# 1972 Indiana gubernatorial election

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The 1972 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.
Although during the same election cycle Indiana voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the governor to serve in office for eight out of 12 years, incumbent Republican Governor Edgar Whitcomb was term-limited due to having been elected under the prior version of the constitution.
Republican nominee, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Otis Bowen defeated Democratic nominee Former Governor (1961-1965) Matthew E. Welsh with 56.77% of the vote.

## Nominations

Until 1976, all nominations for statewide office in Indiana were made by state conventions.

### Democratic nomination
#### Results

Matthew E. Welsh, former Governor def. Larry A. Conrad, Secretary of State

### Republican nomination
#### Results

Republican nomination results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Otis Bowen | 1,243 | 59.70 |
| | Republican | William Sharp | 364 | 17.48 |
| | Republican | Phil Gutman | 354 | 17.00 |
| | Republican | W.W. 'Dub' Hill | 108 | 5.19 |
| | | N/A | 13 | 0.62 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,082 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results
#### Governor

1972 Indiana gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Otis Bowen | 1,203,903 | 56.77% |
| | Democratic | Matthew E. Welsh | 900,489 | 42.46% |
| | American Independent | Berryman S. Hurley | 8,525 | 0.40% |
| | Peace and Freedom | Finley C. Campbell | 6,278 | 0.30% |
| | Socialist Labor | John M. Morris | 1,652 | 0.08% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 303,414 | 14.31% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,120,847 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |

#### Lieutenant governor

1972 Indiana lieutenant gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert D. Orr | 1,149,255 | 55.34% |
| | Democratic | Richard C. Bodine | 914,000 | 44.01% |
| | American Independent | Raymond Lee Clark | 6,816 | 0.33% |
| | Peace and Freedom | Elizabeth Toohy | 4,737 | 0.23% |
| | Socialist Labor | Casimer Kanczuzewski | 1,878 | 0.09% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 235,255 | 11.33% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,076,686 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |