1972 United States Senate election in Oregon

The 1972 United States Senate election in Oregon took place on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican Senator Mark Hatfield was re-elected to a second term in office, defeating Democrat Wayne Morse.

Primary elections
Primary elections were held on May 23, 1972.

Candidates

 * Kenneth A. Brown, farmer, unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for Oregon's 1st congressional district in 1952
 * Lynn Engdahl, professor at Pacific University
 * Mark Hatfield, incumbent Senator
 * John E. Smets, manufacturer

Candidates

 * Robert B. Duncan, former U.S. Congressman for Oregon's 4th congressional district, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1966
 * Wayne Morse, former U.S. Senator
 * Don S. Willner, state senator
 * Ralph Wiser, businessman

Results
[[File:1972 Oregon U.S. Senate election results map by county, Democratic primary.svg|thumb|Results by county (Democratic primary): Wayne Morse

{{legend|#7777ffff|50–55%}}{{legend|#9999ffff|45–50%}}{{legend|#afb0ffff|40–45%}}{{legend|#cdcdffff|35–40%}} Robert Duncan

{{legend|#5bc75bff|45–50%}}{{legend|#98f998ff|35–40%}} ]]

Campaign
According to the New York Times, the election provided "a choice between two well‐known personalities, not issues." Morse, who had supported Hatfield's 1966 campaign, was famously opposed to the Vietnam War, as was Hatfield. Thus, the election was ultimately between two well-known anti-war liberals. Hatfield won a fairly comfortable 54-46 victory, winning all but 3 counties.