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County results Huddleston: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Nunn: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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The1972 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican SenatorJohn Sherman Cooper retired, and Democratic State SenatorWalter Dee Huddleston narrowly won the open seat over former Republican GovernorLouie Nunn.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Walter Dee Huddleston | 106,144 | 71.60% | |
| Democratic | Sandy Hockensmith | 14,786 | 9.97% | |
| Democratic | James E. Wallace | 11,290 | 7.62% | |
| Democratic | Willis V. Johnson | 8,727 | 5.89% | |
| Democratic | Charles Van Winkle | 7,306 | 4.93% | |
| Total votes | 148,253 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Louie Nunn | 57,348 | 69.71% | |
| Republican | Robert E. Gable | 18,107 | 22.01% | |
| Republican | W. Howard Clay | 2,786 | 3.39% | |
| Republican | George Wooton | 2,716 | 3.30% | |
| Republican | Thurman Jerome Hamlin | 1,312 | 1.60% | |
| Total votes | 82,269 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Walter Dee Huddleston | 528,550 | 50.93% | |
| Republican | Louie Nunn | 494,337 | 47.63% | |
| American | Helen Breeden | 8,707 | 0.84% | |
| People's | Walter Bartley | 6,267 | 0.60% | |
| Total votes | 1,037,861 | 100.00% | ||
1972 United States Senate elections