The American Vote
Cold War RealignmentTX · 26 EV

1972

Texas: Nixon carries 26 EV.
Texas cast its 26 electoral votes for Nixon (Republican). National winner: Richard Nixon (Republican) — Texas voted with the national winner this cycle.

Reading the 1972 result in Texas

Texas backed Nixon (Republican) in the 1972 presidential election, casting 26 electoral votes for the ticket. That placed Texas with the eventual winner: Richard Nixon went on to take the presidency, and Texas was part of his column.

The result flipped Texas away from the Democratic ticket it had backed in each of the previous 4 cycles. Texas did not move alone — neighboring New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana broke the same way in 1972. Over its 44 recorded presidential cycles, Texas 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
Texas full history →
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Texas in nearby cycles