1970s High Res.jpg
| candidate9 = John Lindsay
| colour9 = b61b28
| home_state9 = New York
| delegate_count9 = 6
| states_carried9 = 0
| popular_vote9 = 196,406
| percentage9 = 1.21%
| title = Democratic nominee
| before_election = Hubert Humphrey
| after_election = George McGovern
| map_image = {{switcher
| 350px
| First place by first-instance vote
| 350px
| First place by delegate allocation| default = 1
| 350px
| First place by convention roll call
}}
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = {{legend0|#ff4242|McGovern}} {{legend0|#6363ff|Humphrey}} {{legend0|#00d700|Wallace}} {{legend0|#803300|Muskie}}
{{legend0|#bb00e5|Jackson}} {{legend0|#00b6a4|Mills}} {{legend0|#808000|Chisholm}} {{legend0|#666666|Uncommitted}}
}}
From January 24 to June 20, 1972, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1972 United States presidential election. Senator George McGovern of South Dakota was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections, caucuses, and state party conventions, culminating in the 1972 Democratic National Convention held from July 10 to July 13, 1972, in Miami, Florida.
Background
=1968 election=
{{Main|1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries|1968 United States presidential election}}
The 1968 election was one of the most eventful and influential in the history of the Democratic Party. The primaries were contested by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Senator Eugene McCarthy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In a shock, McCarthy forced the incumbent president out of the race early by his strong showing in the New Hampshire primary. Kennedy joined the race soon thereafter, and the two ran on their opposition to Johnson's handling of the Vietnam War. They traded primary victories until Kennedy was assassinated in June.
Although Kennedy and McCarthy contested the popular elections, most of the delegates in 1968 were not popularly elected. Thus, with Kennedy dead and McCarthy lacking support from the party establishment, Johnson's vice president Hubert H. Humphrey was easily nominated on the first ballot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Humphrey's nomination, the continuing Vietnam War, and the generally closed nature of the nomination process drew massive protests to Chicago; the convention was generally seen as a major embarrassment for the Party, and Humphrey was soundly defeated in the general election by Richard Nixon.
=McGovern-Fraser Commission=
{{Main|McGovern–Fraser Commission}}
In response to the 1968 debacle, party leadership established a twenty-eight member committee selected by Senator Fred R. Harris to reform the presidential nomination process for 1972. The committee was led by Senator George McGovern and Representative Donald M. Fraser. After less than nine months, the committee delivered its guidelines.
The committee focused on two main principles: uniformity and equity. Guidelines required states adopt uniform, explicit delegate selection rules and weight the delegate allocation in favor of politically marginalized groups (women, blacks and those under the age of 30), including the use of quotas.
In general, the state parties complied with the McGovern-Fraser guidelines by adopting the use of primary elections, rather than delegate selection caucuses or conventions. Thus, the 1972 Democratic nomination is typically considered the first modern presidential primary campaign.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}{{according to whom|date=August 2024}} Harris and McGovern, having played a direct role in the reforms and having a detailed knowledge of their impact, were seen to gain an advantage as potential candidates for the nomination.
=Nixon administration and 1970 midterm elections=
{{See also|Presidency of Richard Nixon|1970 United States elections}}
As 1972 approached, President Richard Nixon faced uncertain re-election prospects. Nixon had been elected on a platform to end American involvement in Vietnam, but his strategy of gradual "Vietnamization" had proceeded more slowly than planned. The Paris Peace Talks had bogged down, dimming hopes for a negotiated settlement to the war. In fact, Nixon had widened the conflict by invading Cambodia in 1970, a move that ignited criticism in the press and Congress and widespread disorder on college campuses, including the Kent State shootings in May 1970.
On the domestic front, a sharp recession had shaken investor confidence, and Nixon's plan to control inflation with wage and price controls had failed to meet its objective. The administration's attempt to steer a middle course on desegregation busing and affirmative action had displeased liberals and conservatives alike.
In the 1970 midterm elections, Democrats gained a dozen seats in the House, although their Senate majority was reduced by three seats. Their main success was not in Congress, however, but the states. Eleven different Democratic governors were elected to seats held by Republicans and not a single incumbent Democrat lost re-election.
=Pre-primary maneuvering=
Given Nixon's apparent weakness and the novel use of the primary system, a large field of credible Democratic challengers emerged. 14 Democrats sought their party's nomination{{efn|This number doesn't include Walter Fauntroy, Wayne Hays, and Carl Stokes, who were considered to be favorite sons}} the largest field of candidates until it was surpassed by 16 candidates in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries{{cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/biggest-field-ever|title=Biggest. Field. Ever.|first=Steve|last=Benen |author-link=Steve Benen|publisher=MSNBC|date=May 5, 2015}} and then 29 candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.{{cite web|last=Jacobson|first=Louis|date=May 2, 2019|title=Warren just took the lead in a key polling average. History is vague on what happens next.|url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2019/may/02/big-democratic-primary-field-what-need/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522201223/https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2019/may/02/big-democratic-primary-field-what-need/|archive-date=May 22, 2019|access-date=June 23, 2019|website=PolitiFact|language=en}}
Early speculation surrounded Senator Ted Kennedy, the brother of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy who had contested the 1968 nomination. He ruled himself out early in 1971, but nevertheless continued to lead in opinion polling. In the event of a brokered convention, some believed Kennedy could emerge as the consensus nominee. Kennedy supporters took key positions on a number of presidential campaigns, strengthening his odds of gaining the candidates' support in the event they could not secure the required delegates.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ON9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=5489,4273487&dq=ted+kennedy+presidential+campaign&hl=en|title=Don't count out Ted Kennedy|newspaper=The Free Lance–Star|date=June 4, 1971|author=Jack Anderson}}
With Kennedy out, the establishment favorite for the Democratic nomination was Edmund Muskie,{{cite book|title= How We Got Here: The '70s|last= Frum|first= David|author-link= David Frum|year= 2000|publisher= Basic Books|location= New York, New York|isbn= 0-465-04195-7|page= [https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/298 298]|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/298}} a moderate Senator who had acquitted himself well as Humphrey's running mate in 1968. In August 1971 polling amid a growing economic crisis, Muskie led Nixon.
U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm from Queens, New York, announced her candidacy in January 1972,{{cite news
|title = Shirley Chisholm's 1972 Presidential Campaign
|first = Jo
|last = Freeman
|work = University of Illinois at Chicago Women's History Project
|date = February 2005
|url = http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/jofreeman/polhistory/chisholm.htm
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150126085532/http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/jofreeman/polhistory/chisholm.htm
|archive-date = 2015-01-26
}} making her the first black candidate to contest a major party's nomination for president.{{efn|Channing Phillips had previously been placed in nomination at the 1968 convention and won the Washington D.C. delegation but was not a contender for national support.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}}} Chisholm was also the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination; she was later joined by Patsy Mink of Hawaii.{{efn|Senator Margaret Chase Smith had previously contested the Republican nomination in 1964.}}
Candidates
The following politicians stood as candidates for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination:
=Nominee=
= Other major candidates =
These candidates participated in multiple state primaries or were included in multiple major national polls.
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Define $today = 05/29/2023
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= Declined =
- Birch Bayh, U.S. Senator from Indiana (declined October 12, 1971){{cite news |title=Bayh Quits Race; Cites Wife's Illness | work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/10/13/90698119.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0}}
- Harold Hughes, U.S. Senator from Iowa (declined July 15, 1971){{cite news |title=Hughes Quits as Presidential Aspirant | work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/07/16/79402729.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0}}
- William Proxmire, U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (declined November 6, 1971; endorsed McGovern on March 31){{cite news |title=Proxmire States He Will Not Run; Opens Way for McGovern in the Wisconsin Primary | work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/11/07/91311106.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0}}{{cite web |date=1972-03-31 |title=31 Mar 1972, Page 2 - El Paso Herald-Post at |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/12547435 |access-date=2022-05-27 |publisher=Newspapers.com}}
= Favorite sons =
- Walter Fauntroy, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the District of Columbia{{cite news |title=Black in Capital to Enter Primary; Fauntroy to Run May 2 as Favorite-Son Candidate | work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/12/08/90704486.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0}}
- Wayne Hays, U.S. Representative from Ohio{{cite news |title=Humphrey Victor in Ohio Vote; Wallace Wins Tennessee Race; HUMPHREY VICTOR BY SLIM OHIO EDGE | work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/05/05/79467626.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0}}
- Carl Stokes, Mayor of Cleveland
Polling
= National polling =
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| legend=Candidate
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| size = 2.5
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| y1Title=McGovern
| y2Title=Humphrey
| y3Title=Muskie
| y4Title=McCarthy
| y5Title=Wallace
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|xGrid= |yGrid=
| x= 01/15/1969, 10/15/1969, 05/15/1970, 11/15/1970, 02/15/1971, 04/01/1971, 04/15/1971, 07/15/1971, 08/15/1971, 09/15/1971, 11/01/1971, 11/15/1971, 12/15/1971, 01/15/1972, 01/15/1972, 02/15/1972, 02/15/1972, 03/01/1972, 03/15/1972, 04/15/1972, 05/01/1972, 05/15/1972, 06/15/1972
| y1= 3, 5, 3, 2, 5, 5, 5, 6, 5, 6, 6, 8, 3, 5, 6, 8, 6, 7, 5, 17, 20, 25, 30
| y2= 21, 19, 16, 16, 21, 18, 18, 18, 13, 27, 19, 25, 34, 29, 23, 32, 21, 31, 35, 31, 30, 35, 26, 27
| y3= 17, 24, 23, 33, 26, 21, 21, 22, 22, 27, 24, 27, 31, 39, 30, 35, 28, 23, 28, 22, 17, 11, , 6,
| y4= 15, 10, 9, 6, 4, 3, 3, 6, 4, 7, 5, 4, 5, 8, 6, 4, 5, 5, 6, 4, 3, 3, , 2,
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| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |
| Poll source
!Publication !{{vert header|stp=1|Birch Bayh}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Shirley Chisholm}} !{{vert header|stp=1|J. William Fulbright}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Fred Harris}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Harold Hughes}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Hubert Humphrey}} !{{vert header|stp=1|John Lindsay}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Scoop Jackson}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Ted Kennedy}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Mike Mansfield}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Eugene McCarthy}} !{{vert header|stp=1|George McGovern}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Wilbur Mills}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Edmund Muskie}} !{{vert header|stp=1|William Proxmire}} !{{vert header|stp=1|George Wallace}} !{{vert header|stp=1|Sam Yorty}} |
|---|
| Gallup
|Jan. 1969 |— |— |— |— |— |21% |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |45% |— |15% |3% |— |17% |— |— |— |
| Gallup
|Oct. 1969 |— |— |— |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |29% |— |— |27% |— |10% |5% |— |24% |— |— |— |
| Gallup
|May. 1970 |— |— |— |1% |1% |16% |10% |— |17% |— |9% |3% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |23% |— |— |— |
| Gallup
|Nov. 1970 |— |— |— |— |— |16% |4% |— |31% |1% |6% |2% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |33% |2% |— |— |
| Gallup
|Feb. 1971 |— |— |— |— |— |21% |5% |— |25% |— |4% |5% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |26% |— |— |— |
| Gallup
|Apr. 1971 |1% |— |1% |— |1% |18% |4% |2% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |29% |2% |3% |5% |1% |21% |2% |— |— |
| Gallup
|Apr. 1971 |1% |— |1% |— |1% |18% |4% |2% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |29% |2% |3% |5% |1% |21% |2% |— |— |
| Gallup
|Jul. 1971 |2% |— |1% |— |1% |18% |3% |2% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |22% |1% |6% |5% |1% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |22% |1% |— |— |
| Gallup
|Aug. 1971 |— |— |— |— |— |13% |6% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |26% |— |4% |6% |— |22% |— |— |— |
| rowspan=2 |Harris{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/180355836 |title=15 Nov 1971, Page 30 - The Philadelphia Inquirer at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=1971-11-15 |access-date=2022-05-27}}
| rowspan=2 |Sep. 1971 |— |— |— |1% |— |16% |7% |2% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |26% |— |5% |4% |2% |19% |1% |— |— |
| —
|— |— |1% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |27% |11% |2% |— |— |7% |5% |2% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |27% |2% |— |— |
| Gallup
|Nov. 1971 |— |— |— |— |— |19% |4% |6% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |29% |— |5% |6% |— |24% |— |— |— |
| rowspan=2 |Harris{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/255307610 |title=13 Dec 1971, Page 20 - The Ithaca Journal at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=1971-12-13 |access-date=2022-05-27}}
| rowspan=2 |Nov. 1971 |— |— |— |— |— |15% |9% |2% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |25% |— |3% |5% |1% |22% |1% |— |1% |
| —
|— |— |— |— |25% |12% |2% |— |— |4% |6% |2% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |27% |2% |— |1% |
| rowspan=2 |Gallup
| rowspan=2 |Dec. 1971 |— |— |— |— |— |19% |4% |4% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |32% |— |4% |5% |— |25% |— |— |1% |
| —
|— |— |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |34% |8% |5% |— |— |5% |8% |— |31% |— |— |1% |
| rowspan=2 |Gallup
| rowspan=2 |Jan. 1972 |— |2% |— |— |— |17% |5% |2% |27% |— |5% |3% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |32% |— |— |2% |
| —
|2% |— |— |— |29% |7% |3% |— |— |8% |3% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |39% |— |— |2% |
| Harris{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/222662682 |title=20 Jan 1972, Page 4 - The Orlando Sentinel at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=1972-01-20 |access-date=2022-05-27}}
|Jan. 1972 |— |3% |— |— |— |23% |7% |5% |— |— |6% |5% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |30% |— |— |1% |
| rowspan=2 |Gallup
| rowspan=2 |Feb. 1972 |— |2% |— |— |— |23% |2% |3% |24% |— |3% |5% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |29% |— |— |1% |
| —
|3% |— |— |— |32% |5% |4% |— |— |4% |6% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |35% |— |— |1% |
| rowspan=2 |Harris{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/255178810 |title=28 Feb 1972, Page 17 - The Ithaca Journal at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=1972-02-28 |access-date=2022-05-27}}
| rowspan=2 |Feb. 1972 |— |5% |— |— |— |18% |6% |4% |15% |— |5% |5% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |22% |— |11% |1% |
| —
|6% |— |— |— |21% |7% |3% |— |— |5% |8% |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |28% |— |12% |1% |
| rowspan=2 |Gallup
| rowspan=2 |Mar. 1972 |— |2% |— |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |31% |7% |3% |— |— |5% |6% |2% |23% |— |15% |* |
| —
|3% |— |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |35% |8% |5% |— |— |6% |7% |2% |28% |— |— |1% |
| Gallup
|Mar. 1972 |— |4% |— |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |31% |5% |5% |— |— |4% |5% |1% |22% |— |17% |* |
| Gallup
|Apr. 1972 |— |5% |— |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |30% |— |4% |— |— |3% |17% |1% |17% |— |19% |1% |
| Gallup
|May 1972 |— |3% |— |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |35% |— |3% |— |— |3% |20% |2% |11% |— |18% |— |
| Gallup
|May 1972 |— |— |— |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |26% |— |— |— |— |— |25% |— |— |— | {{party shading/Democratic}} |26% |— |
| Gallup
|Jun. 1972 |— |3% |— |— |— |27% |— |3% |— |— |2% | {{party shading/Democratic}} |30% |1% |6% |— |25% |— |
Primary campaign
Hubert Humphrey made another run at the nomination, in an era when previous nominees were considered legitimate contenders even after losing a general election (Adlai Stevenson had been successful at being re-nominated by Democrats in 1956, and Nixon by the GOP in 1968). He fell just short in delegates, despite winning the popular vote in the 24 states and the District of Columbia which held preference primary and caucus elections open to the rank and file Democratic voter. His bid to contest the results of the California winner-take-all primary failed. Humphrey, like Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson, was considered the favorite of the party establishment after Muskie's withdrawal.
Alabama governor George Wallace, with his "outsider" image, did well in the South (he won every county in the Florida primary with the exception of Miami-Dade){{cite news |last1=Pantazi |first1=Andrew |title=Past Duval Presidential Elections |url=http://static.jacksonville.com/files/presidentialelections/1976-1948.html |access-date=25 December 2018 |work=Jacksonville.com |publisher=The Florida Times-Union |date=2016 |quote="Later that year segregationist George Wallace would be shot and handicapped, but before then, he won Florida’s primary decisively, carrying every county but Miami-Dade."}} and among alienated and dissatisfied voters. What might have become a forceful campaign was cut short when Wallace was shot while campaigning, and left paralyzed in an assassination attempt by Arthur Bremer.
Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Wilbur Mills was drafted by friends and fellow Congressmen to make himself available as a candidate for the primaries. To position himself to appeal to senior citizens during the 1972 presidential campaign, Mills championed the automatic Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) to Social Security. He was not strong in the primaries and won 33 votes for president from the delegates at the 1972 Democratic National Convention which nominated Senator George McGovern.
Washington Senator Scoop Jackson was little known nationally when he first ran for president in 1972. McGovern accused Jackson of racism for his opposition to busing. Jackson's high point in the campaign was a distant third in the early Florida primary, but he failed to stand out of the pack of better-known rivals, and only made real news later in the campaign as part of the "Anybody but McGovern" coalition, that raised what would be known as the "Acid, Amnesty and Abortion" questions about McGovern. Jackson suspended active campaigning in May after a weak showing in the Ohio primary. Jackson did re-emerge at the August Democratic convention after runner-up Humphrey dropped out of the race. Jackson's name was placed in nomination by Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, and he finished second in the delegate roll call, well behind nominee McGovern.{{cite news|last=Salam|first=Reihan|url=http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=express&s=salam052703|title=Double Scoop|date=May 27, 2003|work=The New Republic Online}}"[http://cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/analysis/back.time/9604/17/ A Message of Discontent from Wisconsin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118163733/http://cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/analysis/back.time/9604/17/|date=2007-11-18}}", "AllPolitics", Time, 04-17-1972.
=March 7: New Hampshire=
Prior to the New Hampshire primary, the "Canuck Letter" was published in the Manchester Union-Leader. The letter (later revealed to have been forged as part of the "dirty tricks" campaign by Nixon staffers){{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/101072-1.htm|title=FBI Finds Nixon Aides Sabotaged Democrats |last1=Bernstein |first1=Carl|last2=Woodward |first2=Bob |date=10 October 1972 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=24 Dec 2018}} claimed that Muskie had made disparaging remarks about French-Canadians. The paper subsequently published an attack on Muskie's wife Jane, reporting that she drank and used off-color language. Muskie made an emotional defense of his wife in a speech outside the newspaper's offices during a snowstorm. Though Muskie later stated that what had appeared to the press as tears were actually melted snowflakes, the press reported that Muskie broke down and cried."[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/muskie_3-26.html Remembering Ed Muskie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990427124548/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/muskie_3-26.html |date=1999-04-27 }}", Online NewsHour, PBS, March 26, 1996 Muskie did worse than expected in the primary, while McGovern came in a surprisingly close second. McGovern now had the momentum, which was well orchestrated by his campaign manager, Gary Hart.
=May 15–16: Attempted Wallace assassination, Maryland, and Michigan=
{{Main|Attempted assassination of George Wallace}}
While campaigning in Laurel, Maryland, on May 15, 1972, Wallace was shot five times by Arthur Bremer. Three others wounded in the shooting also survived. Bremer's diary, published after his arrest as a book titled An Assassin's Diary, showed that Bremer's assassination attempt was not motivated by politics, but by a desire for fame, and that President Nixon had been a possible target. The assassination attempt left Wallace paralyzed for the rest of his life, as one of the bullets had lodged in his spinal column.
As a result of the shooting, President Nixon dispatched Secret Service protection to Representatives Shirley Chisholm and Wilbur Mills (two candidates who had not been assigned Secret Service details up to then) as well as Senator Ted Kennedy (though not running, because of his brothers John and Robert having been assassinated).{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/sept98/wallace051672.htm| title = Washingtonpost.com: George Wallace Remembered| newspaper = The Washington Post}}
Following the shooting, Wallace won the May 16 primaries in Maryland and Michigan. Wallace spoke at the Democratic National Convention from his wheelchair in Miami on July 11, 1972. Bremer was sentenced to 53 years in prison for the shooting. He served 35 years of the sentence and was released on parole on November 9, 2007.
In a widely noted article, journalist Seymour Hersh claimed that secret recordings of Nixon prove that, within hours of the assassination attempt, the president and a top aide dispatched a political operative, E. Howard Hunt, who rushed to Milwaukee with plans to surreptitiously enter Bremer's apartment and plant the campaign literature of Democratic contender George McGovern.{{Cite news |last=Molotsky |first=Irvin |date=1992-12-07 |title=Article Says Nixon Schemed To Tie Foe to Wallace Attack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/07/us/article-says-nixon-schemed-to-tie-foe-to-wallace-attack.html |access-date=2024-03-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} According to Hersh, Hunt aborted the operation because the FBI had sealed off Bremer's apartment prior to his arrival.
However, a 2007 analysis of the Nixon tapes by the History News Network did not turn up any evidence of the clandestine operation described by Hersh. While the tapes did show that Nixon had instructed presidential aide Charles W. Colson to anonymously spread the false rumor that there was "unmistakable evidence" that Bremer had been a "a supporter of McGovern and Kennedy", there was no apparent trace of Nixon tasking subordinates with entering Bremer's apartment to plant Democratic campaign materials.{{Cite web |title=nixontapes.org - Nixon Tapes and Transcripts |url=http://nixontapes.org/wallace.html |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=nixontapes.org}}
Endorsements
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Fred Harris (To November 10th, 1971) |
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Harris had received endorsements from: ;Executive Branch Officials ;:Department of State Officials {{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
}} ;Business Leaders {{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
}} |
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| style="background:#cff; font-weight:normal;"|
Birch Bayh (To October 12th, 1971) |
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Bayh had received endorsements from: ;State Senators ;:Current ;::California {{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
}} ;State Representatives ;:Current ;::California {{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
}} |
| style="text-align:center;" | |
Schedule and results
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;font-size:100%;line-height:20px" |
| rowspan=3|Date
! rowspan=3|Pledged ! rowspan=3|Contest ! colspan="9" |Delegates won and popular vote{{Efn|This should not be taken as a finalized list of results. While a significant amount of research was done, there were a number of Delegates who were not bound by the instruction, or "Pledged" to a candidate, and to simplify the data these delegates were considered "Uncommitted". Many states also held primaries for the delegate positions, and these on occasion were where slates or candidates pledged to a certain candidate might be elected; however, as these elections allowed for a single person to vote for multiple candidates, as many as the number of positions being filled, it is difficult to determine how many people actually voted in these primaries. For this reason, while such results may be found, they are not included in the popular vote summaries at the bottom of the table.|name=|group=}} |
|---|
| George McGovern
! Other |
| style="background:#ff0000;"|
! style="background:#0000ff;"| ! style="background:#008000;"| ! style="background:#803300;"| ! style="background:#6500ea;"| ! style="background:#00b6a4;"| ! style="background:#808000;"| ! style="background:#b61b28;"| ! style="background:lightgrey;"| |
| rowspan=1 | January 25
! 0 ! Iowa{{Efn|Technically this is only a partial result; over two dozen counties did not hold caucuses when these results were announced, accounting for around (12%) of the expected number of Caucus goers. However, a full tabulation including these counties was not found. Only percentages were found in terms of the number of delegates elected per candidate, not their number nor their total allotment.|name=|group=}} | (22.6%) | (1.6%) |{{endash}} | (35.5%) | (1.1%) |{{endash}} | (1.3%) |{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| (35.8%){{Efn|35.8% for uncommitted delegates and 1.4% for delegates pledged to Eugene McCarthy.}} |
| rowspan=1 | January 29
! 500 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 102 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 2 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} |{{endash}} |style="background:#ffb280;"| 189 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 2 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} |{{endash}} | 1 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 118 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|86 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}}{{Efn|All were Uncommitted except one for Vance Hartke.}} |
| rowspan=1 | February 12
! 25 | 5 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background:#ffb280;"| 9 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | 6 | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|5{{Efn|Both are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan=1 | February 26
! 3,641 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} ! Iowa{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=February 28, 1972 |title=Larson Predicts 19 State Delegates to Back Muskie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/205061564 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Iowa City Press-Citizen |location=Iowa City, Iowa|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 24, 2023}} | 983 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background:#ffb280;"| 1,409 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|1,249 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}}{{Efn|1,176 SDs were Uncommitted and 73 SDs were for other candidates.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan=1 | February 27
! 25 ! Mississippi convention{{Efn|Two rival delegate slates were named, as the Mississippi Democratic party was severely divided between White-lead Regulars and Black-lead Loyalists, with their contests being held at different dates. As the Loyalists were the ones seated at the National Convention, it is their slate and nomination date that is presented here.|name=|group=}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=February 28, 1972 |title=Rival Democratic Factions Negotiate, Near Unification |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/742994620 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Sun Herald |location=Biloxi, Mississippi|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 24, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=July 9, 1972 |title=Mississippi Dispute Is Won By Loyalists |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/07/09/91335214.html?pageNumber=36 |url-status= |language=en |work=The New York Times |location=New York, New York|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 25{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan=1 | March 7
! 20 ! New Hampshire{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=March 11, 1972 |title=Muskie Gets 14 of 20 Delegates to Nat'l Confab |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/833311991 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Valley News |location=West Lebanon, New Hampshire|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 24, 2023}} | 6 | | | style="background:#ffb280;" | 14 | | |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| rowspan=1 | March 11
! 40 ! Georgia{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=March 12, 1972 |title=State Demos Favor Unpledged Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/824657975 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Macon News |location=Macon, Georgia|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 24, 2023}} | 4 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | 1 | 5 |{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 30{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan=1 | March 14
! 81 | | 6 | style="background:#80ff80;" | 75 | | | | | |style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| March 21
! 160 ! Illinois{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=March 22, 1972 |title=Muskie Winner Over McCarthy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/377112091 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, Illinois|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 26, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=March 23, 1972 |title=Victory in Illinois a major Plum for Muskie to Take to Wisconsin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/377116041 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 26, 2023 |work=The Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, Illinois |language=en}}{{Efn|There were two primaries in this state: a non-binding preference primary in which eligible voters cast ballots directly for a candidate and a delegate primary in which delegates to the National Convention were elected.|name=prefprimary}} | 3 | | | style="background:#ffb280;" | 59 | |{{endash}} | | | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|88{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | March 25
! 34 (of 44) ! Iowa{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=March 27, 1972 |title=Muskie Holds On at Iowa Contests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/338841644/ |url-status= |language=en |work=The Des Moines Register |location=Des Moines, Iowa|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 24, 2023}} | 12 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background:#ffb280;" | 14 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|8{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | March 29
! 32 ! South Carolina{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=March 30, 1972 |title=Carolina Delegates to Be Uncommitted |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/03/30/93417494.html?pageNumber=32 |url-status= |language=en |work=The New York Times|location=New York, New York|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 32{{Efn|Both are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | April 4
! 67 | style="background:#ff8080;" | 54 | 13 | | | | | | | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| rowspan="1" | April 17
! 425 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 191 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 21 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 4 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 76 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 5 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} |{{endash}} | 20 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|107 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}}{{Efn|All were Uncommitted except one for Patsy Mink.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | April 20
! 1,146 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 504 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 18 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 1 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 309 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 1 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 2 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 2 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|165 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}}{{Efn|All were Uncommitted except two, which were pledged to Ted Kennedy.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="2" | April 25
! 102 ! Massachusetts{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=April 29, 1972 |title=McGovern Piles Up Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/435264745 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Boston Globe |location=Boston, Massachusetts|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 26, 2023}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 102 | | | {{Efn|Technically won seven delegates, but these delegates were required to vote for McGovern on the first ballot.|name=|group=}} | | | {{Efn|Technically won five delegates, these delegates were technically required to vote for McGovern on the first ballot.|name=|group=}} | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{Efn|Technically Uncommmited won one delegate, but they were required to vote for McGovern on the first ballot.|name=|group=}} |
| 182{{Efn|45 delegates were technically named later in mid-June, 27 by the elected delegates and 18 by the Democratic State Committee.|name=|group=}}
! Pennsylvania{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=April 27, 1972 |title=The Two Georges |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/179985501 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 26, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 12, 1972 |title=State Democrats Play 'New Politics' Game in Selecting At-Large Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/284211851 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023 |work=The News-Item |location=Shamokin, Pennsylvania |language=en}}{{Efn|There were two primaries in this state: a non-binding preference primary in which eligible voters cast ballots directly for a candidate and a delegate primary in which delegates to the National Convention were elected.|name=prefprimary}} | 54{{Efn|14 delegates were named later in June.|name=|group=}} | style="background:#8080ff;" | 74{{Efn|19 delegates were named later in June.|name=|group=}} | 22 | 40{{Efn|11 delegates were named later in June.|name=|group=}} | |{{endash}} | |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|12{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}}{{Efn|1 delegate was named later in June.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | April 28–30
! 11 | style="background:#ff8080;" | 4.95 | 1.65 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|4.40{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | April 29
! 1,944 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 381 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 6 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | 22 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} | style="background: lightgrey;"|59 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 1,526 {{abbr|SDs|State Delegates; these are delegates elected to the convention, where they will vote on the makeup of their Delegations to the National Convention.}}{{Efn|All were Uncommitted bar one, who was pledged to Senator Edward Kennedy.|name=|group=}}(78.5%) |
| rowspan="4" | May 2
! 29 (of 37) |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background:#80ff80;" | 23 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|6 {{Efn|All are part of an Anti-Wallace slate.|name=|group=}} |
| 76
|{{endash}} | style="background:#8080ff;" | 49 | 27 | style="background: lightgrey;"| |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| 145 (of 153)
! Ohio{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 6, 1972 |title=HHH Claims 6 Delegates From McGovern in Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/101003775/ |url-status= |language=en |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |location=Cincinnati, Ohio|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 11, 1972 |title=Final Returns Give Humphrey Ohio Delegation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100832108 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |location=Cincinnati, Ohio|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=October 1, 2023}} | 66 | style="background:#8080ff;" | 74 |{{endash}} | style="background: lightgrey;"| | |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|13{{Efn|A slate of eight delegates supporting Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes was elected in the 21st District, and a slate of five delegates supporting Congressman Wayne Hays was elected in the 18th District.|name=|group=}} |
| 20
! Washington D.C.{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 4, 1972 |title=Fauntroy Slate Wins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/377375243 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Baltimore Sun |location=Baltimore, Maryland|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 26, 2023}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|20 |
| rowspan="1" | May 4
! 49 | | | style="background:#80ff80;" | 49 | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: lightgrey;"| | | | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| rowspan="1" | May 5 {{Efn|Some district conventions were held earlier in April.|name=|group=}}
! 51 (of 64) ! Minnesota{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 8, 1972 |title=Humphrey to Only Get Slim Delegate Margin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/414559899 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Winona Daily News |location=Winona, Minnesota|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 29, 2023}} | 14 | style="background:#8080ff;" | 26 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} | 6 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| rowspan="1" | May 6
! 57 ! North Carolina |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background:#80ff80;" | 37 | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: lightgrey;"| |{{endash}} | |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 27{{Efn|All delegates and votes for Terry Sanford.}} |
| rowspan="2" | May 9
! 22 | style="background:#ff8080;" | 18 | 4 | | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: lightgrey;"| | | | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|7,402{{Efn|Includes 3,459 for Sam Yorty, 3,194 votes for Eugene McCarthy, 293 write-in votes for Ted Kennedy and 249 for Vance Hartke.|name=|group=}}(3.9%) |
| 35
! West Virginia{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 12, 1972 |title=Humphrey Gains Most Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/15746292 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Beckley Post-Herald |location=Beckley, West Virginia|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023}}{{Efn|There were two primaries in this state: a non-binding preference primary in which eligible voters cast ballots directly for a candidate and a delegate primary in which delegates to the National Convention were elected.|name=prefprimary}} | 7{{Efn|Uncommitted by state law.|name=|group=}} | style="background:#8080ff;" | 14{{Efn|Uncommitted by state law.|name=|group=}} | 5{{Efn|Uncommitted by state law.|name=|group=}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|9{{Efn|All are Uncommitted|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | May 12
! 11 | 0.55 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 10.45{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="3" | May 13
! 3 ! Panama Canal Zone{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 15, 1972 |title=McGovern Gets 2.5 Votes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/110073699 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Courier-Journal|location=Louisville, Kentucky|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=October 1, 2023}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 2.5 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|0.5{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 30 (of 35)
! Kansas{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 14, 1972 |title=McGovern Backers Claim 12 Delegates – Officially |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/694924360 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Wichita Eagle|location=Wichita, Kansas|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | 12 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 18{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 44{{Efn|Four delegates were picked on May 20.|name=|group=}}
! Louisiana{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 14, 1972 |title=29 Uncommitted Among 40 Demo State Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/217983736 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Sun Herald |location=Biloxi, Mississippi|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 24, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 21, 1972 |title=La. Demos Pick Edwards to Head Delegation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/214596770 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Town Talk |location=Alexandria, Louisiana|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | 10 |{{endash}} | 3 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 32{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="2" | May 16
! 53 | 6 | 6 | style="background:#80ff80;" | 41 | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: lightgrey;"| | | | style="background: lightgrey;"| |style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| 132
! Michigan{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 18, 1972 |title=Leaders of Democrats Get Message: Change Needed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/99140552 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Detroit Free Press |location=Detroit, Michigan|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 1, 1972 |title=Wallace Gets 67 Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/99161055 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Detroit Free Press |location=Detroit, Michigan|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023}} | 38 | 27 | style="background:#80ff80;" | 67 | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: lightgrey;"| |{{endash}} | |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| rowspan="1" | May 19
! 20 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background:#ffb280;" | 20 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| rowspan="1" | May 19–21
! 17 ! Hawaii{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 22, 1972 |title=Coalition Planning Miami Challenge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/268435210 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Honolulu Star-Bulletin |location=Honolulu, Hawaii|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 26, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 22, 1972 |title=Challenge to Hawaii Officially Dropped |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/261289932 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |location=Honolulu, Hawaii|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 26, 2023}} | 1.5 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 15.5{{Efn|All are Uncommitted except 1.5 for Patsy Mink.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="3" | May 20
! 10 (of 44) | style="background:#ff8080;" | 5 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background: lightgrey;"|3 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|2{{Efn|Both are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 12
| style="background:#ff8080;" | 9 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background: lightgrey;"|3 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| 46 (of 52)
! Washington{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 22, 1972 |title=McGovern Wins All 6 National Delegates at 3rd District Caucus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/577306954 |url-status= |language=en|work=The Longview Daily News|location=Longview, Washington|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}}{{cite news |date=June 25, 1972 |title=Jackson Capture All of State's 52 Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/735283840 |url-status= |language=en|work=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | 0{{Efn|McGovern won eight delegates in these contests, but they were later replaced by Jackson delegates at the state convention.|name=|group=}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background:#b780ff;" | 46 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| rowspan="3" | May 23
! 55 (of 73) ! Missouri{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 24, 1972 |title=44 Uncommitted Delegates Chosen by State Demos |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/561587408 |url-status= |language=en |work=The St. Joseph News-Press |location=St. Joseph, Missouri|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | 11 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 44{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 34
| style="background:#ff8080;" | 34 | | | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: lightgrey;"| | | | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| 22
| style="background:#ff8080;" | 22 | style="background: lightgrey;"| | | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: lightgrey;"| | |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| rowspan="1" | May 26
! 10 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 10{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="2" | May 27
! 3 | 1 | style="background:#8080ff;" | 1.5 |{{endash}} | style="background: lightgrey;"|0.5 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| 3
! Virgin Islands{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=Feb 25, 1972 |title=Virgin Island Delegation Backs Jackson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/577303406 |url-status= |language=en |work=Longview Daily News|location=Chester, Pennsylvania|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=May 14, 2024}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=May 27, 1972 |title=McGovern's in Driver's Seat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/20761474 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Delaware County Daily Times|location=Chester, Pennsylvania|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=October 1, 2023}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 3 |
| rowspan="2" | June 2
! 38 (of 51) ! Connecticut{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 5, 1972 |title=McGovern Wins 41 Votes in 5 Contests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/532056388 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Berkshire Eagle|location=Pittsfield, Massacshuetts|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023}} | 15 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 23{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 35 (of 47)
! Kentucky{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 4, 1972 |title=37 Kentucky Delegates Are Uncommitted; 10 Go to McGovern |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/110079204 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Courier-Journal |location=Louisville, Kentucky|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | 7 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 28{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="2" | June 3
! 12 (of 47) ! Kentucky | 3 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 9{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 30 (of 39)
! Oklahoma{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 5, 1972 |title=McGovern's Oklahoma Delegate Strength Appears Locked at 10 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/36560300 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Lawton Constitution|location=Lawton, Oklahoma|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | 10 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 20{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="4" | June 6
! 271 ! California primary{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 7, 1972 |title=McGovern Tops HHH 45% to 40% in California, Wins 3 Other States |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/620168266/ |url-status= |language=en |work=The Sacramento Bee |location=Sacramento, California|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 26, 2023}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 271 | | | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: lightgrey;"| |{{endash}} | | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| 17
| style="background:#ff8080;" | 17 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| 109
! New Jersey{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 8, 1972 |title=McGovern, Wallace Officials OK State Delegate Alignment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/156322355 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Albuquerque Journal |location=Albuquerque, New Mexico|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 13, 1972 |title=Delegates Pick Leaders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/492161250 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023 |work=The Record |location=Hackensack, New Jersey |language=en}}{{Efn|There were two primaries in this state: a non-binding preference primary in which eligible voters cast ballots directly for a candidate and a delegate primary in which delegates to the National Convention were elected.|name=prefprimary}} | 72 | 10 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} | style="background:#f7da88;" | |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|27{{Efn|All 27 delegates were uncommitted.}} |
| 18
| style="background:#ff8080;" | 10 | | 8 | style="background: lightgrey;"| | style="background: lightgrey;"| |{{endash}} | |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| |
| rowspan="2" | June 9
! 13 (of 64) | 5 | style="background:#8080ff;" | 7 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} | 1 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| 41 (of 53)
! Virginia{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 10, 1972 |title=Virginia Delegates to Miami Named |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/915991586 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Roanoke Times|location=Roanoke, Virginia|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 10, 1972 |title=30 of 53 Seen for McGovern |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/829719520 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Richmond Times-Dispatch|location=Richmond, Virginia|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023}} | 18 | 2 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"| 1 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 20{{Efn|19 delegates were uncommitted and one was pledged to Terry Sanford.}} |
| rowspan="4" | June 10
! 5 (of 35) |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 5{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 18 (of 73)
|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 18{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 9 (of 39)
! Oklahoma{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 13, 1972 |title=Demo Chief Backs Muskie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/888763456 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Tulsa World|location=Tulsa, Oklahoma|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | 3{{Efn|This was suspected, not confirmed.|name=|group=}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 6{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 12 (of 53)
! Virginia{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 12, 1972 |title=Sen. McGovern Pick Up 30 More Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/964000024 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Bee|location=Danville, Virginia|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 27, 2023}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 9 | 1 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} | 2 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| rowspan="1" | June 13
! 130 | 34 | 21 | style="background:#80ff80;" | 42 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|33{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="5" | June 16
! 27 (of 36) ! Colorado{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 18, 1972 |title=McGovern Assured of Major Share of Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/225554564 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Fort Collins Coloradoan|location=Fort Collins, Colorado|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 17, 1972 |title=McGovern Assured of Major Share of Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/58317444 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph|location=Colorado Springs, Colorado|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 17 | 6 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} | 1 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|13 {{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 13 (of 51)
! Connecticut{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 19, 1972 |title=McGovern Delegate Total Hits 1,113 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/377107562 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Baltimore Sun|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=October 1, 2023}} | 5 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"| 8{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 17
| style="background:#ff8080;" | 7 | 1 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"| 3 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} | 2 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|4{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 14
! North Dakota{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 17, 1972 |title=McGovern Wins 11 of 20 Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/888066063 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Morning Pioneer |location=Mandan, North Dakota|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 7.7 | 4.2 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|2.1{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 19
| style="background:#ff8080;" | 11 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|8{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="2" | June 17
! 17 | style="background:#ff8080;" | 14.5 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} | 1 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|1.5{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| 7
! Puerto Rico{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 19, 1972 |title=McGovern Delegate Total His 1,113 |trans-title= |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/377107562 |url-status= |language=en |work=The Baltimore Sun|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=October 1, 2023}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 6 | 0.5 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|0.5{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | June 18
! 9 (of 36) | style="background:#ff8080;" | 7 | 1 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|1{{Efn|Is Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | June 20
! 278{{Efn|30 were named on the June 25th by the Democratic State Committee.|name=|group=}} ! New York{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 22, 1972 |title=McGoven Victory a Blow to State Party Leaders|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/06/22/90716945.html?pageNumber=44 |url-status= |language=en |work=The New York Times|location=New York, New York|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 25, 1972 |title=State Democrats Head Off Split |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/06/25/170536732.html?pageNumber=1 |url-status= |language=en |work=The New York Times|location=New York, New York|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} | style="background:#ff8080;" | 251 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"| 1 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} | 4 |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background: #EAEAEA;"|22{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| rowspan="1" | June 23
! 6 (of 52) ! Washington{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=June 25, 1972 |title=Jackson Captures All of State's 52 Delegates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/735283840 |url-status= |language=en |work=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=September 30, 2023}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background:#b780ff;" | 6 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| rowspan="2" | June 24
! 27 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} | style="background:#80fff2;" | 27 |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|{{endash}} |
| 13
|5.85 |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |{{endash}} |{{endash}} |style="background: lightgrey;"|{{endash}} |style="background: #EAEAEA;"|7.15{{Efn|All are Uncommitted.|name=|group=}} |
| colspan="3"|Total pledged delegates Popular Vote ! 1319.55 ! 345.85 ! 371 ! 172.5 ! 52 ! 28 ! 22 ! 6 ! 638.6 |
| June 27
! colspan="2"|Estimate{{cite news | url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/06/27/80794369.html?pageNumber=31 | title=The Candidates' Delegates | work=The New York Times }} ! 1,466.15 ! 385.50 ! 377 ! 208.85 ! 53.75 ! 30.55 ! 23.65 ! 0 ! 468.25 |
= Results by county =
[[File:1972 Democratic Primaries by County(with margins).svg|x550px|thumb|left|1972 Democratic primary results by county popular vote{{efn|In Iowa, the results by county were not recorded, however it was recorded by congressional district.}}{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#e55651|McGovern}}
|{{legend|#fdeeee|McGovern—20–30%}}
|{{legend|#fbdedd|McGovern—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#f1b4b2|McGovern—40–50%}}
|{{legend|#ed8783|McGovern—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#e55651|McGovern—60–70%}}
|{{legend|#d02923|McGovern—70–80%}}
|{{legend|#850400|McGovern—90–100%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#678cd7|Humphrey}}
|{{legend|#eef3fd|Humphrey—20–30%}}
|{{legend|#dee8fb|Humphrey—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#b4c7ec|Humphrey—40–50%}}
|{{legend|#8da9e2|Humphrey—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#678cd7|Humphrey—60–70%}}
|{{legend|#4170cd|Humphrey—70–80%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#3fa457|Wallace}}
|{{legend|#ebf7ee|Wallace—20–30%}}
|{{legend|#d6efdc|Wallace—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#a3d5af|Wallace—40–50%}}
|{{legend|#73bc84|Wallace—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#3fa457|Wallace—60–70%}}
|{{legend|#008c21|Wallace—70–80%}}
|{{legend|#006e1a|Wallace—80–90%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#c56900|Muskie}}
|{{legend|#f9e1c6|Muskie—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#e8ba85|Muskie—40–50%}}
|{{legend|#d79346|Muskie—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#c56900|Muskie—60–70%}}
|{{legend|#b25f00|Muskie—70–80%}}
|{{legend|#904d00|Muskie—80–90%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#a88600|Chisholm}}
|{{legend|#c0a32f|Chisholm—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#a88600|Chisholm—60–70%}}
|{{legend|#907300|Chisholm—70–80%}}
|{{legend|#735c00|Chisholm—80–90%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#FF7F2A|Sanford}}
|{{legend|#FFCCAA|Sanford—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#FFB380|Sanford—40–50%}}
|{{legend|#FF9955|Sanford—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#FF7F2A|Sanford—60–70%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#b368d9|McCarthy}}
|{{legend|#dcb7ef|McCarthy—40–50%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#53bfbf|Fauntroy}}
|{{legend|#1eafaf|Fauntroy—70–80%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#8d8d8d|Uncommitted}}
|{{legend|#e7e7e7|Uncommitted—30–40%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#AE8BB1|Tie}}
|{{legend|#AE8BB1|Tie—50%}}
}}
]]
| File:1972DemocraticPrimariesCounties.svg |
=Total primaries popular vote=
{{Election box begin no party no change|title=1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries{{Cite book |title=Guide to U.S. Elections |publisher=CQ Press |year=2010 |isbn=9781604265361 |editor-last=Kalb |editor-first=Deborah |edition=6th |location=Washington, DC |page=415}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change|candidate=Hubert H. Humphrey|votes=4,121,372|percentage=25.8}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=George S. McGovern|votes=4,053,451|percentage=25.3}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=George C. Wallace|votes=3,755,424|percentage=23.5}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Edmund S. Muskie|votes=1,840,217|percentage=11.5}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Eugene J. McCarthy|votes=553,955|percentage=3.5}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Henry M. Jackson|votes=505,198|percentage=3.2}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Shirley A. Chisholm|votes=430,703|percentage=2.7}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=James T. Sanford|votes=331,415|percentage=2.1}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=John V. Lindsay|votes=196,406|percentage=1.2}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Sam W. Yorty|votes=79,446|percentage=0.5}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Wilbur D. Mills|votes=37,401|percentage=0.2}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Walter E. Fauntroy|votes=21,217|percentage=0.1}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Unpledged delegates|votes=19,533|percentage=0.1}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Edward M. Kennedy|votes=16,693|percentage=0.1}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Rupert V. Hartke|votes=11,798|percentage=0.1}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Patsy M. Mink|votes=8,286|percentage=0.1}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate="None of the names shown"|votes=6,269|percentage=0}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Others|votes=5,181|percentage=0}}
{{Election box total no party no change|votes=15,993,965|percentage=100}}
{{End}}
= Analysis =
In the end, McGovern succeeded in winning the nomination by winning primaries through grass-roots support in spite of establishment opposition. He had led a commission to redesign the Democratic nomination system after the messy and confused nomination struggle and convention of 1968. The fundamental principle of the McGovern-Fraser Commission—that the Democratic primaries should determine the winner of the Democratic nomination—lasted throughout every subsequent nomination contest. However, the new rules angered many prominent Democrats whose influence was marginalized, and those politicians refused to support McGovern's campaign (some even supporting Nixon instead), leaving the McGovern campaign at a significant disadvantage in funding compared to Nixon.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Further reading
- {{Cite book|title=The Good Fight|first=Shirley|last=Chisholm|author-link=Shirley Chisholm|isbn=978-0-06-010764-2|publisher=Harper Collins|year=1973|postscript=none}}
{{United States presidential election, 1972}}
{{1972 United States elections}}
{{U.S. presidential primaries}}
{{George McGovern}}
{{Hubert Humphrey}}
{{George Wallace}}
{{Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1972}}