Richard Nixon carried Washington R+18.3.

George McGovern (D) vs Richard Nixon (R) in Washington, 1972. The state ran 4.9 points more Democratic than the nation (R+23.2 nationally).

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

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Washington result

1,470,847 votes counted

McGovern (D)

568,334

38.6%

Nixon (R)

837,135

56.9%

All others

65,378

4.4%

Margin

R+18.3

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1972 presidential election

Washington, 1972

NixonR+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

D+60

R+60

39 counties, each filled by 1972 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.

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Washington's presidential margins

1892–2024, the 1972 contest in context

Washington's presidential margins

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%

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County results — 1972

39 counties; every row links to the county's full page.

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County	Won	Margin	Democratic	Republican	Total
Adams County	R	−43.7%	1,110	3,083	4,519
Asotin County	R	−6.1%	2,559	2,911	5,780
Benton County	R	−28.6%	9,824	18,517	30,346
Chelan County	R	−26.3%	5,889	10,470	17,413
Clallam County	R	−23.3%	5,620	9,372	16,089
Clark County	R	−2.7%	27,179	28,775	58,569
Columbia County	R	−43.8%	533	1,445	2,080
Cowlitz County	R	−6.2%	12,682	14,431	28,182
Douglas County	R	−28.0%	2,420	4,512	7,481
Ferry County	R	−16.7%	560	815	1,527
Franklin County	R	−20.0%	3,867	5,972	10,523
Garfield County	R	−34.1%	481	1,004	1,534
Grant County	R	−24.6%	5,487	9,370	15,814
Grays Harbor County	D	+4.0%	11,786	10,839	23,745
Island County	R	−39.5%	3,149	7,495	11,003
Jefferson County	R	−13.0%	2,096	2,770	5,179
King County	R	−16.3%	212,509	298,707	529,694
Kitsap County	R	−19.4%	17,011	25,831	45,446
Kittitas County	R	−11.5%	4,299	5,464	10,126
Klickitat County	R	−13.6%	2,293	3,061	5,648
Lewis County	R	−24.9%	6,946	12,071	20,585
Lincoln County	R	−41.6%	1,453	3,647	5,275
Mason County	R	−10.5%	3,907	4,873	9,177
Okanogan County	R	−19.0%	3,835	5,796	10,334
Pacific County	D	+3.3%	3,585	3,349	7,166
Pend Oreille County	R	−23.0%	1,071	1,746	2,931
Pierce County	R	−18.5%	56,933	84,265	148,065
San Juan County	R	−31.5%	906	1,786	2,795
Skagit County	R	−20.4%	9,233	14,212	24,448
Skamania County	R	−5.1%	1,153	1,288	2,645
Snohomish County	R	−19.6%	39,471	60,032	104,821
Spokane County	R	−24.0%	44,337	74,320	125,185
Stevens County	R	−31.0%	2,390	4,839	7,899
Thurston County	R	−19.9%	14,596	22,297	38,792
Wahkiakum County	R	−1.3%	796	818	1,726
Walla Walla County	R	−38.9%	5,364	12,579	18,533
Whatcom County	R	−19.5%	15,027	22,585	38,801
Whitman County	R	−20.3%	6,248	9,548	16,266
Yakima County	R	−22.9%	19,729	32,240	54,705