1872 North Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1872 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on August 1, 1872. Incumbent Republican Tod Robinson Caldwell, who defeated Thomas Settle and Oliver H. Dockery for the Republican nomination, defeated Democratic nominee Augustus Summerfield Merrimon, who defeated James Madison Leach and Daniel Moreau Barringer for the Democratic nomination, with 50.49% of the vote.

1872 North Carolina gubernatorial election

← 1868 August 1, 1872 1876 →

Nominee Tod Robinson Caldwell Augustus Summerfield Merrimon Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 98,630 96,731 Percentage 50.49% 49.51%

County results Caldwell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Merrimon:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100% No Data/Vote:

Governor before election Tod Robinson Caldwell Republican Elected Governor Tod Robinson Caldwell Republican

This was the last time a Republican candidate won an outright majority of the vote until the 1972 gubernatorial election.

General election

Candidates

• Tod Robinson Caldwell, Republican
• Augustus Summerfield Merrimon, Democratic

Results

1872 North Carolina gubernatorial election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Tod Robinson Caldwell (incumbent)	98,630	50.49%
	Democratic	Augustus Summerfield Merrimon	96,731	49.51%
Majority			1,899
Turnout
	Republican hold		Swing