1972 Utah gubernatorial election
election
The 1972 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Democratic incumbent Cal Rampton defeated Republican nominee Nicholas L. Strike with 69.68% of the vote. Rampton's victory was despite incumbent Republican president Richard Nixon winning the state with over 67% of the vote in the concurrent presidential election. The election made Rampton the first governor to serve three terms.
Rampton's vote share is the highest ever achieved by a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Utah. It remained the highest share by a gubernatorial candidate from any party in the state until 1996. Rampton flipped Kane County, which had previously never voted Democratic for governor (though it had voted Democratic for president in 1916), but Strike managed to simultaneously flip Uintah County, preventing a statewide sweep by Rampton.
Primary election
Primary elections were held on September 12, 1972.
Democratic primary
Incumbent governor Cal Rampton was renominated without opposition.
Republican primary
Nicholas L. Strike, a former Navy officer and President of the Utah Manufacturer's Association from 1968 to 1969, was nominated without opposition.
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