Who won Kentucky in the 1972 presidential election?

Nixon (Republican) carried Kentucky in 1972, winning its 9 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Kentucky have in 1972?

Kentucky cast 9 electoral votes in the 1972 presidential election.

Did Kentucky vote for the national winner in 1972?

Yes. Kentucky backed Richard Nixon, who won the presidency that year.

Cold War RealignmentKY · 9 EV

1972

Kentucky: Nixon carries 9 EV.

Kentucky cast its 9 electoral votes for Nixon (Republican). National winner: Richard Nixon (Republican) — Kentucky voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in Kentucky, 1972

In 1972, Kentucky awarded its 9 electoral votes to Nixon of the Republican party. That placed Kentucky with the eventual winner: Richard Nixon went on to take the presidency, and Kentucky was part of his column.

Kentucky stayed in the Republican column for the 2nd straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1968. The region divided — Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois joined Kentucky for the Republican ticket, while West Virginia did not. Over its 59 recorded presidential cycles, Kentucky has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 28 times in all. The vote fell within the Cold War Realignment — Nixon, Reagan, and the Republican South.

Nationally, Richard Nixon finished with 520 of the 538 electoral votes to George McGovern's 17. Richard Nixon led the national popular vote with 60.67% of the ballots cast.

The 1972 national map

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