1972 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

none March 2026 September 2023 1972 United States Senate election in Massachusetts Massachusetts presidential no 1966 United States Senate election in Massachusetts 1966 1978 United States Senate election in Massachusetts 1978 November 7, 1972 File:Edward brooke senator (cropped).jpg Edward Brooke Republican Party (United States) 1,505,932 63.53% File:3x4.svg 150x150px John J. Droney Democratic Party (United States) 823,278 34.73% 300px County results 300px| Municipality results 1 250px Brooke: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Droney: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996E2 50–60% U.S. Senator Edward Brooke Republican Party (United States) Edward Brooke Republican Party (United States) The United States Senate election of 1972 in Massachusetts was held on November 7, 1972. Republican incumbent Edward Brooke defeated Democratic prosecutor John J. Droney in a landslide. This was also the last time until 2010 that a Republican would win any United States Senate election in Massachusetts. As of , this remains the last time that any Republican has been elected to Massachusetts’s Class II Senate seat, and the last time any Republican has been elected to either Senate seat for a full term. This election was the first time that any African American senator was re-elected to a second term in the Senate. Republican primary Candidates Edward Brooke, incumbent U.S. senator since 1967 Senator Edward Brooke was unopposed for re-nomination. At the state convention on June 24, he was renominated by acclamation.The New York Times Republicans' Parley Renominates Brooke https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/25/archives/republicans-parley-renominates-brooke.html 26 Jun 1972 8 Jun 2022 41 Democratic primary Candidates John J. Droney, Middlesex County district attorneyJohn Droney at ourcampaigns.com John P. Lynch, Hampden County register of deeds Gerald O'Leary, member of the Boston City Council Eliminated at the convention George Burke, Norfolk County district attorney (endorsed Droney) Declined John Kenneth Galbraith, economist and former U.S. ambassador to IndiaGalbraith Is Urged To Oppose Brooke https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1972/6/5/galbraith-is-urged-to-oppose-brooke/ The Harvard Crimson 5 June 1972 Campaign John Droney won the party endorsement at the June 11 convention on the sixth ballot. The party platform endorsed legalized marijuana and an end to the Vietnam War.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/06/12/79470482.html?pageNumber=30 DEMOCRATS ENDORSE BROOKE OPPONENT 30 12 Jun 1972 8 Jun 2022 Droney himself did not oppose the war, stating that there was no right or wrong stand on Vietnam.Nyhan David Galbraith exits, Droney enters Senate race The Boston Globe June 7, 1972 He received the support of state Attorney General Robert H. Quinn, Boston Mayor Kevin White, and state legislative leadership. After losing at the convention, Norfolk County District Attorney George Burke dropped out of the race and backed Droney. However, Boston City Councilman Gerald O'Leary, who was considered the most liberal candidate, and Hampden County Register of Deeds John Pierce Lynch chose to stay in the race and challenge Droney in the Democratic primary.Nyhan David Nine hours, six ballots later Droney has the nomination The Boston Globe June 12, 1972 Results thumb|Democratic primary results by municipality 1972 Democratic U.S. Senate primary Democratic Party (US) John J. Droney 215,523 45.05% Democratic Party (US) Gerald O'Leary 169,876 35.51% Democratic Party (US) John P. Lynch 92,979 19.43% 478,378 100.00% General election Candidates Edward Brooke, incumbent U.S. senator since 1967 (Republican) John J. Droney, Middlesex County district attorney (Democratic) Donald Gurewitz, anti-war activist (Socialist Workers) Campaign Brooke centered his campaign on experience and on his sponsorship of an amendment to end American involvement in the Vietnam War. Droney ran on a law and order platform, supporting Richard Nixon's conservative nominees to the United States Supreme Court and questioning the value of the Fifth Amendment. He also supported some of the president's foreign policy initiatives and did not come out against the Vietnam War. He chose to focus his attacks on Brooke's record as attorney general from 1963 to 1966 rather than Brooke's record in the senate. Droney criticized Brooke for files that had allegedly disappeared during his administration (an investigative panel could not determine if the files went missing under Brooke's watch or that of his successor Elliot Richardson) and for his handling of the Boston Strangler case.Nyhan David Unlikely rivals in Senate race The Boston Globe August 8, 1972 Brooke held a large lead throughout the campaign. He led Droney 72 percent to 18 percent in an October poll conducted by Becker Research, and 66 percent to 23 percent in a poll conducted by the same firm shortly before election day.Voters favor Brooke over Droney by 4-1 margin in Senate race The Boston Globe October 17, 1972Droney behind by 3-1 margin Brooke leads 66-23% in poll The Boston Globe November 5, 1972 Results 1972 U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts Republican Party (US) Edward Brooke (incumbent) 1,505,932 63.53% 2.85 Democratic Party (US) John J. Droney 823,278 34.73% 4.01 Socialist Workers Party (United States) Donald Gurewitz 41,369 1.75% 1.41 2,370,579 100.00% See also 1972 United States Senate elections External links and references Race details at ourcampaigns.com 1972 United States Senate Massachusetts