1972 United States Senate election in Virginia

The 1972 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 7, 1972. Republican U.S. Representative William L. Scott defeated incumbent Democratic Senator William Spong Jr. Scott was the first Republican U.S. Senator from Virginia to be elected in over a century, as the most recent Republican Senator was John F. Lewis, who had served during the Reconstruction era until 1875.

1972 United States Senate election in Virginia

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →
Turnout44.7%[1]
 
Nominee William L. Scott William Spong, Jr.
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 718,337 643,963
Percentage 51.45% 46.12%

County and independent city results
Scott:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Spong:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

William B. Spong, Jr.
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

William Lloyd Scott
Republican

He was the first Republican to ever win this seat, and the first non-Democrat since 1889. This is the last time a candidate not named Warner won Virginia's Class 2 Senate seat.

General election

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Candidates

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Results

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United States Senate election in Virginia, 1972[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican William Lloyd Scott 718,337 51.45% +22.05%
Democratic William B. Spong, Jr. (incumbent) 643,963 46.12% −12.48%
Independent Horace E. Henderson 33,912 2.43%
Write-ins 56 <0.01% −0.01%
Majority 74,374 5.33% −19.77%
Turnout 1,396,268
Republican gain from Democratic

References

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  1. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - VA US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972".

See also

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