Elections / 1972 · President · WA
Washington — 1972 presidential election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1972 presidential electionWashington · PresidentNixonR+18.3
How it voted
Share of the 1972 vote
| Richard Nixon ✓Republican | 56.9% | 837,135 |
|---|---|---|
| George McGovernDemocratic | 38.6% | 568,334 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 4.4% | 65,378 |
1972presidential margin
D+60R+60
39 counties, each filled by 1972 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Washington cast 9 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (39 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County, WA | Republican | R+43.7 |
| Asotin County, WA | Republican | R+6.1 |
| Benton County, WA | Republican | R+28.6 |
| Chelan County, WA | Republican | R+26.3 |
| Clallam County, WA | Republican | R+23.3 |
| Clark County, WA | Republican | R+2.7 |
| Columbia County, WA | Republican | R+43.8 |
| Cowlitz County, WA | Republican | R+6.2 |
| Douglas County, WA | Republican | R+28.0 |
| Ferry County, WA | Republican | R+16.7 |
| Franklin County, WA | Republican | R+20.0 |
| Garfield County, WA | Republican | R+34.1 |
| Grant County, WA | Republican | R+24.6 |
| Grays Harbor County, WA | Democratic | D+4.0 |
| Island County, WA | Republican | R+39.5 |
| Jefferson County, WA | Republican | R+13.0 |
| King County, WA | Republican | R+16.3 |
| Kitsap County, WA | Republican | R+19.4 |
| Kittitas County, WA | Republican | R+11.5 |
| Klickitat County, WA | Republican | R+13.6 |
| Lewis County, WA | Republican | R+24.9 |
| Lincoln County, WA | Republican | R+41.6 |
| Mason County, WA | Republican | R+10.5 |
| Okanogan County, WA | Republican | R+19.0 |
| Pacific County, WA | Democratic | D+3.3 |
| Pend Oreille County, WA | Republican | R+23.0 |
| Pierce County, WA | Republican | R+18.5 |
| San Juan County, WA | Republican | R+31.5 |
| Skagit County, WA | Republican | R+20.4 |
| Skamania County, WA | Republican | R+5.1 |
| Snohomish County, WA | Republican | R+19.6 |
| Spokane County, WA | Republican | R+24.0 |
| Stevens County, WA | Republican | R+31.0 |
| Thurston County, WA | Republican | R+19.9 |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | Republican | R+1.3 |
| Walla Walla County, WA | Republican | R+38.9 |
| Whatcom County, WA | Republican | R+19.5 |
| Whitman County, WA | Republican | R+20.3 |
| Yakima County, WA | Republican | R+22.9 |
Nominees: George McGovern (D) · Richard Nixon (R)
Washington's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1972 contest in context
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | −7.6% |
| 1896 | +15.1% |
| 1900 | −11.7% |
| 1904 | −50.6% |
| 1908 | −25.8% |
| 1912 | +5.1% |
| 1916 | +4.2% |
| 1920 | −34.8% |
| 1924 | −42.1% |
| 1928 | −35.8% |
| 1932 | +23.5% |
| 1936 | +36.5% |
| 1940 | +17.6% |
| 1944 | +14.6% |
| 1948 | +9.8% |
| 1952 | −9.6% |
| 1956 | −8.5% |
| 1960 | −2.4% |
| 1964 | +24.6% |
| 1968 | +2.1% |
| 1972 | −18.3% |
| 1976 | −3.9% |
| 1980 | −12.3% |
| 1984 | −13.0% |
| 1988 | +1.6% |
| 1992 | +11.4% |
| 1996 | +12.5% |
| 2000 | +5.6% |
| 2004 | +7.2% |
| 2008 | +17.2% |
| 2012 | +14.8% |
| 2016 | +15.7% |
| 2020 | +19.2% |
| 2024 | +18.2% |
County-by-county results — 39 counties
| County | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | R | 1,110 | 3,083 | 4,519 | |
| Asotin County | R | 2,559 | 2,911 | 5,780 | |
| Benton County | R | 9,824 | 18,517 | 30,346 | |
| Chelan County | R | 5,889 | 10,470 | 17,413 | |
| Clallam County | R | 5,620 | 9,372 | 16,089 | |
| Clark County | R | 27,179 | 28,775 | 58,569 | |
| Columbia County | R | 533 | 1,445 | 2,080 | |
| Cowlitz County | R | 12,682 | 14,431 | 28,182 | |
| Douglas County | R | 2,420 | 4,512 | 7,481 | |
| Ferry County | R | 560 | 815 | 1,527 | |
| Franklin County | R | 3,867 | 5,972 | 10,523 | |
| Garfield County | R | 481 | 1,004 | 1,534 | |
| Grant County | R | 5,487 | 9,370 | 15,814 | |
| Grays Harbor County | D | 11,786 | 10,839 | 23,745 | |
| Island County | R | 3,149 | 7,495 | 11,003 | |
| Jefferson County | R | 2,096 | 2,770 | 5,179 | |
| King County | R | 212,509 | 298,707 | 529,694 | |
| Kitsap County | R | 17,011 | 25,831 | 45,446 | |
| Kittitas County | R | 4,299 | 5,464 | 10,126 | |
| Klickitat County | R | 2,293 | 3,061 | 5,648 | |
| Lewis County | R | 6,946 | 12,071 | 20,585 | |
| Lincoln County | R | 1,453 | 3,647 | 5,275 | |
| Mason County | R | 3,907 | 4,873 | 9,177 | |
| Okanogan County | R | 3,835 | 5,796 | 10,334 | |
| Pacific County | D | 3,585 | 3,349 | 7,166 | |
| Pend Oreille County | R | 1,071 | 1,746 | 2,931 | |
| Pierce County | R | 56,933 | 84,265 | 148,065 | |
| San Juan County | R | 906 | 1,786 | 2,795 | |
| Skagit County | R | 9,233 | 14,212 | 24,448 | |
| Skamania County | R | 1,153 | 1,288 | 2,645 | |
| Snohomish County | R | 39,471 | 60,032 | 104,821 | |
| Spokane County | R | 44,337 | 74,320 | 125,185 | |
| Stevens County | R | 2,390 | 4,839 | 7,899 | |
| Thurston County | R | 14,596 | 22,297 | 38,792 | |
| Wahkiakum County | R | 796 | 818 | 1,726 | |
| Walla Walla County | R | 5,364 | 12,579 | 18,533 | |
| Whatcom County | R | 15,027 | 22,585 | 38,801 | |
| Whitman County | R | 6,248 | 9,548 | 16,266 | |
| Yakima County | R | 19,729 | 32,240 | 54,705 |
Source. Compiled historical county records — 1972 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.