1972 United States Senate election in Maine

none March 2026 September 2023 1972 United States Senate election in Maine Maine presidential no 1966 United States Senate election in Maine 1966 1978 United States Senate election in Maine 1978 November 7, 1972 150x150px File:Wm D Hathaway.jpg William Hathaway Democratic Party (United States) 224,270 53.23% File:Margaret C Smith.jpg Margaret Chase Smith Republican Party (United States) 197,040 46.77% 280px County results 280px Municipality results Hathaway: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Smith: #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #a80000 >90% Tie: #AE8BB1 50% U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith Republican Party (United States) William Hathaway Democratic Party (United States) The 1972 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith ran for re-election to a fifth term, but was defeated by Democrat William Hathaway. 2025, this was the last time the Democrats won the Class 2 Senate seat from Maine. To date, this remains one of only two times in history (along with the 1846 election) that a Democrat has been elected to this seat for a full term, and the only such instance since the founding of the Republican Party. Maine was one of fifteen states, alongside Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota and West Virginia, that were won by Republican President Richard Nixon in 1972 that elected Democrats to the United States Senate. Background A very popular senator, Margaret Chase Smith was at first seen as the overwhelming favorite to win the November election. However, after a disastrous meeting with college students at Colby College in Waterville, Maine on May 10, 1970, her standing was hurt gravely with young voters in Maine. In the meeting, she reaffirmed her strong support for the Vietnam War, while her Democratic colleague, Edmund Muskie, spoke out against it. However, the biggest blow came when she answered "No" to a student asking if U.S. troops were stationed in Laos. Immediately after, former Marine Everett Carson spoke into the microphone, explaining that he was a platoon commander in Vietnam and had been sent on search and destroy missions over the Laotian border and into Laotian territory. Smith was unable to respond, and the incident became widely publicized, leading to an even stronger feeling with voters that she was uninformed and out of touch with what they wanted. Furthermore, she lost support from the increasingly powerful women's movement, who endorsed her opponent instead.https://downeast.com/history/the-downfall-of-margaret-chase-smith/ The Moment That Presaged a Maine Senator's Downfall - May 2020 May 2020 DownEast.com 2021-08-05 Republican primary Candidates Robert A. G. Monks, attorney Margaret Chase Smith, U.S. senator since 1949 Results 1972 Maine Republican US Senate primaryhttp://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=342600 ME US Senate- R Primary Race - Jun 19, 1972 Our Campaigns 2020-03-24 Republican Party (United States) Margaret Chase Smith (incumbent) 76,964 66.75% Republican Party (United States) Robert A. G. Monks 38,345 33.25% 115,309 100.0% Democratic primary Candidates William Hathaway, U.S. representative from Maine's 2nd congressional district since 1965 Jack L. Smith, candidate for Senate in 1966 Results General election resultshttp://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=342604 ME US Senate- D Primary Race - Jun 19, 1972 Our Campaigns 2020-03-24 Democratic Party (United States) William Hathaway 61,921 90.82% Democratic Party (United States) Jack L. Smith 6,263 9.19% 68,184 100.0% General election Smith opted to run a simple campaign, employing few volunteers and making few appearances. She emphasized her record of public service, particularly the fact that she never missed a vote except for when she underwent hip surgery, setting a record of 2,941 consecutive votes on the Senate floor. Smith also practically ignored younger voters, many of whom were unfamiliar with her record and upset with her refusal to engage with them. Another key shortcoming of her campaign was her refusal of donations, spending only $4,130 on her general election campaign, as opposed to Hathaway's $200,000. Smith also refused to buy campaign advertisements, relying on pamphlets and bumper stickers to get her message out. She also had a press that was often hostile to her and her message, particularly Ralph Nader, who released a very damaging profile of her a month before the election was held. Hathaway ran a very modern and energetic campaign, buying many advertisements and campaigning often. Crucially, he also won the support of the National Committee for an Effective Congress, who had previously supported Smith due to her opposition to McCarthyism in the 1950s. Hathaway's campaign also let outside figures, namely former Tennessee Senator Albert Gore Sr., criticize Smith's positions on policy issues such as an anti-ballistic missile system and the Vietnam War. By election day, Hathaway was seen as the likely victor, as his dynamic campaign had gained momentum dramatically over the past months.https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/876/ Margaret Chase Smith's 1972 Election: The Fall of an Institutional Giant by Allison Kobzowicz - Spring 2019 Senior Honors Theses April 30, 2019 Liberty University 2021-08-05 Kobzowicz Allison Debate + 1972 Maine United States Senate election debate No. Number Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey:black #90ff90  P  Participant  black #FFFFDD  A  Absent  black #ff9090  N  Not invited  black #CCFFCC  I  Invited #f0e68c W Withdrawn Margaret Chase Smith William Hathaway1 Maine Public Broadcasting Network David PlattYouTube P P Results General election resultshttp://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6513 ME US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972 Our Campaigns 2020-03-24 Democratic Party (United States) William Hathaway 224,270 53.23% Republican Party (United States) Margaret Chase Smith (incumbent) 197,040 46.77% 421,310 100.0% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) See also 1972 United States Senate elections References Maine 1972 Category:1972 Maine elections