1972 Kansas gubernatorial election

The 1972 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Democrat Robert Docking defeated Republican nominee Morris Kay with 62.0% of the vote.

1972 Kansas gubernatorial election

← 1970 November 7, 1972 1974 →

Nominee Robert Docking Morris Kay Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 571,256 341,440 Percentage 62.0% 37.1%

County results Docking:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Kay:      50–60%

Governor before election Robert Docking Democratic Elected Governor Robert Docking Democratic

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 1, 1972.^[1]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Morris Kay, State Representative
• John Anderson Jr., former Governor
• Ray E. Frisbie, president of the Kansas Farm Bureau^[2]
• Reynolds Shultz, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Morris Kay	138,815	46.59
	Republican	John Anderson Jr.	88,088	29.57
	Republican	Ray E. Frisbie	46,125	15.48
	Republican	Reynolds Shultz	24,911	8.36
Total votes			297,939	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Robert Docking, Democratic
• Morris Kay, Republican

Other candidates

• Rolland Ernest Fisher, Prohibition

Results

1972 Kansas gubernatorial election^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert Docking (incumbent)	571,256	61.99%
	Republican	Morris Kay	341,440	37.05%
	Prohibition	Rolland Ernest Fisher	8,856	0.96%
Majority			229,818
Turnout			921,550
	Democratic hold		Swing