1972 Delaware gubernatorial election

1972 Delaware gubernatorial election

← 1968 November 7, 1972 1976 →
 
Nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt Russell W. Peterson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 117,274 109,583
Percentage 51.27% 47.91%

Tribbitt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Peterson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Russell W. Peterson
Republican

Elected Governor

Sherman W. Tribbitt
Democratic

The 1972 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Democratic nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt defeated incumbent Republican Governor Russell W. Peterson with 51.27% of the vote. This was the last time a Democrat won statewide office in Delaware until 1992, when Tom Carper (future U.S. Senator) won the gubernatorial election over Republican B. Gary Scott.