Elections / 1972 · President · MI
Michigan — 1972 presidential election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1972 presidential electionMichigan · PresidentNixonR+14.4
How it voted
Share of the 1972 vote
| Richard Nixon ✓Republican | 56.2% | 1,961,721 |
|---|---|---|
| George McGovernDemocratic | 41.8% | 1,459,435 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 2.0% | 69,169 |
1972presidential margin
D+60R+60
83 counties, each filled by 1972 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Michigan cast 21 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (83 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Alcona County, MI | Republican | R+33.5 |
| Alger County, MI | Republican | R+6.0 |
| Allegan County, MI | Republican | R+39.1 |
| Alpena County, MI | Republican | R+11.9 |
| Antrim County, MI | Republican | R+32.9 |
| Arenac County, MI | Republican | R+16.8 |
| Baraga County, MI | Republican | R+11.2 |
| Barry County, MI | Republican | R+30.2 |
| Bay County, MI | Republican | R+3.0 |
| Benzie County, MI | Republican | R+33.9 |
| Berrien County, MI | Republican | R+38.8 |
| Branch County, MI | Republican | R+25.9 |
| Calhoun County, MI | Republican | R+18.6 |
| Cass County, MI | Republican | R+34.5 |
| Charlevoix County, MI | Republican | R+22.1 |
| Cheboygan County, MI | Republican | R+20.2 |
| Chippewa County, MI | Republican | R+19.2 |
| Clare County, MI | Republican | R+28.2 |
| Clinton County, MI | Republican | R+38.5 |
| Crawford County, MI | Republican | R+25.7 |
| Delta County, MI | Democratic | D+2.2 |
| Dickinson County, MI | Republican | R+5.5 |
| Eaton County, MI | Republican | R+38.3 |
| Emmet County, MI | Republican | R+25.8 |
| Genesee County, MI | Republican | R+7.3 |
| Gladwin County, MI | Republican | R+26.1 |
| Gogebic County, MI | Republican | R+6.0 |
| Grand Traverse County, MI | Republican | R+31.8 |
| Gratiot County, MI | Republican | R+38.2 |
| Hillsdale County, MI | Republican | R+39.4 |
| Houghton County, MI | Republican | R+17.0 |
| Huron County, MI | Republican | R+36.8 |
| Ingham County, MI | Republican | R+8.4 |
| Ionia County, MI | Republican | R+26.7 |
| Iosco County, MI | Republican | R+29.9 |
| Iron County, MI | Republican | R+1.6 |
| Isabella County, MI | Republican | R+12.8 |
| Jackson County, MI | Republican | R+27.1 |
| Kalamazoo County, MI | Republican | R+19.9 |
| Kalkaska County, MI | Republican | R+32.3 |
| Kent County, MI | Republican | R+20.8 |
| Keweenaw County, MI | Republican | R+21.9 |
| Lake County, MI | Democratic | D+0.5 |
| Lapeer County, MI | Republican | R+34.6 |
| Leelanau County, MI | Republican | R+33.8 |
| Lenawee County, MI | Republican | R+26.4 |
| Livingston County, MI | Republican | R+36.6 |
| Luce County, MI | Republican | R+28.8 |
| Mackinac County, MI | Republican | R+22.7 |
| Macomb County, MI | Republican | R+27.7 |
| Manistee County, MI | Republican | R+16.3 |
| Marquette County, MI | Republican | R+6.7 |
| Mason County, MI | Republican | R+29.1 |
| Mecosta County, MI | Republican | R+30.2 |
| Menominee County, MI | Republican | R+12.8 |
| Midland County, MI | Republican | R+26.0 |
| Missaukee County, MI | Republican | R+46.7 |
| Monroe County, MI | Republican | R+13.0 |
| Montcalm County, MI | Republican | R+25.8 |
| Montmorency County, MI | Republican | R+31.7 |
| Muskegon County, MI | Republican | R+22.3 |
| Newaygo County, MI | Republican | R+34.0 |
| Oakland County, MI | Republican | R+29.6 |
| Oceana County, MI | Republican | R+31.7 |
| Ogemaw County, MI | Republican | R+23.7 |
| Ontonagon County, MI | Republican | R+17.0 |
| Osceola County, MI | Republican | R+43.1 |
| Oscoda County, MI | Republican | R+38.2 |
| Otsego County, MI | Republican | R+19.5 |
| Ottawa County, MI | Republican | R+46.2 |
| Presque Isle County, MI | Republican | R+15.5 |
| Roscommon County, MI | Republican | R+30.2 |
| Saginaw County, MI | Republican | R+23.6 |
| Sanilac County, MI | Republican | R+47.9 |
| Schoolcraft County, MI | Republican | R+13.4 |
| Shiawassee County, MI | Republican | R+26.1 |
| St. Clair County, MI | Republican | R+28.3 |
| St. Joseph County, MI | Republican | R+40.7 |
| Tuscola County, MI | Republican | R+37.6 |
| Van Buren County, MI | Republican | R+31.3 |
| Washtenaw County, MI | Democratic | D+4.5 |
| Wayne County, MI | Democratic | D+8.2 |
| Wexford County, MI | Republican | R+25.6 |
Nominees: George McGovern (D) · Richard Nixon (R)
Michigan's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1972 contest in context
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | −4.5% |
| 1896 | −10.3% |
| 1900 | −19.2% |
| 1904 | −43.8% |
| 1908 | −29.5% |
| 1912 | −0.2% |
| 1916 | −8.3% |
| 1920 | −50.6% |
| 1924 | −62.2% |
| 1928 | −41.4% |
| 1932 | +7.9% |
| 1936 | +17.6% |
| 1940 | −0.3% |
| 1944 | +1.0% |
| 1948 | −1.7% |
| 1952 | −11.5% |
| 1956 | −11.5% |
| 1960 | +2.0% |
| 1964 | +33.6% |
| 1968 | +6.7% |
| 1972 | −14.4% |
| 1976 | −5.4% |
| 1980 | −6.5% |
| 1984 | −19.0% |
| 1988 | −7.9% |
| 1992 | +7.4% |
| 1996 | +13.2% |
| 2000 | +5.1% |
| 2004 | +3.4% |
| 2008 | +16.5% |
| 2012 | +9.5% |
| 2016 | −0.2% |
| 2020 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | −1.4% |
County-by-county results — 83 counties
| County | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcona County | R | 1,195 | 2,434 | 3,693 | |
| Alger County | R | 1,803 | 2,035 | 3,878 | |
| Allegan County | R | 7,883 | 18,407 | 26,884 | |
| Alpena County | R | 5,104 | 6,513 | 11,831 | |
| Antrim County | R | 2,000 | 4,068 | 6,281 | |
| Arenac County | R | 1,829 | 2,588 | 4,506 | |
| Baraga County | R | 1,517 | 1,905 | 3,468 | |
| Barry County | R | 5,484 | 10,393 | 16,233 | |
| Bay County | R | 21,712 | 23,094 | 46,118 | |
| Benzie County | R | 1,310 | 2,686 | 4,054 | |
| Berrien County | R | 18,597 | 43,047 | 63,060 | |
| Branch County | R | 4,887 | 8,388 | 13,526 | |
| Calhoun County | R | 22,154 | 32,531 | 55,828 | |
| Cass County | R | 4,982 | 10,398 | 15,681 | |
| Charlevoix County | R | 2,831 | 4,522 | 7,659 | |
| Cheboygan County | R | 2,985 | 4,529 | 7,662 | |
| Chippewa County | R | 4,744 | 7,028 | 11,906 | |
| Clare County | R | 2,434 | 4,402 | 6,988 | |
| Clinton County | R | 5,870 | 13,438 | 19,653 | |
| Crawford County | R | 1,143 | 1,953 | 3,151 | |
| Delta County | D | 8,003 | 7,647 | 15,886 | |
| Dickinson County | R | 5,339 | 5,989 | 11,715 | |
| Eaton County | R | 8,986 | 20,413 | 29,811 | |
| Emmet County | R | 3,081 | 5,288 | 8,541 | |
| Genesee County | R | 73,896 | 85,747 | 162,449 | |
| Gladwin County | R | 2,016 | 3,484 | 5,625 | |
| Gogebic County | R | 4,984 | 5,631 | 10,776 | |
| Grand Traverse County | R | 5,810 | 11,421 | 17,621 | |
| Gratiot County | R | 4,370 | 9,904 | 14,478 | |
| Hillsdale County | R | 3,942 | 9,261 | 13,492 | |
| Houghton County | R | 6,402 | 9,053 | 15,590 | |
| Huron County | R | 4,456 | 9,832 | 14,596 | |
| Ingham County | R | 53,458 | 63,376 | 118,243 | |
| Ionia County | R | 6,240 | 10,898 | 17,416 | |
| Iosco County | R | 3,065 | 5,750 | 8,971 | |
| Iron County | R | 3,512 | 3,630 | 7,376 | |
| Isabella County | R | 7,446 | 9,682 | 17,454 | |
| Jackson County | R | 19,350 | 34,220 | 54,903 | |
| Kalamazoo County | R | 33,324 | 50,405 | 85,770 | |
| Kalkaska County | R | 924 | 1,855 | 2,881 | |
| Kent County | R | 67,587 | 104,041 | 175,461 | |
| Keweenaw County | R | 456 | 715 | 1,182 | |
| Lake County | D | 1,548 | 1,532 | 3,131 | |
| Lapeer County | R | 5,531 | 11,615 | 17,592 | |
| Leelanau County | R | 1,855 | 3,809 | 5,787 | |
| Lenawee County | R | 11,018 | 19,125 | 30,654 | |
| Livingston County | R | 7,634 | 16,856 | 25,215 | |
| Luce County | R | 862 | 1,579 | 2,487 | |
| Mackinac County | R | 1,937 | 3,096 | 5,104 | |
| Macomb County | R | 82,346 | 147,777 | 235,793 | |
| Manistee County | R | 3,625 | 5,070 | 8,863 | |
| Marquette County | R | 11,555 | 13,249 | 25,157 | |
| Mason County | R | 3,697 | 6,811 | 10,715 | |
| Mecosta County | R | 3,799 | 7,158 | 11,134 | |
| Menominee County | R | 4,657 | 6,060 | 10,981 | |
| Midland County | R | 9,504 | 16,473 | 26,836 | |
| Missaukee County | R | 924 | 2,647 | 3,687 | |
| Monroe County | R | 17,726 | 23,263 | 42,479 | |
| Montcalm County | R | 5,602 | 9,591 | 15,478 | |
| Montmorency County | R | 914 | 1,798 | 2,788 | |
| Muskegon County | R | 22,804 | 36,428 | 61,125 | |
| Newaygo County | R | 3,978 | 8,245 | 12,565 | |
| Oakland County | R | 129,400 | 241,613 | 378,851 | |
| Oceana County | R | 2,525 | 4,992 | 7,776 | |
| Ogemaw County | R | 2,056 | 3,367 | 5,541 | |
| Ontonagon County | R | 2,140 | 3,040 | 5,286 | |
| Osceola County | R | 1,706 | 4,441 | 6,349 | |
| Oscoda County | R | 678 | 1,561 | 2,309 | |
| Otsego County | R | 1,912 | 2,854 | 4,843 | |
| Ottawa County | R | 15,119 | 42,169 | 58,576 | |
| Presque Isle County | R | 2,440 | 3,372 | 5,997 | |
| Roscommon County | R | 2,187 | 4,136 | 6,445 | |
| Saginaw County | R | 29,424 | 47,920 | 78,521 | |
| Sanilac County | R | 3,780 | 11,031 | 15,125 | |
| Schoolcraft County | R | 1,759 | 2,310 | 4,124 | |
| Shiawassee County | R | 8,932 | 15,489 | 25,136 | |
| St. Clair County | R | 15,712 | 28,471 | 45,159 | |
| St. Joseph County | R | 5,119 | 12,438 | 17,988 | |
| Tuscola County | R | 5,449 | 12,198 | 17,949 | |
| Van Buren County | R | 7,159 | 13,903 | 21,531 | |
| Washtenaw County | D | 55,350 | 50,535 | 107,575 | |
| Wayne County | D | 514,913 | 435,877 | 966,877 | |
| Wexford County | R | 3,048 | 5,221 | 8,499 |
Source. Compiled historical county records — 1972 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.