1972
Reading the 1972 result in Michigan
Michigan backed Nixon (Republican) in the 1972 presidential election, casting 21 electoral votes for the ticket. That placed Michigan with the eventual winner: Richard Nixon went on to take the presidency, and Michigan was part of his column.
The result flipped Michigan away from the Democratic ticket it had backed in each of the previous 3 cycles. Michigan did not move alone — neighboring Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin broke the same way in 1972. Over its 51 recorded presidential cycles, Michigan has backed the Republican 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.
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