1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries

1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries
3,014 delegates to the Democratic National Convention; 1,508 (majority) votes needed to win
	McGovern Humphrey Wallace Muskie; Jackson Mills Chisholm Uncommitted
Previous Democratic nominee; Hubert Humphrey;	Democratic nominee ; George McGovern;

From January 24 to June 20, 1972, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1972 United States presidential election. Senator George McGovern of South Dakota was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections, caucuses, and state party conventions, culminating in the 1972 Democratic National Convention held from July 10 to July 13, 1972, in Miami, Florida.

Background

1968 election

The 1968 election was one of the most eventful and influential in the history of the Democratic Party. The primaries were contested by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Senator Eugene McCarthy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In a shock, McCarthy forced the incumbent president out of the race early by his strong showing in the New Hampshire primary. Kennedy joined the race soon thereafter, and the two ran on their opposition to Johnson's handling of the Vietnam War. They traded primary victories until Kennedy was assassinated in June.

Although Kennedy and McCarthy contested the popular elections, most of the delegates in 1968 were not popularly elected. Thus, with Kennedy dead and McCarthy lacking support from the party establishment, Johnson's vice president Hubert H. Humphrey was easily nominated on the first ballot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Humphrey's nomination, the continuing Vietnam War, and the generally closed nature of the nomination process drew massive protests to Chicago; the convention was generally seen as a major embarrassment for the Party, and Humphrey went on to lose the election narrowly to Richard Nixon.

McGovern-Fraser Commission

In response to the 1968 debacle, party leadership established a twenty-eight member committee selected by Senator Fred R. Harris to reform the presidential nomination process for 1972. The committee was led by Senator George McGovern and Representative Donald M. Fraser. After less than nine months, the committee delivered its guidelines.

The committee focused on two main principles: uniformity and equity. Guidelines required states adopt uniform, explicit delegate selection rules and weight the delegate allocation in favor of politically marginalized groups (women, blacks and those under the age of 30), including the use of quotas.

In general, the state parties complied with the McGovern-Fraser guidelines by adopting the use of primary elections, rather than delegate selection caucuses or conventions. Thus, the 1972 Democratic nomination is typically considered the first modern presidential primary campaign.^{[citation needed]}^{[according to whom?]} Harris and McGovern, having played a direct role in the reforms and having a detailed knowledge of their impact, were seen to gain an advantage as potential candidates for the nomination.

Nixon administration and 1970 midterm elections

As 1972 approached, President Richard Nixon faced uncertain re-election prospects. Nixon had been elected on a platform to end American involvement in Vietnam, but his strategy of gradual "Vietnamization" had proceeded more slowly than planned. The Paris Peace Talks had bogged down, dimming hopes for a negotiated settlement to the war. In fact, Nixon had widened the conflict by invading Cambodia in 1970, a move that ignited criticism in the press and Congress and widespread disorder on college campuses, including the Kent State shootings in May 1970.

On the domestic front, a sharp recession had shaken investor confidence, and Nixon's plan to control inflation with wage and price controls had failed to meet its objective. The administration's attempt to steer a middle course on desegregation busing and affirmative action had displeased liberals and conservatives alike.

In the 1970 midterm elections, Democrats gained a dozen seats in the House, although their Senate majority was reduced by three seats. Their main success was not in Congress, however, but the states. Eleven different Democratic governors were elected to seats held by Republicans and not a single incumbent Democrat lost re-election.

Pre-primary maneuvering

Given Nixon's apparent weakness and the novel use of the primary system, a large field of credible Democratic challengers emerged. 14 Democrats sought their party's nomination^[a] the largest field of candidates until it was surpassed by 16 candidates in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries^[1] and then 29 candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.^[2]

Early speculation surrounded Senator Ted Kennedy, the brother of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy who had contested the 1968 nomination. He ruled himself out early in 1971, but nevertheless continued to lead in opinion polling. In the event of a brokered convention, some believed Kennedy could emerge as the consensus nominee. Kennedy supporters took key positions on a number of presidential campaigns, strengthening his odds of gaining the candidates' support in the event they could not secure the required delegates.^[3]

With Kennedy out, the establishment favorite for the Democratic nomination was Edmund Muskie,^[4] a moderate Senator who had acquitted himself well as Humphrey's running mate in 1968. In August 1971 polling amid a growing economic crisis, Muskie led Nixon.^[4]

U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm from Queens, New York, announced her candidacy in January 1972,^[5] making her the first black candidate to contest a major party's nomination for president.^[5]^[b] Chisholm was also the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination; she was later joined by Patsy Mink of Hawaii.^[c]

Candidates

The following politicians stood as candidates for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination:

Nominee

Candidate			Most recent office	Home state	Campaign Withdrawal date	Popular vote	Contests won	Running mate	Ref.
George McGovern			U.S. Senator from South Dakota (1963–1981)	South Dakota	(Campaign) Secured nomination: July 13, 1972	4,053,451 (25.3%)	14	Sargent Shriver (replacing Thomas Eagleton)	^[6]^[7]^[8]

Other major candidates

These candidates participated in multiple state primaries or were included in multiple major national polls.

Candidate	Most recent office	Home state	Campaign Withdrawal date	Ref.
Hubert Humphrey	U.S. Senator from Minnesota (1949–1964; 1971–1978) Vice President of the United States (1965–1969)	Minnesota	(Campaign) Declared: January 10, 1972	^[6]^[7]^[9]
George Wallace	Governor of Alabama (1963–1967; 1971–1979; 1983–1987)	Alabama	(Campaign) Declared: January 13, 1972	^[6]^[7]^[10]
Edmund Muskie	U.S. Senator from Maine (1959–1980)	Maine	(Campaign) Declared: January 4, 1972 Suspended campaign: April 27, 1972	^[6]^[7]^[11]^[12]
Scoop Jackson	U.S. Senator from Washington (1953–1983)	Washington	(Campaign) Declared: November 19, 1971 Suspended campaign: May 2, 1972	^[6]^[7]^[13]^[14]
Wilbur Mills	U.S. Representative from Arkansas (1939–1977)	Arkansas	(Campaign) Declared: February 11, 1972	^[6]^[7]^[15]
Shirley Chisholm	U.S. Representative from New York (1969–1983)	New York	(Campaign) Declared: January 25, 1972	^[6]^[7]^[16]
Terry Sanford	Governor of North Carolina (1961–1965)	North Carolina	(Campaign) Declared: March 8, 1972	^[6]^[7]^[17]
John Lindsay	Mayor of New York City (1966–1973)	New York	(Campaign) Declared: December 28, 1971 Withdrew: April 4, 1972	^[6]^[7]^[18]^[19]
Eugene McCarthy	U.S. Senator from Minnesota (1959–1971)	Minnesota	(Campaign) Declared: December 17, 1971	^[6]^[7]^[20]
Sam Yorty	Mayor of Los Angeles (1961–1973)	California	(Campaign) Declared: November 16, 1971 Withdrew: June 5, 1972 (endorsed Humphrey)	^[6]^[7]^[21]^[22]
Vance Hartke	U.S. Senator from Indiana (1964–1973)	Indiana	(Campaign) Declared: January 3, 1972 Withdrew: March 26, 1972 (endorsed Humphrey)	^[6]^[7]^[23]
Patsy Mink	U.S. Representative from Hawaii (1965–1977)	Hawaii	(Campaign) Declared: October 19, 1971 Withdrew: May 24, 1972	^[6]^[7]^[24]^[25]
Fred Harris	U.S. Senator from Oklahoma (1964–1973)	Oklahoma	(Campaign) Declared: September 24, 1971 Withdrew: November 10, 1971 (endorsed McGovern on April 27)	^[6]^[7]^[26]^[27]^[28]

Declined

Birch Bayh, U.S. Senator from Indiana (declined October 12, 1971)^[29]
Harold Hughes, U.S. Senator from Iowa (declined July 15, 1971)^[30]
William Proxmire, U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (declined November 6, 1971; endorsed McGovern on March 31)^[31]^[32]

Favorite sons

Walter Fauntroy, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the District of Columbia^[33]
Wayne Hays, U.S. Representative from Ohio^[34]
Carl Stokes, Mayor of Cleveland^[34]

Polling

National polling

Poll source	Publication	Birch Bayh	Shirley Chisholm	J. William Fulbright	Fred Harris	Harold Hughes	Hubert Humphrey	John Lindsay	Scoop Jackson	Ted Kennedy	Mike Mansfield	Eugene McCarthy	George McGovern	Wilbur Mills	Edmund Muskie	William Proxmire	George Wallace	Sam Yorty
Gallup	Jan. 1969	—	—	—	—	—	21%	—	—	45%	—	15%	3%	—	17%	—	—	—
Gallup	Oct. 1969	—	—	—	—	—	29%	—	—	27%	—	10%	5%	—	24%	—	—	—
Gallup	May. 1970	—	—	—	1%	1%	16%	10%	—	17%	—	9%	3%	—	23%	—	—	—
Gallup	Nov. 1970	—	—	—	—	—	16%	4%	—	31%	1%	6%	2%	—	33%	2%	—	—
Gallup	Feb. 1971	—	—	—	—	—	21%	5%	—	25%	—	4%	5%	—	26%	—	—	—
Gallup	Apr. 1971	1%	—	1%	—	1%	18%	4%	2%	29%	2%	3%	5%	1%	21%	2%	—	—
Gallup	Apr. 1971	1%	—	1%	—	1%	18%	4%	2%	29%	2%	3%	5%	1%	21%	2%	—	—
Gallup	Jul. 1971	2%	—	1%	—	1%	18%	3%	2%	22%	1%	6%	5%	1%	22%	1%	—	—
Gallup	Aug. 1971	—	—	—	—	—	13%	6%	—	26%	—	4%	6%	—	22%	—	—	—
Harris^[35]	Sep. 1971	—	—	—	1%	—	16%	7%	2%	26%	—	5%	4%	2%	19%	1%	—	—
Harris^[35]	Sep. 1971	—	—	—	1%	—	27%	11%	2%	—	—	7%	5%	2%	27%	2%	—	—
Gallup	Nov. 1971	—	—	—	—	—	19%	4%	6%	29%	—	5%	6%	—	24%	—	—	—
Harris^[36]	Nov. 1971	—	—	—	—	—	15%	9%	2%	25%	—	3%	5%	1%	22%	1%	—	1%
Harris^[36]	Nov. 1971	—	—	—	—	—	25%	12%	2%	—	—	4%	6%	2%	27%	2%	—	1%
Gallup	Dec. 1971	—	—	—	—	—	19%	4%	4%	32%	—	4%	5%	—	25%	—	—	1%
Gallup	Dec. 1971	—	—	—	—	—	34%	8%	5%	—	—	5%	8%	—	31%	—	—	1%
Gallup	Jan. 1972	—	2%	—	—	—	17%	5%	2%	27%	—	5%	3%	—	32%	—	—	2%
Gallup	Jan. 1972	—	2%	—	—	—	29%	7%	3%	—	—	8%	3%	—	39%	—	—	2%
Harris^[37]	Jan. 1972	—	3%	—	—	—	23%	7%	5%	—	—	6%	5%	—	30%	—	—	1%
Gallup	Feb. 1972	—	2%	—	—	—	23%	2%	3%	24%	—	3%	5%	—	29%	—	—	1%
Gallup	Feb. 1972	—	3%	—	—	—	32%	5%	4%	—	—	4%	6%	—	35%	—	—	1%
Harris^[38]	Feb. 1972	—	5%	—	—	—	18%	6%	4%	15%	—	5%	5%	—	22%	—	11%	1%
Harris^[38]	Feb. 1972	—	6%	—	—	—	21%	7%	3%	—	—	5%	8%	—	28%	—	12%	1%
Gallup	Mar. 1972	—	2%	—	—	—	31%	7%	3%	—	—	5%	6%	2%	23%	—	15%	*
Gallup	Mar. 1972	—	3%	—	—	—	35%	8%	5%	—	—	6%	7%	2%	28%	—	—	1%
Gallup	Mar. 1972	—	4%	—	—	—	31%	5%	5%	—	—	4%	5%	1%	22%	—	17%	*
Gallup	Apr. 1972	—	5%	—	—	—	30%	—	4%	—	—	3%	17%	1%	17%	—	19%	1%
Gallup	May 1972	—	3%	—	—	—	35%	—	3%	—	—	3%	20%	2%	11%	—	18%	—
Gallup	May 1972	—	—	—	—	—	26%	—	—	—	—	—	25%	—	—	—	26%	—
Gallup	Jun. 1972	—	3%	—	—	—	27%	—	3%	—	—	2%	30%	1%	6%	—	25%	—

Primary campaign

Hubert Humphrey made another run at the nomination, in an era when previous nominees were considered legitimate contenders even after losing a general election (Adlai Stevenson had been successful at being re-nominated by Democrats in 1956, and Nixon by the GOP in 1968). He fell just short in delegates, despite winning the popular vote in the 24 states and the District of Columbia which held preference primary and caucus elections open to the rank and file Democratic voter. His bid to contest the results of the California winner-take-all primary failed. Humphrey, like Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson, was considered the favorite of the party establishment after Muskie's withdrawal.

Alabama governor George Wallace, with his "outsider" image, did well in the South (he won every county in the Florida primary with the exception of Miami-Dade)^[39] and among alienated and dissatisfied voters. What might have become a forceful campaign was cut short when Wallace was shot while campaigning, and left paralyzed in an assassination attempt by Arthur Bremer.

Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Wilbur Mills was drafted by friends and fellow Congressmen to make himself available as a candidate for the primaries. To position himself to appeal to senior citizens during the 1972 presidential campaign, Mills championed the automatic Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) to Social Security. He was not strong in the primaries and won 33 votes for president from the delegates at the 1972 Democratic National Convention which nominated Senator George McGovern.

Washington Senator Scoop Jackson was little known nationally when he first ran for president in 1972. McGovern accused Jackson of racism for his opposition to busing. Jackson's high point in the campaign was a distant third in the early Florida primary, but he failed to stand out of the pack of better-known rivals, and only made real news later in the campaign as part of the "Anybody but McGovern" coalition, that raised what would be known as the "Acid, Amnesty and Abortion" questions about McGovern. Jackson suspended active campaigning in May after a weak showing in the Ohio primary. Jackson did re-emerge at the August Democratic convention after runner-up Humphrey dropped out of the race. Jackson's name was placed in nomination by Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, and he finished second in the delegate roll call, well behind nominee McGovern.^[40]^[41]

March 7: New Hampshire

Prior to the New Hampshire primary, the "Canuck Letter" was published in the Manchester Union-Leader. The letter (later revealed to have been forged as part of the "dirty tricks" campaign by Nixon staffers)^[42] claimed that Muskie had made disparaging remarks about French-Canadians. The paper subsequently published an attack on Muskie's wife Jane, reporting that she drank and used off-color language. Muskie made an emotional defense of his wife in a speech outside the newspaper's offices during a snowstorm. Though Muskie later stated that what had appeared to the press as tears were actually melted snowflakes, the press reported that Muskie broke down and cried.^[43] Muskie did worse than expected in the primary, while McGovern came in a surprisingly close second. McGovern now had the momentum, which was well orchestrated by his campaign manager, Gary Hart.

May 15–16: Attempted Wallace assassination, Maryland, and Michigan

While campaigning in Laurel, Maryland, on May 15, 1972, Wallace was shot five times by Arthur Bremer. Three others wounded in the shooting also survived. Bremer's diary, published after his arrest as a book titled An Assassin's Diary, showed that Bremer's assassination attempt was not motivated by politics, but by a desire for fame, and that President Nixon had been a possible target. The assassination attempt left Wallace paralyzed for the rest of his life, as one of the bullets had lodged in his spinal column.

As a result of the shooting, President Nixon dispatched Secret Service protection to Representatives Shirley Chisholm and Wilbur Mills (two candidates who had not been assigned Secret Service details up to then) as well as Senator Ted Kennedy (though not running, because of his brothers John and Robert having been assassinated).^[44]

Following the shooting, Wallace won the May 16 primaries in Maryland and Michigan. Wallace spoke at the Democratic National Convention from his wheelchair in Miami on July 11, 1972. Bremer was sentenced to 53 years in prison for the shooting. He served 35 years of the sentence and was released on parole on November 9, 2007.

In a widely noted article, journalist Seymour Hersh claimed that secret recordings of Nixon prove that, within hours of the assassination attempt, the president and a top aide dispatched a political operative, E. Howard Hunt, who rushed to Milwaukee with plans to surreptitiously enter Bremer's apartment and plant the campaign literature of Democratic contender George McGovern.^[45] According to Hersh, Hunt aborted the operation because the FBI had sealed off Bremer's apartment prior to his arrival.

However, a 2007 analysis of the Nixon tapes by the History News Network did not turn up any evidence of the clandestine operation described by Hersh. While the tapes did show that Nixon had instructed presidential aide Charles W. Colson to anonymously spread the false rumor that there was "unmistakable evidence" that Bremer had been a "a supporter of McGovern and Kennedy", there was no apparent trace of Nixon tasking subordinates with entering Bremer's apartment to plant Democratic campaign materials.^[46]

Endorsements

George McGovern

McGovern had received endorsements from:

Executive Branch Officials

Department of State Officials

John Galbraith, U.S. Ambassador to India (1961-1963)^[47]

U.S. Senators

Current

Fred R. Harris, U.S. Senator for Oklahoma (1964-1973)^[48]
William Proxmire, U.S. Senator for Wisconsin (1957-1989)^[49]
Abraham Ribicoff, U.S. Senator for Connecticut (1963-1981)^[48]

Former

Ernest Gruening, U.S. Senator for Alaska (1959-1969)^[50]

U.S. Representatives

Current

James Abourezk, U.S. Representative for SD-02 (1971-1973)^[51]
John Conyers,^[d] U.S. Representative for MI-01 (1965-1993)^[52]
Ron Dellums, U.S. Representative for CA-07 (1971-1975)^[53]
Frank Denholm, U.S. Representative for SD-01 (1971-1975)^[54]
Robert Drinan, U.S. Representative for MA-03 (1971-1973)^[55]
Pete McCloskey, U.S. Representative for CA-11 (Republican) (1967-1973)^[56]

Former

Richard Ottinger, U.S. Representative for NY-25 (1965-1971)^[55]

Governors

Current

Richard Kneip, Governor of South Dakota (1971-1978)^[57]

State Executive Officials

Current

Lieutenant Governors

William Dougherty, Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota (1971-1975)^[57]

Treasurers

Charles Smith, State Treasurer of Wisconsin^[58]

State Representatives

Current

California

Willie Brown, 18th District (1965-1974)^[59]
Kenneth Cory, 69th District (1967-1974)^[60]
Robert Crown, 14th District (1957-1973)^[60]
John Dunlap, 5th District (1967-1974)^[60]
Kenneth A. Meade, 16th District (1971-1974)^[60]
John Vasconcellos, 24th District (1967-1974)^[60]

Florida

Sandy D'Alemberte, 98th District (1967-1972)^[61]

Georgia

Julian Bond, 111th District (1965-1973)^[52]

New York

Oliver Koppell, 84th District (1970-1982)^[62]

Local and county officials

Current

Executive Officials

Robert Abrams, Bronx Borough President^[63]

Legislative Officials

Eldon Clingan, New York City Councilman, At-Large District (1970-1973)^[64]
Matthew Troy, New York City Councilman, 5th District (1964-1977)^[65]

Party Officials

Current

State Party Officials

James Guffey, Chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party^[57]
Cliff Larson, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party^[48]

Former

State Party Officials

Alfred Catalfo, Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party^[66]

Business Leaders

Robert Bernstein, President of Random House^[67]
Max Palevsky, Venture Capitalist ^[67]
Eli Sagan, President of New York Girl Coat Co.^[67]

Business Leaders

Robert Bernstein, President of Random House^[67]
Freddie Fields, Co-Founder of Creative Management Associates^[68]
Max Palevsky, Venture Capitalist ^[67]
Eli Sagan, President of New York Girl Coat Co.^[67]
Robert Townsend, Former President of Avis^[69]

Political Operatives

Actors

Jack Albertson, Actor, Comedian and Singer^[69]
Alan Arkin, Actor and Director^[69]
Warren Beatty, Actor^[73]
Polly Bergen, Actress^[68]
Red Buttons, Actor and Comedian^[69]
Julie Christie, Actress^[73]
Mike Connors, Actor^[69]
Tony Curtis, Actor^[69]
Britt Ekland, Actress^[68]
Anthony Franciosa, Actor^[69]
Ben Gazzara, Actor and Director^[69]
Elliott Gould, Actor^[69]
Tammy Grimes, Actress^[69]
Gene Hackman, Actor^[74]
Julie Harris, Actress^[69]
Dustin Hoffman, Actor^[69]
Marsha Hunt, Actress^[69]
Jane Fonda, Actor^[74]
James Earl Jones, Actor^[69]
Goldie Hawn, Actress^[68]
Elia Kazan, Director^[69]
Sally Kellerman, Actress^[69]
Gene Kelly, Actor and Singer^[69]
Eartha Kitt, Actress^[69]
Jack Klugman, Actor^[69]
Burt Lancaster, Actor^[73]
Jack Lemmon, Actor^[74]
Shirley MacLaine, Actress^[73]
Karl Malden, Actor^[69]
Fredric March, Actor^[69]
Walter Matthau, Actor, Director and Comedian^[69]
Elaine May, Actress, Comedian and Playwright^[69]
Vera Miles, Actress^[69]
Rita Moreno, Actress and Singer^[69]
Robert Morse, Actor^[69]
Paul Newman, Actor and Director^[69]
Mike Nichols, Actor and Director^[73]
Jack Nicholson, Actor^[68]
Leonard Nimoy, Actor^[68]
Ryan O'Neal, Actor^[74]
Hal Prince, Director^[69]
Tom Poston, Actor^[69]
Tony Randall, Actor^[69]
Janice Rule, Actress and Psychotherapist^[69]
Barbara Rush, Actress^[68]
Robert Ryan, Actor^[69]
Eva Marie Saint, Actress^[69]
Tom Smothers, Actor, Comedian, Musician^[69]
Rod Steiger, Actor^[69]
Marlo Thomas, Actress^[74]
Lily Tomlin, Actress, Comedian and Singer^[69]
Robert Vaughn, Actor^[69]
Jon Voight, Actor^[75]
Eli Wallach, Actor^[69]
Dennis Weaver, Actor^[68]
Raquel Welch, Actress^[74]
Gene Wilder, Actor, Comedian and Filmmaker^[69]
Joanne Woodward, Actress^[69]

Musicians

Ed Ames, Singer and Actor^[69]
Dave Brubeck, Jazz Pianist and Composer^[69]
Sonny Bono, Singer^[69]
Judy Collins, Singer^[69]
Peter Duchin, Pianist^[74]
Cass Elliot, Singer^[75]
Carole King, Singer^[76]
Tom Lehrer, Singer and Satirist^[69]
Alan Lerner, Lyricist and Librettist^[69]
Quincy Jones, Composer and Conductor^[77]
Henry Mancini, Composer and Conductor^[69]
Herbie Mann, Jazz Flutist^[69]
Joni Mitchell, Singer and Multi-instrumentalist^[78]
Michelle Phillips, Singer^[68]
Cher, Singer and Actress^[69]
Artie Shaw, Clarinetist, Composer, Actor and Director^[69]
Carly Simon, Singer, Memoirist, Author^[69]
Paul Simon, Singer ^[78]
Barbra Streisand, Singer^[76]
James Taylor, Singer and Guitarist^[76]
Mary Travers, Singer^[69]
Andy Williams, Singer^[69]
Ruth Warrick, Singer and Actress^[69]

Academics

Thomas Adams, President of the Massachusetts Historical Society^[47]
Stephen Birmingham, Author^[69]
Mary Bunting, Bacterial Geneticist ^[47]
Owen Chamberlain, Physicist ^[79]
Salvador Luria, Microbiologist ^[79]
Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Historian ^[80]
Neil Simon, Playwright and Author^[69]
Albert Szent-Györgyi, Biochemist ^[79]
Richard Clement Wade, Historian ^[79]
George Wald, Scientist ^[81]

Sports Figures

Arthur Ashe, Tennis Player^[69]
Shelley Mann, Swimmer and Olympic Medalist^[69]
Paul Warfield, NFL wide receiver^[78]

Religious Figures

Ralph Abernathy, Baptist Minister ^[78]

Activists and Public Figures

Helen Emmerich, Freelance Writer ^[82]
Jerome Grossman^[83]
Abbie Hoffman^[84]
Jesse Jackson, President of PUSH (1971-1984)^[85]
Kathleen Kennedy^[86]
Coretta King^[87]
George Plimpton, Writer and Journalist^[69]
Victor G. Reuther, Labor Organizer ^[88]
Jerry Rubin^[84]
Richard Stearns^[72]

Newspapers

The Palm Beach Post ^[89]
The Miami News^[90]

George Wallace

Wallace had received endorsements from:

U.S. Senators

Current

James Allen, U.S. Senator from Alabama^[91]

Governors

Former

Ross Barnett, Governor of Mississippi^[92]

State Executive Officials

Current

Lieutenant Governors

Lester Maddox, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia^[93]

Secretaries of State

Mabel Amos, Secretary of State of Alabama^[94]

Treasurers

Agnes Baggett, State Treasurer of Alabama^[94]

Auditors

Melba Till Allen, State Auditor of Alabama^[95]

Agriculture Commissioners

Richard Beard, Agriculture Commissioner of Alabama^[94]

Public Service Commissioners

Juanita McDaniel, Member of the Alabama Public Service Commission^[94]
Jack Owen, Member of the Alabama Public Service Commission^[94]

State Senators

Current

Florida

William Barrow, 3rd District (1966-1972)^[96]

Georgia

Hugh Carter, 14th District (1967-1981)^[97]

Local and county officials

Current

Mayors

John McKinney, Mayor of Talladega, Alabama^[98]
Ronnie Thompson, Mayor of Macon, Georgia (Republican) (1967-1975)^[99]

Business Leaders

Bill France Sr., Founder and CEO of NASCAR^[100]

Musicians

Billy Grammer, Singer and Guitaris^[101]
George Jones, Singer^[69]
Grandpa Jones, Banjo Player and Singer^[74]
Ferlin Husky, Singer^[69]
Hank Snow, Guitarist and Singer^[74]
Tammy Wynette, Singer^[69]

Actors

Chill Wills, Actor and Singer^[69]

Musicians

Billy Grammer, Singer and Guitaris^[101]
George Jones, Singer^[69]
Grandpa Jones, Banjo Player and Singer^[74]
Ferlin Husky, Singer^[69]
Stonewall Jackson, Singer^[102]
Hank Snow, Guitarist and Singer^[74]
Tammy Wynette, Singer^[69]

Activists and public figures

Tom Turnipseed, Attorney^[103]
Robert Shelton, Imperial Wizard of the United Klans of America^[104]

Organizations

State political parties

Independent Party of South Carolina^[105]
American Party of South Carolina^[105]

Hubert Humphrey

Humphrey had received endorsements from:

Executive Branch Officials

Cabinet Level Officials

Orville Freeman, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (1961-1969)^[106]

Department of State Officials

John Gronouski, U.S. Ambassador to Poland (1965-1968)^[107]

U.S. Senators

Current

Walter Mondale, U.S. Senator from Minnesota^[108]

Governors

Former

Haydon Burns, Governor of Florida (1965-1967)^[92]
Charley Johns, Governor of Florida (1953-1955)^[92]

State Senators

Former

Florida

Edwin Fraser (1961-1963)^[61]

State Representatives

Current

Ohio

C. J. McLin, 36th District (1967-1988)^[52]

State Representatives

Former

Florida

Maurice Ferré, 91st District (1967-1968)^[61]

Local and county officials

Current

Mayors

Joseph Alioto, Mayor of San Francisco, California (1968-1976)^[109]
Ted Berry, Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio (1972-1976)^[110]
Alfonso Cervantes, Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri (1965-1973)^[110]
Chuck Hall, Mayor of Miami Beach, Florida (1971-1974)^[61]
David T. Kennedy, Mayor of Miami, Florida (1970-1973)^[61]
James McGee, Mayor of Dayton, Ohio (1970-1982)^[78]

Former

Mayors

Maynard Abrams, Mayor of Hollywood, Florida (?)^[61]

Business Leaders

Dwayne Andreas, CEO of ADM^[111]
Joseph Cole, President of Cole National Corp.^[111]
Joseph Danzansky, Head of Giant Foods Inc.^[111]
Harrison Dogole, Chairman of Globe Security Systems^[111]
Harold Greenwood, President of Midwest Federal Savings & Loan^[111]
Carl Pohlad, President of Marquette National Bank^[111]

Actors

Edie Adams, Actress, Comedian and Singer^[74]
Jimmy Durante, Actor, Comedian and Singer^[74]
Eva Gabor, Actress^[112]
Lorne Greene, Actor and Singer^[74]
Phyllis Kirk, Actress^[69]

Dick Shawn, Actor and Comedian^[69]

Musicians

Ray Charles, Singer and Pianist^[69]
Billy Daniels, Singer^[69]
Percy Faith, Composer and Conductor^[69]
Robert Goulet, Singer and Actor^[74]
Trini Lopez, Singer, Guitarist and Actor^[69]
The New Christy Minstrels, Folk Music Group^[69]

Sports Figures

Alan Page, NFL defensive tackle^[113]

Activists and public figures

I. W. Abel, President of United Steelworkers^[111]
Peter Bommarito, President of United Rubber Workers of America^[111]
Revels Cayton^[114]
~~Harry Davis~~ (Endorsed Chisholm, March 23rd)^[115]
John Jay Hooker, Attorney^[116]
Eugene Wyman, Attorney^[111]

Organizations

Labor Unions

Newspapers

Edmund Muskie (To April 27th, 1972)

Muskie had received endorsements from:

Executive Branch Officials

Department of State Officials

Raúl Héctor Castro, U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia (1968-1969)^[119]

U.S. Senators

Current

Quentin Burdick, U.S. Senator for North Dakota (1960-1992)^[120]
Frank Church, U.S. Senator for Idaho (1957-1981)^[121]
Thomas Eagleton, U.S. Senator for Missouri (1968-1987)^[122]
Mike Gravel, U.S. Senator^[120]
Philip Hart, U.S. Senator for Michigan (1959-1976)^[123]
Harold Hughes, U.S. Senator for Iowa (1969-1975)^[124]
Thomas McIntyre, U.S. Senator for New Hampshire (1962-1979)^[125]
Lee Metcalf, U.S. Senator for Montana (1961-1978)^[120]
Frank Moss, U.S. Senator for Utah (1959-1977)^[126]
Adlai Stevenson III, U.S. Senator for Illinois (1970-1981)^[127]
Stuart Symington, U.S. Senator for Missouri (1953-1976)^[122]
John Tunney, U.S. Senator for California (1971-1977)^[127]
Harrison Williams, U.S. Senator for New Jersey (1959-1982)^[127]

Former

Albert Gore Sr., U.S. Senator for Tennessee (1953-1971)^[116]
Joseph Tydings, U.S. Senator for Maryland (1965-1971)^[116]

U.S. Representatives

Current

Lionel Van Deerlin, U.S. Representative for CA-37 (1963-1981)^[128]
Dante Fascell, U.S. Representative for FL-12 (1967-1973)^[61]
Sam Gibbons, U.S. Representative for FL-06 (1967-1973)^[129]
Tip O'Neill, U.S. Representative for MA-08 (1963-1987)^[130]
Thomas M. Rees, U.S. Representative for CA-26 (1971-1975)^[131]
James V. Stanton, U.S. Representative for OH-20 (1971-1977)^[120]
Mo Udall, U.S. Representative for AZ-02 (1961-1991)^[132]
Charles Vanik, U.S. Representative for OH-22 (1955-1981)^[120]

Former

Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., U.S. Representative for NY-20 (1949-1955)^[133]

Governors

Current

Wendell Ford, Governor of Kentucky (1971-1974)^[134]
John Gilligan, Governor of Ohio (1971-1975)^[135]
Warren Hearnes, Governor of Missouri (1965-1973)^[122]
Cal Rampton, Governor of Utah (1965-1977)^[126]

Former

Buford Ellington, Governor of Tennessee (1967-1971)^[116]
Samuel Goddard Jr., Governor of Arizona (1965-1967)^[119]

State Executive Officials

Current

Secretary of State

Jerry Brown, Secretary of State of California (1971-1975)^[131]
John Davoren, Secretary of State of Massachusetts (1967-1974)^[130]

Attorney Generals

Robert H. Quinn, Attorney General of Massachusetts (1969-1975)^[130]

Treasurers

Robert Q. Crane, State Treasurer of Massachusetts (1964-1991)^[130]
Tom Wiseman, State Treasurer of Tennessee^[116]

Auditors

Thaddeus M. Buczko, State Auditor of Massachusetts (1969-1975)^[130]

State Senators

Current

Arizona

Sam Lenoard Lena, 12-Pima (1971-1975)^[116]

California

James Mills, 40th District (President Pro Tempore) (1963-1974) ^[131]
George Zenovich, 16th District (1971-1974) ^[131]

Florida

Lynwood Arnold, 9th District (1970-1972)^[61]
Bob Graham, 48th District (1970-1972)^[61]
Bill Gunter, 18th District (1966-1972)^[61]
Ray Knopke, 23rd District (1966-1972)^[61]
Kenneth Myers, 45th District (1968-1972)^[61]
Louis A. de la Parte Jr., 26th District (1967-1972)^[61]
Dan Scarborough, ? District (?)^[61]

Massachusetts

Kevin Harrington, 2nd Essex District (1959-1978) (Senate President)^[130]

Former

Florida

John E. Mathews, ? District (?)^[61]

State Representatives

Current

California

Mike Cullen, 44th District (1967-1974) ^[131]
Joe Gonsalves, 44th District (1963-1974) ^[131]
John Quimby, 72nd District (1963-1974) ^[131]

Florida

George Baumgartner, 107th District (1968-1972)^[61]
Dick Clark, 93rd District (1968-1976)^[61]
Murray Dubbin, 95th District (1963-1974)^[61]
Harold Featherstone, 101st District (1967-1972)^[61]
Jeff Gautier, 109th District (1968-1972)^[61]
Joe Lang Kershaw, 105th District (1968-1982)^[61]
Elvin Martinez, ? District (1966-1998)^[61]
Richard Pettigrew, 97th District (1963-1972)^[61]
Carl Singleton, 103rd District (1968-1972)^[61]
Guy Spicola, 62nd District (1971-1973)^[61]
Edward Trombetta, 89th District (1970-1972)^[61]
Ralph Turlington, ? District (1950-1974)^[61]
Louis Wolfson, ? District (1963-1973)^[61]

Massachusetts

David Bartley, 7th Hampden District (1963-1976) (House Speaker)^[130]

Former

Florida

Frederick Schultz, ? District (1963-1970)^[61]

Local and county officials

Current

Mayors

Hans Tanzler, Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida (1971-1974)^[136]
Kevin White, Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts (1968-1984)^[130]

Former

Mayors

Joseph Casdin, Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts (1967-1968)^[137]

Party Officials

Former

State Party Officials

Rogert Kent, Chair of the California Democratic Party^[60]

Business Leaders

Sumner Redstone, CEO of National Amusements^[133]

Actors

Jim Backus, Actor^[69]
Gene Barry, Actor^[69]
Jackie Cooper, Actor and Director^[69]
Richard Crenna, Actor^[69]
Henry Fonda, Actor^[74]
Peter Fonda, Actor^[74]
Rosey Grier, Actor and Singer^[74]
Jack Lemmon, Actor^[74]
Darren McGavin, Actor^[69]
Greg Morris, Actor^[69]
Ryan O'Neal, Actor^[74]
Edward G. Robinson, Actor^[69]
Leslie Uggams, Actress and Singer^[69]
Shelley Winters, Actress^[69]
Natalie Wood, Actress^[69]

Musicians

Peter Duchin, Pianist^[74]
Dionne Warwick, Singer^[69]

Sports Figures

Activists and public figures

Gilbert Merritt Jr., Attorney^[116]
Alcee Hastings, Attorney^[138]
Emily Kimbrough, Author and Journalist^[69]

Scoop Jackson (To May 2nd, 1972)

Jackson had received endorsements from:

U.S. Senators

Current

Sam Ervin, U.S. Senator for North Carolina (1954-1974)^[139]
Warren Magnuson, U.S. Senator for Washington (1944-1981)^[140]

Former

Spessard Holland, U.S. Senator for Florida (1946-1971)^[61]

U.S. Representatives

Current

Charles Bennett, U.S. Representative for FL-03 (1967-1993)^[61]
Bill Chappell, U.S. Representative for FL-04 (1969-1989)^[61]
Tom Foley, U.S. Representative for WA-05 (1965-1995)^[141]
Edith Green, U.S. Representative for OR-03 (1955-1974)^[142]
James Haley, U.S. Representative for FL-07 (1969-1989)^[61]
Floyd Hicks, U.S. Representative for WA-06 (1965-1977)^[140]
Mike McCormack, U.S. Representative for WA-04 (1971-1981)^[140]
Lloyd Meeds, U.S. Representative for WA-02 (1965-1979)^[140]
Bob Sikes, U.S. Representative for FL-01 (1945-1979)^[61]

Governors

Former

Farris Bryant, Governor of Florida (1961-1965)^[61]

State Executive Officials

Current

Treasurers

Thomas O'Malley Jr., State Treasurer of Florida^[61]

Others

Floyd Christian, Commissioner of Education of Florida^[143]
Fred Dickinson, State Comptroller of Florida^[143]

State Senators

Former

Florida

Ben Hill Griffin Jr.^[61]
George Tapper, 25th District (1953-1956)^[61]

State Representatives

Current

Florida

George Firestone, ? District (1966-1972)^[61]
Sherman Winn, 105th District (1970-1972)^[61]

Tennessee

Edward Clarence Bank II^[116]
James Roberson^[116]

Former

Florida

Robert Brake, ? District (1966-1967)^[61]

Local and county officials

Current

Mayors

Robert Carl Anderson, Mayor of Everett, Washington (Republican)^[90]
Avery Garrett, Mayor of Renton, Washington (1969-1976)^[140]
Gordon Johnston, Mayor of Tacoma, Washington^[90]
Wesley Uhlman, Mayor of Seattle, Washington (1969-1978)^[140]

Business Leaders

Monford Orloff, President of Evans Products<^[142]
Stephen W. H. Yih, President of Wah Chang Corp.<^[142]

Political Operatives

Hyman Raskin^[141]
Ben Wattenberg^[141]

Academics

Reid Buckley^[141]

Newspapers

Palm Beach Times^[90]
Fort Myers News-Press^[90]

Shirley Chisholm

Chisholm had received endorsements from:

U.S. Representatives

Current

John Conyers,^[e] U.S. Representative for MI-01 (1965-1993)^[144]
~~Ron Dellums, U.S. Representative for CA-07~~^[f] (1971-1975)^[145]^[53]
Parren Mitchell, U.S. Representative for MD-07 (1971-1987)^[145]

State Representatives

Current

Florida

Gwen Cherry, 106th District (1970-1979)^[61]

Local and county officials

Current

Mayors

Richard Hatcher, Mayor of Gary, Indiana (1968-1988)^[146]

Executive Officials

Maynard Jackson, Deputy Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia (1970-1974) ^[147]
Percy Sutton, Manhattan Borough President^[146]

Actors

Godfrey Cambridge, Actor and Comedian^[69]
Ossie Davis, Actor and Director^[69]
Ruby Dee, Actress and Playwright^[69]
Sidney Poitier, Actor^[74]
Diahann Carroll, Actress and Singer^[74]

Musicians

Harry Belafonte, Singer and Actor^[74]
Roberta Flack, Singer^[69]
Lena Horne, Singer and Actress^[74]

Academics

Susan Welch, Political Scientist ^[148]

Religious Figures

Ralph Abernathy, Head of the SCLC^[149]

Activists and public figures

Harry Davis^[115]
Paul O'Dwyer, Attorney^[150]
Betty Friedan, President of NOW (1966-1970)^[151]
John Harper II, Chairman of the UCP^[152]
LaDonna Harris^[153]
Jesse Jackson, President of PUSH (1971-1984)^[146]
Florynce Kennedy^[154]
Gary Miller, Gay Rights Activist^[114]
Huey P. Newton, Leader of the Black Panther Party^[155]
Jerry Rubin^[156]
Bobby Seale^[155]
Gloria Steinem, Chairman of WAA (1971-1978)^[151]

Geraldine Travis^[157]

Organizations

Political Parties

Black Panther Party^[155]
Feminist Party^[158]

State Political Parties

United Citizens Party^[152]

Terry Sanford

Sanford had received endorsements from:

Executive Branch Officials

Cabinet-level Officials

Luther Hodges, U.S. Secretary of Commerce (1961-1965)^[119]

U.S. Senators

Current

B. Everett Jordan, U.S. Senator for North Carolina (1958-1973)^[159]

U.S. Representatives

Current

Nick Galifianakis, U.S. Representative for NC-04 (1969-1973)^[159]

Former

Brooks Hays, U.S. Representative for AR-05 (1943-1959)^[160]

Governors

Current

Robert Scott, Governor of North Carolina (1969-1973)^[161]

State Executive Officials

Current

Attorney Generals

Andrew Miller, Attorney General of Virginia (1970-1977)^[162]
Robert Morgan, Attorney General of North Carolina (1969-1974)^[163]

Activists and public figures

Anne Cannon Forsyth^[164]
Wilbur Hobby, Labor Unionist^[159]

John Lindsay (To April 4th, 1972)

Lindsay had received endorsements from:

Executive Branch Officials

Cabinet Level Officials

Elizabeth Gatov, Treasurer of the United States (1961-1962)^[165]

State Senators

Current

Florida

Edmond Gong, 40th District (1966-1972)^[61]

New York

Antonio Olivieri, 66th District (1971-1974)^[166]
Leonard Simon, 66th District (1967-1973)^[166]

Wisconsin

Dennis Conta, Milwaukee - 3rd District (1968-1976)^[167]
James Wahner, Milwaukee - 15th District (1971-1980)^[167]
Terry Willkom, Chippewa (?)^[167]

Former

Florida

Frederick Karl, 14th District (1968-1971)^[61]

Local and county officials

Current

Mayors

Charles Evers, Mayor of Fayette, Mississippi (1969-1981)^[138]

Local and County Executive Officials

Norman Levy, Head of the New York City Tax Commission ^[166]
Jerome Kretchmer, New York City EPA Administrator^[168]^[169]
Ken Patton, New York City Economic Development Administrator^[169]
Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chairman of the New York City Human Rights Commission^[169]

Local and county officials

Former

Local and County Executive Officials

Richard Aurelio, Deputy Mayor of New York City (?-1971)^[170]
Richard Kellerman, Deputy Police Commissioner of New York City (1969-1970)^[168]

Party Officials

Former

State Party Officials

John J. Burns, Chair of the Democratic Party of New York (1965-1971)^[171]

Business Leaders

David Garth President of Garth Associates, Inc.^[168]

Political Operatives

Sidney Davidoff, Senior Advisor (1966-1973)^[168]
Ronnie Eldridge, Special Mayoral Assistant to Lindsay (?-1971)^[172]

Actors

Sherri Finkbine, Actress^[173]
Carroll O'Connor, Actor^[112]

Activists and public figures

Jeff Greenfield, Journalist and Writer(1969-1970)^[168]
Dan Paul, Attorney^[61]
Leonard Ross, Professor at Columbia Law School^[168]

Fred Harris (To November 10th, 1971)

Harris had received endorsements from:

Executive Branch Officials

Department of State Officials

Jack H. Vaughn, U.S. Ambassador to Colombia (1969-1970) (Campaign Manager)^[174]

Business Leaders

Herbert Allen Jr. President of Allen & Company^[174]
Eli Timoner President of Griffin Industries^[175]

Birch Bayh (To October 12th, 1971)

Bayh had received endorsements from:

State Senators

Current

California

Al Alquist, 13th District (1967-1976)^[60]

State Representatives

Current

California

March Fong Eu, 15th District (1967-1974)^[60]

Results

Schedule

Tablemaker's Note:^[g]

Date	Total pledged delegates	Contest and total popular vote	Delegates won and popular vote
			George McGovern	Hubert Humphrey	George Wallace	Edmund Muskie	Henry Jackson	Wilbur Mills	Shirley Chisholm	Terry Sanford	John Lindsay	Eugene McCarthy	Sam Yorty	Vance Hartke	Patsy Mink	Walter Fauntroy	Other(s) Unpledged

January 25	0 (of 44)	Iowa Caucuses^[h]	(22.60%)	(1.62%)	-	(35.50%)	(1.06%)	-	(1.33%)	-	-	(1.41%)	-	-	-	-	(35.80%)
January 29	0 (of 25)	Arizona Caucuses^[176] 500 SDs	102 SDs (20.40%)	2 SDs (0.40%)	-	189 SDs (37.80%)	2 SDs (0.40%)	-	1 SDs (0.20%)	-	118 SDs (23.60%)	-	-	1 SDs (0.20%)	-	-	85 SDs^[i] (17.00%)
February 12	25 (of 25)	Arizona State Convention^[177]	5 Del.	-	-	9 Del.	-	-	-	-	6 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	5 Del.^[j]
February 26	0 (of 44)	Iowa County Conventions^[178] 3,641 SDs	983 SDs (27.00%)	-	-	1,409 SDs (38.70%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1,249 SDs^[k] (34.30%)
February 27	25 (of 25)	Mississippi State Convention^[l]^[179]^[180]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	25 Del.^[m]
March 7	20 (of 20)	New Hampshire Primary^[181] 88,854	6 Del. 33,007 (37.15%)	348 WI (0.39%)	175 WI (0.20%)	14 Del. 41,235 (46.41%)	197 WI (0.22%)	3,563 WI (4.01%)	-	-	-	-	5,401 (6.08%)	2,417 (2.72%)	-	-	2,511^[n] (2.83%)
March 11	40 (of 40)	Georgia District Conventions^[182]	4 Del.	-	-	-	-	1 Del.	5 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	30 Del.^[o]
March 14	81 (of 81)	Florida Primary^[183] 1,264,554	78,232 (6.19%)	6 Del. 234,658 (18.56%)	75 Del. 526,651 (41.65%)	112,523 (8.90%)	170,156 (13.46%)	4,539 (0.36%)	43,989 (3.48%)	-	82,386 (6.52%)	5,847 (0.46%)	2,564 (0.20%)	3,009 (0.24%)	-	-	-
March 21	0 (of 160)	Illinois Pres. Primary^[184] 1,225,144	3,687 WI (0.30%)	1,476 WI (0.12%)	7,017 WI (0.57%)	766,914 (62.60%)	442 WI (0.04%)	-	777 WI (0.06%)	-	118 WI (0.01%)	444,260 (36.26%)	-	-	-	-	453^[p] (0.04%)
March 21	160 (of 160)	Illinois Del. Primary^[185]	14 Del.	-	-	59 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	87 Del.^[q]
March 25	34 (of 44)	Iowa District Conventions^[186]	12 Del.	-	-	14 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8 Del.^[r]
March 29	32 (of 32)	South Carolina State Convention^[187]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	32 Del.^[s]
April 4	67 (of 67)	Wisconsin Primary^[188] 1,128,584	54 Del. 333,528 (29.55%)	13 Del. 233,748 (20.71%)	248,676 (22.03%)	115,811 (10.26%)	88,068 (7.80%)	913 (0.08%)	9,198 (0.82%)	-	75,579 (6.70%)	15,543 (1.38%)	2,349 (0.21%)	766 (0.07%)	1,213 (0.11%)	-	3,009^[t] (0.27%)
April 17	0 (of 17)	Idaho Caucuses^[189] 425 SDs	191 SDs (44.94%)	21 SDs (4.94%)	4 SDs (0.94%)	76 SDs (17.88%)	5 SDs (1.18%)	-	20 SDs (4.71%)	-	-	-	-	-	1 SDs (0.24%)	-	107 SDs^[u] (25.18%)
April 20	0 (of 12)	Vermont Caucuses^[190] 1,146 SDs	504 SDs (43.98%)	18 SDs (1.57%)	1 SDs (0.09%)	309 SDs (26.96%)	1 SDs (0.09%)	2 SDs (0.17%)	2 SDs (0.17%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	165 SDs^[v] (14.40%)
April 25	102 (of 102)	Massachusetts Primary^[191] 618,516	102 Del. 325,673 (52.65%)	48,929 (7.91%)	45,807 (7.41%)	0 Del.^[w] 131,709 (21.29%)	8,499 (1.37%)	19,441 (3.14%)	0 Del.^[x] 22,398 (3.62%)	-	2,107 (0.34%)	8,736 (1.41%)	646 (0.10%)	874 (0.14%)	-	-	0 Del. ^[y]3,697^[z] (0.60%)
	0 (of 182)	Pennsylvania Pres. Primary^[192] 1,374,894	280,861 (20.43%)	481,900 (35.05%)	292,437 (21.27%)	279,983 (20.36%)	38,767 (2.82%)	-	336 WI (0.02%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	610 ^[aa] (0.04%)
	182^[ab] (of 182)	Pennsylvania Del. Primary^[192]^[193]	54 Del.^[ac]	74 Del.^[ad]	2 Del.	40 Del.^[ae]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12 Del.^[af]^[ag]
April 28–30	11 (of 11)	Nevada State Convention^[194]	4.95 Del.	1.65 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4.40 Del.^[ah]
April 29	0 (of 47)	Kentucky Caucuses^[195] 1,944 SDs	381 SDs (19.60%)	6 SDs (0.31%)	22 SDs (1.13%)	59 SDs (3.03%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1,526 SDs^[ai] (78.50%)
May 2	29 (of 37)	Alabama Del. Convention^[196]	-	-	23 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6 Del.^[aj]
	76 (of 76)	Indiana Primary^[197] 751,458	-	49 Del. 354,244 (47.14%)	27 Del. 309,495 (41.19%)	87,719 (11.67%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	145 (of 153)	Ohio Primary^[198]^[199] 1,205,194	66 Del. 478,434 (39.70%)	74 Del. 497,538 (41.28%)	-	105,903 (8.79%)	97,896 (8.12%)	-	-	-	-	25,423 (2.11%)	-	-	-	-	13 Del.^[ak]
	20 (of 20)	Washington D.C. Primary^[200] 29,560	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	20 Del. 21,217 (71.78%)	8,343 (28.22%)^[al]
May 4	49 (of 49)	Tennessee Primary^[201] 751,458	35,551 (7.22%)	78,350 (15.90%)	49 Del. 335,858 (68.16%)	9,634 (1.96%)	5,896 (1.20%)	2,543 (0.52%)	18,809 (3.82%)	-	1,476 (0.30%)	2,267 (0.46%)	692 (0.14%)	1,621 (0.33%)	-	-	24 (0.01%)
May 5 ^[am]	51 (of 64)	Minnesota District Conventions^[202]	14 Del.	26 Del.	-	-	-	-	6 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
May 6	57 (of 57)	North Carolina Primary^[181] 821,410	-	-	37 Del. 413,518 (50.34%)	30,739 (3.74%)	9,416 (1.15%)	-	61,723 (7.51%)	27 Del. 306,014 (37.26%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
May 9	22 (of 22)	Nebraska Primary^[203] 192,137	18 Del. 79,309 (41.28%)	4 Del. 65,968 (34.33%)	23,912 (12.45%)	6,886 (3.58%)	5,276 (2.75%)	377 (0.20%)	1,763 (0.92%)	-	1,244 (0.65%)	3,194 (1.66%)	3,459 (1.80%)	249 (0.13%)	-	-	500^[an] (0.26%)
	0 (of 35)	West Virginia Pres. Primary^[204] 368,484	-	246,596 (66.92%)	121,888 (33.08%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	35 (of 35)	West Virginia Del. Primary^[204]	7 Del. ^[ao]	14 Del. ^[ap]	-	5 Del. ^[aq]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9 Del.^[ar]
May 12	11 (of 11)	Wyoming State Convention^[205]	0.55 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10.45 Del.^[as]
May 13	3 (of 3)	Canal Zone Territorial Convention^[206]	2.5 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.5 Del. ^[at]
	30 (of 35)	Kansas District Conventions^[207]	12 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	18 Del.^[au]
	44^[av](of 44)	Louisiana District Conventions^[208]^[209]	10 Del.	-	3 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	32 Del.^[aw]
May 16	53 (of 53)	Maryland Primary^[210] 568,131	6 Del. 126,978 (22.35%)	6 Del. 151,981 (26.75%)	41 Del. 219,687 (38.67%)	13,363 (2.35%)	17,728 (3.12%)	4,776 (0.84%)	12,602 (2.22%)	-	2,168 (0.38%)	4,691 (0.83%)	13,584 (2.39%)	-	573 (0.10%)	-	-
May 16	132 (of 132)	Michigan Primary^[211]^[212] 1,588,073	38 Del. 425,694 (26.81%)	27 Del. 249,798 (15.73%)	67 Del. 809,239 (50.96%)	38,701 (2.44%)	6,938 (0.44%)	-	44,090 (2.78%)	-	-	-	-	2,862 (0.18%)	-	-	10,751 ^[ax] (0.68%)
May 19	20 (of 20)	Maine State Convention^[213]	-	-	-	20 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
May 19–21	17 (of 17)	Hawaii State Convention^[214]^[215]	1.5 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.5 Del.	-	14 Del.^[ay]
May 20	10 (of 44)	Iowa State Convention^[216]	5 Del.	-	-	3 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2 Del.^[az]
	12 (of 12)	Vermont State Convention^[217]	9 Del.	-	-	3 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	46 (of 52)	Washington District Conventions^[218]^[219]	0 Del. ^[ba]	-	-	-	46 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
May 23	55 (of 73)	Missouri District Conventions^[220]	11 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	44 Del. ^[bb]
	34 (of 34)	Oregon Primary^[221] 408,644	34 Del. 205,328 (50.25%)	51,163 (12.52%)	81,868 (20.03%)	10,244 (2.51%)	22,042 (5.39%)	1,208 (0.30%)	2,975 (0.73%)	-	5,082 (1.24%)	8,943 (2.19%)	-	-	6,500 (1.59%)	-	13,291 ^[bc] (3.25%)
	22 (of 22)	Rhode Island Primary^[222] 37,864	22 Del. 15,603 (41.21%)	7,701 (20.34%)	5,802 (15.32%)	7,838 (20.70%)	138 (0.36%)	41 (0.11%)	-	-	-	245 (0.65%)	6 (0.02%)	-	-	-	490 ^[bd] (1.29%)
May 26	10 (of 10)	Alaska State Convention^[223]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10 Del.^[be]
May 27	3 (of 3)	Guam Territorial Convention^[224]	1 Del.	1.5 Del.	-	0.5 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
May 27	3 (of 3)	Virgin Islands Territorial Convention^[225]^[226]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3 Del.
June 2	38 (of 51)	Connecticut District Conventions^[227]	15 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	23 Del.^[bf]
June 2	35 (of 47)	Kentucky District Conventions^[228]	7 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	28 Del. ^[bg]
June 3	12 (of 47)	Kentucky State Convention^[228]	3 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9 Del. ^[bh]
June 3	30 (of 39)	Oklahoma District Conventions^[229]	10 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	20 Del. ^[bi]
June 6	271 (of 271)	California Primary^[230] 3,564,518	271 Del. 1,550,652 (43.50%)	1,375,064 (38.58%)	268,551 WI (7.53%)	72,701 (2.04%)	28,901 (0.81%)	-	157,435 (4.42%)	-	26,246 (0.74%)	34,203 (0.96%)	50,745 (1.42%)	-	-	-	20 WI (1.59%)
	17 (of 17)	South Dakota Primary^[231] 28,017	17 Del. 28,017 (100.00%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	0 (of 109)	New Jersey Pres. Primary^[232] 76,834	-	-	-	-	-	-	51,433 (66.94%)	25,401 (33.06%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	109 (of 109)	New Jersey Del. Primary^[233]	72 Del.	10 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	27 Del. ^[bj]
	18 (of 18)	New Mexico Primary^[232] 153,293	10 Del. 51,011 (33.28%)	39,768 (25.94%)	8 Del. 44,843 (29.25%)	6,411 (4.18%)	4,236 (2.76%)	-	3,205 (2.09%)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3,819 ^[bk] (2.49%)
June 9	13 (of 64)	Minnesota State Convention^[234]	5 Del.	7 Del.	-	-	-	-	1 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
June 9	41 (of 53)	Virginia District Conventions^[235]^[236]	18 Del.	2 Del.	-	1 Del.	-	-	-	1 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	19 Del. ^[bl]
June 10	5 (of 35)	Kansas State Convention^[237]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5 Del.^[bm]
	18 (of 73)	Missouri State Convention^[238]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	18 Del. ^[bn]
	9 (of 39)	Oklahoma State Convention^[239]	3 Del. ^[bo]	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6 Del. ^[bp]
	12 (of 53)	Virginia State Convention^[236]^[240]	9 Del.	1 Del.	-	-	-	-	2 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
June 13	130 (of 130)	Texas State Convention^[241]	34 Del.	21 Del.	42 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	33 Del.^[bq]
June 16	27 (of 36)	Colorado District Conventions^[242]^[243]	17 Del.	6 Del.	-	-	-	-	1 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	13 Del.^[br]
	13 (of 51)	Connecticut State Convention^[244]	5 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8 Del. ^[bs]
	17 (of 17)	Idaho State Convention^[245]	7 Del.	1 Del.	-	3 Del.	-	-	2 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4 Del.^[bt]
	14 (of 14)	North Dakota State Convention^[246]	7.7 Del.	4.2 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.1 Del.^[bu]
	19 (of 19)	Utah State Convention^[247]	11 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8 Del.^[bv]
June 17	17 (of 17)	Montana State Convention^[248]	14.5 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	1 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.5 Del.^[bw]
June 17	7 (of 7)	Puerto Rico Local Convention^[249]	6 Del.	0.5 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.5 Del. ^[bx]
June 18	9 (of 36)	Colorado State Convention^[250]	7 Del.	1 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1 Del.^[by]
June 20	278 ^[bz](of 278)	New York Del. Primary^[251]^[252]	251 Del.	-	-	1 Del.	-	-	4 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	22 Del. ^[ca]
June 23	6 (of 52)	Washington State Convention^[253]	-	-	-	-	6 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
June 24	27 (of 27)	Arkansas State Convention^[254]	-	-	-	-	-	27 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
June 24	13 (of 13)	Delaware State Convention^[255]	5.85 Del.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7.15 Del.^[cb]
Total 3,016 pledged delegates 16,207,757 votes			1319.55 4,051,565 (25.00%)	345.85 4,119,230 (25.42%)	371 3,755,424 (23.17%)	172.5 1,838,314 (11.34%)	52 504,596 (3.11%)	28 37,401 (0.23%)	22 430,733 (2.66%)	28 331,415 (2.04%)	6 196,406 (1.21%)	0 553,352 (3.41%)	0 79,446 (0.49%)	0 11,798 (0.07%)	1.5 8,286 (0.05%)	20 20,717 (0.13%)	618.6 47,518 (0.29%)
Suspected Delegate Count as of June 27^[256]			1,466.15 (48.61%)	385.50 (12.78%)	377 (12.50%)	208.85 (6.92%)	53.75 (1.78%)	30.55 (1.01%)	23.65 (0.78%)	27 (0.90%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	441.25 ^[cc] (14.63%)

Results by county

Total primaries popular vote

1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries^[257]
Candidate	Votes	%
Hubert H. Humphrey	4,121,372	25.8
George S. McGovern	4,053,451	25.3
George C. Wallace	3,755,424	23.5
Edmund S. Muskie	1,840,217	11.5
Eugene J. McCarthy	553,955	3.5
Henry M. Jackson	505,198	3.2
Shirley A. Chisholm	430,703	2.7
James T. Sanford	331,415	2.1
John V. Lindsay	196,406	1.2
Sam W. Yorty	79,446	0.5
Wilbur D. Mills	37,401	0.2
Walter E. Fauntroy	21,217	0.1
Unpledged delegates	19,533	0.1
Edward M. Kennedy	16,693	0.1
Rupert V. Hartke	11,798	0.1
Patsy M. Mink	8,286	0.1
"None of the names shown"	6,269	0
Others	5,181	0
Total votes	15,993,965	100

Analysis

In the end, McGovern succeeded in winning the nomination by winning primaries through grass-roots support in spite of establishment opposition. He had led a commission to redesign the Democratic nomination system after the messy and confused nomination struggle and convention of 1968. The fundamental principle of the McGovern-Fraser Commission—that the Democratic primaries should determine the winner of the Democratic nomination—lasted throughout every subsequent nomination contest. However, the new rules angered many prominent Democrats whose influence was marginalized, and those politicians refused to support McGovern's campaign (some even supporting Nixon instead), leaving the McGovern campaign at a significant disadvantage in funding compared to Nixon.^{[citation needed]}

Notes

^ This number doesn't include Walter Fauntroy, Wayne Hays, and Carl Stokes, who were considered to be favorite sons
^ Channing Phillips had previously been placed in nomination at the 1968 convention and won the Washington D.C. delegation but was not a contender for national support.^{[citation needed]}
^ Senator Margaret Chase Smith had previously contested the Republican nomination in 1964.
^ Endorsed McGovern in the Ohio Presidential Primary
^ Endorsed Chisholm in the Michigan Presidential Primary
^ Switched to McGovern on July 9th.
^ This should not be taken as a finalized list of results. While a significant amount of research was done, there were a number of Delegates who were not bound by the instruction, or "Pledged" to a candidate, and to simplify the data these delegates were considered "Uncommitted". Many states also held primaries for the delegate positions, and these on occasion were where slates or candidates pledged to a certain candidate might be elected; however, as these elections allowed for a single person to vote for multiple candidates, as many as the number of positions being filled, it is difficult to determine how many people actually voted in these primaries. For this reason, while such results may be found, they are not included in the popular vote summaries at the bottom of the table.
^ Technically this is only a partial result; over two dozen counties did not hold caucuses when these results were announced, accounting for around (12%) of the expected number of Caucus goers. However, a full tabulation including these counties was not found. Only percentages were found in terms of the number of delegates elected per candidate, not their number nor their total allotment.
^ All were Uncommitted.
^ Both are Uncommitted.
^ 1,176 SD's were Uncommitted at (32.30%), and 73 SD's were for other candidates at (2.00%).
^ Two rival delegate slates were named, as the Mississippi Democratic party was severely divided between White-lead Regulars and Black-lead Loyalists, with their contests being held at different dates. As the Loyalists were the ones seated at the National Convention, it is their slate and nomination date that is presented here.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ Includes 954 Write-In votes for Senator Edward Kennedy at (1.07%), 854 Write-In votes for President Richard Nixon at (0.96%), 280 votes for Edward T. Coll at (0.32%), 133 Write-In votes for Congressman Pete McCloskey at (0.15%), 27 Write-In votes for Congressman John Ashbrook at (0.03%), and 19 Write-In votes for Comedian Pat Paulsen at (0.02%)
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ Includes 242 Write-In votes for Senator Edward Kennedy at (0.02%).
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ Both are Uncommitted.
^ Includes 2,450 votes for "None of the Names Shown" at (0.22%).
^ All were Uncommitted.
^ All were Uncommitted except two, which were pledged to Senator Edward Kennedy.
^ Technically won seven delegates, but these delegates were required to vote for McGovern on the first ballot.
^ Technically won five delegates, these delegates were technically required to vote for McGovern on the first ballot.
^ Technically Uncommmited won one delegate, but they were required to vote for McGovern on the first ballot.
^ Includes 2,348 Write-in votes for Senator Edward Kennedy at (0.38%), and 589 votes for Edward T. Coll at (0.10%).
^ Includes 262 Write-in votes for President Richard Nixon at (0.02%).
^ 45 delegates were technically named later in mid-June, 27 by the elected delegates and 18 by the Democratic State Committee.
^ 14 delegates were named later in June.
^ 19 delegates were named later in June.
^ 11 delegates were named later in June.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ 1 delegate was named later in June.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All were Uncommitted bar one, who was pledged to Senator Edward Kennedy.
^ All are part of an Anti-Wallace slate.
^ A slate of eight delegates supporting Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes was elected in the 21st District, and a slate of five delegates supporting Congressman Wayne Hays was elected in the 18th District.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ Some District Conventions were held earlier in April.
^ Includes 293 Write-in votes for Senator Edward Kennedy at (0.15%).
^ Uncommitted by state law.
^ Uncommitted by state law.
^ Uncommitted by state law.
^ All are Uncommitted
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ Four delegates were picked on May 20.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ 10,700 votes are for an Uncommitted slate at (0.67%)
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ Both are Uncommitted.
^ McGovern won eight delegates in these contests, but they were later replaced by Jackson delegates at the state convention.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ Includes 12,673 votes for Senator Edward Kennedy at (3.10%), and 480 Write-in votes for President Richard Nixon at (0.12%).
^ All votes were for an Uncommitted slate.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All votes are for an Uncommitted slate.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ This was suspected, not confirmed.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ Is Uncommitted.
^ 30 were named on the June 25th by the Democratic State Committee.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ All are Uncommitted.
^ Includes one delegate supporting Louisiana Governor Edward Edwards, and five delegates supporting Congressman Wayne Hays of Ohio.