akashic
1876–2024
Elections / 1972 · President · MA

George McGovern carried Massachusetts D+9.0.

George McGovern (D) vs Richard Nixon (R) in Massachusetts, 1972. The state ran 32.1 points more Democratic than the nation (R+23.2 nationally).

Nominees: George McGovern (D) · Richard Nixon (R)

Massachusetts result
2,458,756 votes counted
McGovern (D)
1,332,540
54.2%
Nixon (R)
1,112,078
45.2%
All others
14,138
0.6%
Margin
D+9.0
1972 presidential election
Massachusetts, 1972
McGovernD+9.0
1972 presidential margin by county for Massachusetts — 1972 presidential electionA map of the constituent counties of Massachusetts — 1972 presidential election, each outlined and filled by its 1972 presidential margin from deep red (Republican) through neutral to deep blue (Democratic), seated within the faint outlines of the surrounding states.Barnstable County, MA · R+23.1Berkshire County, MA · D+7.6Bristol County, MA · D+9.9Dukes County, MA · R+7.2Essex County, MA · D+6.5Franklin County, MA · R+14.6Hampden County, MA · D+4.8Hampshire County, MA · D+7.5Middlesex County, MA · D+12.3Nantucket County, MA · R+19.6Norfolk County, MA · D+5.7Plymouth County, MA · R+4.7Suffolk County, MA · D+32.0Worcester County, MA · D+6.1
How it voted
Share of the 1972 vote
George McGovern ✓Democratic54.2%1,332,540
Richard NixonRepublican45.2%1,112,078
OtherAll other candidates0.6%14,138
D+60
R+60
14 counties, each filled by 1972 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Massachusetts's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1972 contest in context
Massachusetts's presidential marginsDemocratic-minus-Republican presidential margin from 1892 to 2024. Most recent: +25.2% in 2024.flipped D · 1988+25.2%DR18922024
Massachusetts's presidential margins
YearMargin (D minus R)
1892−6.6%
1896−43.1%
1900−19.7%
1904−20.7%
1908−24.2%
1912+3.6%
1916−3.9%
1920−40.7%
1924−37.3%
1928+1.1%
1932+4.0%
1936+9.5%
1940+6.7%
1944+5.8%
1948+11.5%
1952−8.8%
1956−18.9%
1960+20.7%
1964+52.7%
1968+30.1%
1972+9.0%
1976+15.7%
1980−0.2%
1984−2.8%
1988+7.9%
1992+18.5%
1996+33.4%
2000+27.3%
2004+25.2%
2008+25.8%
2012+23.1%
2016+26.8%
2020+33.2%
2024+25.2%
County results — 1972
14 counties; every row links to the county's full page.
CountyWonMarginDemocraticRepublicanTotal
Barnstable CountyR
−23.1%
22,63636,34059,442
Berkshire CountyD
+7.6%
35,39130,38066,284
Bristol CountyD
+9.9%
103,16384,390188,768
Dukes CountyR
−7.2%
2,0012,3124,336
Essex CountyD
+6.5%
157,324138,040297,084
Franklin CountyR
−14.6%
11,96816,08828,263
Hampden CountyD
+4.8%
94,94586,164182,133
Hampshire CountyD
+7.5%
28,57224,52953,654
Middlesex CountyD
+12.3%
345,343269,064617,651
Nantucket CountyR
−19.6%
9521,4182,380
Norfolk CountyD
+5.7%
150,732134,459286,749
Plymouth CountyR
−4.7%
69,12476,062146,064
Suffolk CountyD
+32.0%
166,25085,272252,821
Worcester CountyD
+6.1%
144,139127,560273,127