What were the most extreme examples of ticket-splitting in the 1972 election?

[Calthrina950]

The question is as in the title. In 1972, as informed people should know, Richard Nixon beat George McGovern in a landslide, winning by 60.67-37.52%, and carrying 49 states, with McGovern winning only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. However, at the same time, Democrats retained control of both Houses of Congress, losing only 12 House seats and gaining 2 Senate seats. Hence, there was an extensive amount of ticket-splitting.

I read elsewhere that Nixon won 189 of the 242 Democratic-held seats. And he carried all states that elected or re-elected Democratic Senators. What were the most extreme examples of ticket-splitting in the 1972 election? And what were notable examples?

[kcguy]

I have some of the old Almanacs of American Politics, but I have a gap for that exact time period.

As near as I can tell, all of these districts voted for Congressional Democrats:

SEAT     NIXON PCT
AL-SEN   74%
AL-3       75%
AL-4       78%
AL-5       75%
AR-SEN   69%
AR-1       69%
AR-4       69%
CA-38:    68%
FL-1:       84%
FL-2:       69%
FL-3:       70%
FL-4:       77%
FL-5:       76%
FL-7:       70%
FL-8:       79%
FL-11:     74%
GA-SEN:  75%
GA-1:      75%
GA-2:      80%
GA-3:      78%
GA-6:      80%
GA-7:      83%
GA-8:      78%
GA-9:      82%
GA-10:    73%
ID-SEN:  71%
IN-4:      67%
KS-2:     70%
KY-6:     67%
LA-SEN:  70%
LA-1:      71%
LA-4:      75%
LA-5:      73%
LA-6:     70%
LA-7:     68%
MD-2:    68%
MD-3:    67%
MD-6:    71%
MS-SEN:  80%
MS-1:      80%
MS-2:      77%
MS-3:      79%
MO-4:      69%
MO-6:      67%
MO-8:      68%
NJ-3:       67%
NM-2:      67%
NY-1:      70%
NY-9:      73%
NY-15:    ?
NY-32:     70%
NC-1:      70%
NC-3:      74%
NC-4:      69%
NC-6:      72%
NC-7:      70%
NC-11:    71%
OK-1:      79%
OK-2:      73%
OK-3:     70%
OK-4:     74%
OK-5:     76%
SC-1:     69%
SC-3:     77%
SC-4:     80%
SC-5:     71%
TX-1:     70%
TX-2:     68%
TX-4:     72%
TX-6:     72%
TX-11:   70%
TX-17:   73%
TX-19:   76%
TX-21:   76%
UT-1:     77%
VA-1:     69%
VA-3:     72%
VA-5:     72%
WY-AL:   69%

[Podgy the Bear]

The Senate races in the Deep South would be the most notable for ticket-splitting but not terribly surprising.  One exception would be Alabama--Winton Blount (who was Nixon's Postmaster General) lost badly to John Sparkman 62-33 (whereas Nixon won 72-26 against McGovern).  Nixon did target this race (unlike in Mississippi where he had a friend in James Eastland--he did not support the Republican Gil Carmichael).

More surprising were races where the Democrats took a seat from the Republicans--especially where Nixon won by a big margin.  For example, in Iowa, Dick Clark unseated Jack Miller 54-44 (and Nixon won 58-40).  And in Colorado, Nixon won 63-35, but Floyd Haskell defeated Gordon Allott by a slim margin.

[Calthrina950]

The Senate races in the Deep South would be the most notable for ticket-splitting but not terribly surprising.  One exception would be Alabama--Winton Blount (who was Nixon's Postmaster General) lost badly to John Sparkman 62-33 (whereas Nixon won 72-26 against McGovern).  Nixon did target this race (unlike in Mississippi where he had a friend in James Eastland--he did not support the Republican Gil Carmichael).

More surprising were races where the Democrats took a seat from the Republicans--especially where Nixon won by a big margin.  For example, in Iowa, Dick Clark unseated Jack Miller 54-44 (and Nixon won 58-40).  And in Colorado, Nixon won 63-35, but Floyd Haskell defeated Gordon Allott by a slim margin.

Eastland was reelected with 58% in Mississippi while Nixon won the state with 78%. He ran ahead of McGovern by about 39 percentage points. And Colorado (my home state) is astounding. I also know of course (relevant to now), that Joe Biden won his first term in Delaware by just over a point while Nixon was carrying the state by 20.

One example in reverse was Massachusetts. Nixon lost the state to McGovern 54-45%, but incumbent Republican Edward Brooke was reelected in a landslide, 64-35%, over John Droney.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

You don't have to go back that far to see a lot of ticket splitting. The Republicans didn't bother to field a candidate in AR-Sen in 2008 despite McCain winning the state by 20 points.

[Epaminondas]

You don't have to go back that far to see a lot of ticket splitting. The Republicans didn't bother to field a candidate in AR-Sen in 2008 despite McCain winning the state by 20 points.

I don't think this is what OP meant. By that measurement CA-08 in 2018 was the largest ticket splitting in history: 100% for Senate Dem and 100% for House Republican.

[Calthrina950]

You don't have to go back that far to see a lot of ticket splitting. The Republicans didn't bother to field a candidate in AR-Sen in 2008 despite McCain winning the state by 20 points.

I don't think this is what OP meant. By that measurement CA-08 in 2018 was the largest ticket splitting in history: 100% for Senate Dem and 100% for House Republican.

You are correct. I was looking for examples in the 1972 election specifically, not in a more recent election.