Who won Tennessee in the 1972 presidential election?

Nixon (Republican) carried Tennessee in 1972, winning its 10 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Tennessee have in 1972?

Tennessee cast 10 electoral votes in the 1972 presidential election.

Did Tennessee vote for the national winner in 1972?

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

Cold War RealignmentTN · 10 EV

1972

Tennessee: Nixon carries 10 EV.

Tennessee cast its 10 electoral votes for Nixon (Republican). National winner: Richard Nixon (Republican) — Tennessee voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in Tennessee, 1972

In 1972, Tennessee awarded its 10 electoral votes to Nixon of the Republican party. That placed Tennessee with the eventual winner: Richard Nixon went on to take the presidency, and Tennessee was part of his column.

Tennessee stayed in the Republican column for the 2nd straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1968. Tennessee did not move alone — neighboring Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri broke the same way in 1972. Over its 57 recorded presidential cycles, Tennessee has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 24 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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