1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Republican nominee James Holshouser defeated Democratic nominee Skipper Bowles with 51% of the vote. Holshouser thus became the first Republican elected governor of the state since 1896. This election was also the first time in a century (since the 1872 election) that a Republican candidate won an outright majority of the vote. == Primary elections == Primary elections were held on May 6, 1972. === Democratic primary === ==== Candidates ==== Skipper Bowles, state senator Zeb V.K. Dickson Reginald A. Hawkins, civil rights activist and dentist Wilbur Hobby, labor union leader C. Eugene Leggett Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr., incumbent lieutenant governor 22.8% of the voting-age population participated in the Democratic primary. ==== Results ==== === Republican primary === ==== Candidates ==== Thomas E. Chappell Jim Gardner, former U.S. representative Leroy Gibson James Holshouser, state representative 4.9% of the voting-age population participated in the Republican primary. ==== Results ==== == General election == === Candidates === Major party candidates Skipper Bowles, Democratic James Holshouser, Republican Other candidates Arlis F. Pettyjohn, American === Results === == References == == Works cited == Steed, Robert; Moreland, Laurence; Baker, Tod, eds. (1980). Party Politics in the South. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0030565863.