1972
Reading the 1972 result in Washington
Washington backed Nixon (Republican) in the 1972 presidential election, casting 9 electoral votes for the ticket. That placed Washington with the eventual winner: Richard Nixon went on to take the presidency, and Washington was part of his column.
The result flipped Washington away from the Democratic ticket it had backed in each of the previous 3 cycles. Washington did not move alone — neighboring Oregon and Idaho broke the same way in 1972. Over its 34 recorded presidential cycles, Washington has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 19 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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