United States · Election results history · 1972 Senate · Kentucky

Election 1972 Results

Each election opens in its own mode: the forecast before the votes are counted, the live count while races are still too close to call, and the results once every race is decided.

1972 US Senate election in Kentucky

Walter D. Huddleston (Democrat) beat Louie B. Nunn (Republican) in Kentucky in 1972, 50.9% to 47.6%, a margin of 3.3 points and 34,213 votes.

Kentucky changed party: in 1966 it went Republican, for John Sherman Cooper.

Democrats led in 74 of the 120 counties as they stood then and Republicans in 46. The largest, Jefferson, cast 230,592 votes and went to the Democrat by 8.4 points. The closest was Grant, where 2 votes separated the two parties.

United States

Results

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1896 1895 1894 1893 1892 1891 1890 1889 1888 1887 1886 1885 1884 1883 1882 1881 1880 1879 1878 1877 1876 1875 1874 1873 1872 1871 1870 1869 1868 1867 1866 1865

If only voted How this works

If the polls miss like

Or set the national mood Turnout

Early projection, based on early and incomplete polling: the likely matchups, each weighted by the betting markets' odds of both nominations, not a result. Each county is its 2024 presidential margin moved by its state's projected swing; set a national vote and every state, district and county moves by the same amount from our projection. Colours run in 100 steps from a safe Republican to a safe Democratic margin. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

Senate

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Walter D. Huddleston won	Democratic	528,550	50.9%
Louie B. Nunn	Republican	494,337	47.6%
All other candidates		14,974	1.4%
Total		1,037,861

Every county

County	Democrat	Republican	Others	Total	Margin
Jefferson	122,541 53.1%	103,171 44.7%	4,880	230,592	D+8.4
Fayette	27,727 45.0%	31,666 51.4%	2,201	61,594	R+6.4
Kenton	19,682 49.5%	19,454 49.0%	597	39,733	D+0.6
Campbell	13,549 48.6%	13,835 49.6%	489	27,873	R+1.0
Daviess	13,913 54.4%	11,250 44.0%	415	25,578	D+10.4
Pike	11,172 53.0%	9,749 46.3%	156	21,077	D+6.8
McCracken	11,892 62.2%	6,889 36.0%	341	19,122	D+26.2
Boyd	9,500 50.8%	9,001 48.2%	189	18,690	D+2.7
Warren	9,083 50.1%	8,819 48.7%	212	18,114	D+1.5
Franklin	7,923 57.8%	5,572 40.6%	224	13,719	D+17.1
Pulaski	4,532 33.0%	9,141 66.6%	43	13,716	R+33.6
Hardin	7,582 57.4%	5,410 40.9%	226	13,218	D+16.4
Madison	6,530 50.0%	6,364 48.7%	163	13,057	D+1.3
Floyd	8,562 66.8%	4,092 31.9%	165	12,819	D+34.9
Christian	6,340 56.0%	4,876 43.1%	97	11,313	D+12.9
Greenup	5,813 51.7%	5,336 47.5%	84	11,233	D+4.2
Harlan	5,677 53.1%	4,944 46.2%	74	10,695	D+6.9
Hopkins	5,140 49.0%	5,274 50.3%	71	10,485	R+1.3
Graves	6,201 60.9%	3,851 37.8%	133	10,185	D+23.1
Boone	4,395 44.3%	5,328 53.7%	208	9,931	R+9.4
Henderson	6,579 67.1%	3,116 31.8%	113	9,808	D+35.3
Barren	4,372 44.8%	5,323 54.6%	59	9,754	R+9.7
Laurel	3,107 33.2%	6,206 66.3%	50	9,363	R+33.1
Bell	4,191 45.4%	4,954 53.6%	90	9,235	R+8.3
Muhlenberg	4,672 52.3%	4,196 47.0%	68	8,936	D+5.3
Whitley	3,176 36.2%	5,529 63.0%	70	8,775	R+26.8
Calloway	5,289 62.1%	3,129 36.7%	103	8,521	D+25.3
Perry	4,313 50.9%	4,074 48.1%	79	8,466	D+2.8
Bullitt	4,646 61.9%	2,760 36.8%	98	7,504	D+25.1
Marshall	4,601 63.8%	2,557 35.4%	57	7,215	D+28.3
Boyle	3,637 54.5%	2,952 44.3%	81	6,670	D+10.3
Clark	3,566 54.0%	2,967 45.0%	66	6,599	D+9.1
Letcher	3,542 54.0%	2,957 45.1%	63	6,562	D+8.9
Knox	2,364 36.2%	4,079 62.5%	82	6,525	R+26.3
Johnson	2,299 35.6%	4,122 63.8%	35	6,456	R+28.2
Nelson	3,986 62.1%	2,330 36.3%	104	6,420	D+25.8
Carter	3,112 48.8%	3,202 50.3%	58	6,372	R+1.4
Logan	3,164 52.5%	2,792 46.3%	75	6,031	D+6.2
Grayson	2,385 39.8%	3,538 59.1%	62	5,985	R+19.3
Hart	2,686 45.1%	3,246 54.5%	21	5,953	R+9.4
Mason	3,307 56.0%	2,546 43.1%	56	5,909	D+12.9
Taylor	3,068 52.1%	2,791 47.4%	28	5,887	D+4.7
Shelby	3,125 53.7%	2,630 45.2%	64	5,819	D+8.5
Clay	2,179 38.0%	3,535 61.7%	14	5,728	R+23.7
Adair	2,266 40.8%	3,270 58.8%	24	5,560	R+18.1
Lincoln	2,707 48.9%	2,796 50.5%	38	5,541	R+1.6
Breckinridge	2,610 47.4%	2,864 52.0%	33	5,507	R+4.6
Wayne	2,390 44.6%	2,941 54.9%	26	5,357	R+10.3
Mercer	2,534 47.6%	2,720 51.1%	73	5,327	R+3.5
Rowan	2,651 50.5%	2,512 47.8%	89	5,252	D+2.6
Russell	1,728 33.7%	3,366 65.7%	27	5,121	R+32.0
Bourbon	2,847 56.5%	2,145 42.6%	46	5,038	D+13.9
Jessamine	2,042 40.7%	2,863 57.1%	109	5,014	R+16.4
Scott	2,624 53.7%	2,198 44.9%	68	4,890	D+8.7
Casey	1,414 29.7%	3,284 68.9%	69	4,767	R+39.2
Woodford	2,193 47.1%	2,383 51.2%	82	4,658	R+4.1
Marion	3,022 65.3%	1,578 34.1%	29	4,629	D+31.2
Garrard	1,895 41.4%	2,644 57.8%	33	4,572	R+16.4
Monroe	1,361 30.0%	3,166 69.8%	9	4,536	R+39.8
Union	3,204 70.7%	1,302 28.7%	26	4,532	D+42.0
Harrison	2,580 57.3%	1,881 41.7%	45	4,506	D+15.5
Montgomery	2,482 55.8%	1,926 43.3%	42	4,450	D+12.5
Breathitt	2,966 67.0%	1,443 32.6%	18	4,427	D+34.4
Oldham	2,227 50.7%	2,084 47.4%	84	4,395	D+3.3
Estill	1,765 40.4%	2,583 59.1%	26	4,374	R+18.7
Rockcastle	1,376 31.5%	2,972 68.0%	21	4,369	R+36.5
Lewis	1,531 35.4%	2,769 64.1%	22	4,322	R+28.6
Caldwell	2,136 49.5%	2,080 48.2%	101	4,317	D+1.3
Allen	1,723 40.6%	2,501 58.9%	24	4,248	R+18.3
Webster	2,744 65.3%	1,422 33.8%	38	4,204	D+31.4
Magoffin	2,148 51.2%	2,030 48.4%	17	4,195	D+2.8
Knott	3,118 75.8%	962 23.4%	35	4,115	D+52.4
Meade	2,417 59.4%	1,616 39.7%	36	4,069	D+19.7
Green	1,547 38.6%	2,447 61.1%	12	4,006	R+22.5
Leslie	1,296 32.4%	2,678 67.0%	22	3,996	R+34.6
Larue	2,122 53.4%	1,833 46.1%	18	3,973	D+7.3
Lawrence	1,836 46.9%	2,055 52.5%	27	3,918	R+5.6
Fleming	1,875 48.3%	1,978 51.0%	28	3,881	R+2.7
Jackson	693 18.1%	3,124 81.7%	9	3,826	R+63.5
Washington	1,974 51.9%	1,763 46.4%	65	3,802	D+5.5
Butler	1,234 32.5%	2,543 67.0%	17	3,794	R+34.5
Henry	2,176 59.6%	1,435 39.3%	39	3,650	D+20.3
Simpson	1,994 55.7%	1,555 43.5%	29	3,578	D+12.3
Anderson	1,867 52.6%	1,647 46.4%	38	3,552	D+6.2
McCreary	1,054 29.9%	2,415 68.5%	54	3,523	R+38.6
McLean	1,974 56.8%	1,479 42.6%	21	3,474	D+14.2
Ohio	1,357 40.7%	1,959 58.7%	19	3,335	R+18.1
Trigg	2,244 68.2%	1,023 31.1%	25	3,292	D+37.1
Clinton	890 27.1%	2,391 72.7%	7	3,288	R+45.7
Morgan	2,121 64.8%	1,139 34.8%	13	3,273	D+30.0
Metcalfe	1,611 50.2%	1,586 49.4%	13	3,210	D+0.8
Bath	1,758 54.8%	1,441 44.9%	9	3,208	D+9.9
Todd	1,948 61.8%	1,156 36.7%	46	3,150	D+25.1
Crittenden	1,381 44.0%	1,745 55.6%	15	3,141	R+11.6
Edmonson	1,136 36.3%	1,977 63.2%	15	3,128	R+26.9
Grant	1,515 49.3%	1,513 49.2%	47	3,075	D+0.1
Powell	1,670 55.4%	1,328 44.1%	14	3,012	D+11.4
Fulton	1,798 59.9%	1,153 38.4%	53	3,004	D+21.5
Ballard	2,088 69.8%	857 28.7%	46	2,991	D+41.2
Cumberland	941 31.5%	2,039 68.2%	9	2,989	R+36.7
Martin	905 31.4%	1,950 67.6%	30	2,885	R+36.2
Livingston	1,658 58.6%	1,150 40.7%	20	2,828	D+18.0
Pendleton	1,336 47.3%	1,473 52.2%	15	2,824	R+4.9
Owen	1,630 61.7%	988 37.4%	25	2,643	D+24.3
Carroll	1,679 66.3%	825 32.6%	30	2,534	D+33.7
Bracken	1,363 55.1%	1,096 44.3%	15	2,474	D+10.8
Hickman	1,559 63.6%	841 34.3%	52	2,452	D+29.3
Hancock	1,175 49.4%	1,150 48.4%	52	2,377	D+1.1
Lee	930 39.5%	1,415 60.0%	12	2,357	R+20.6
Elliott	1,569 72.8%	574 26.6%	13	2,156	D+46.2
Nicholas	1,139 59.8%	741 38.9%	24	1,904	D+20.9
Wolfe	1,108 58.7%	755 40.0%	25	1,888	D+18.7
Carlisle	1,275 69.2%	553 30.0%	14	1,842	D+39.2
Lyon	1,027 58.5%	709 40.4%	20	1,756	D+18.1
Trimble	1,013 59.8%	666 39.3%	14	1,693	D+20.5
Spencer	782 49.9%	759 48.5%	25	1,566	D+1.5
Owsley	322 20.9%	1,216 78.8%	5	1,543	R+57.9
Menifee	892 66.2%	448 33.2%	8	1,348	D+32.9
Gallatin	746 56.9%	559 42.6%	7	1,312	D+14.3
Robertson	521 59.1%	356 40.4%	4	881	D+18.7

Counties as they stood in 1972; some have since been split, merged or renamed. Margin: the Democrat's share of all votes minus the Republican's. Sources and how the results were checked.

Kentucky Senate elections we hold

Year	Winner	Margin
2022	Rand Paul (R)	R+23.6
2020	Mitch McConnell (R)	R+19.5
2016	Rand Paul (R)	R+14.5
2014	Mich McConnell (R)	R+15.5
2010	Rand Paul (R)	R+11.5
2008	Mitch McConnell (R)	R+5.9
2004	Jim Bunning (R)	R+1.3
2002	Mitch McConnell (R)	R+29.4
1998	Jim Bunning (R)	R+0.6
1996	Mitch McConnell (R)	R+12.6
1992	Wendell H. Ford (D)	D+27.1
1990	Mitch McConnell (R)	R+4.4
1986	Wendell H. Ford (D)	D+48.8
1984	Mitch McConnell (R)	R+0.4
1980	Wendell H. Ford (D)	D+30.3
1978	Walter D. Huddleston (D)	D+24.1
1974	Wendell Ford (D)	D+9.4
1972	Walter D. Huddleston (D)	D+3.3
1968	Marlow W. Cook (R)	R+3.7
1966	John Sherman Cooper (R)	R+29.1
1962	Thruston B. Morton (R)	R+5.5
1960	John Sherman Cooper (R)	R+18.4
1956	Thruston B. Morton (R)	R+0.7
1954	Alben W. Barkley (D)	D+8.9
1950	Earle C. Clements (D)	D+9.1
1948	Virgil Chapman (D)	D+3.1
1944	Alben W. Barkley (D)	D+9.9
1942	Happy Chandler (D)	D+10.7
1938	Alben W. Barkley (D)	D+24.1
1936	Marvel M. Logan (D)	D+19.0
1932	Alben W. Barkley (D)	D+18.6
1930	Marvel M. Logan (D)	D+4.3
1926	Alben W. Barkley (D)	D+3.7
1924	Frederic M. Sackett (R)	R+3.1
1920	Richard P. Ernst (R)	R+0.6
1918	Augustus Owsley Stanley (D)	D+1.5
1914	John C.W. Beckham (D)	D+9.4

1972 US Senate election in Kentucky

Senate

Every county

Kentucky Senate elections we hold

Choose a country

Search