1972 Washington gubernatorial election

The 1972 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Governor of Washington Daniel J. Evans, who was first elected eight years earlier, and then re-elected in 1968, was eligible for re-election, as Washington does not have gubernatorial term limits.

A total of nine candidates filed for the primary on September 19. In the general election, incumbent Republican Governor Evans was challenged by former governor Albert Rosellini, who ran as a Democrat, and by businessman Vick Gould, who ran with the Taxpayers' Party, a third party of Gould's own creation. Evans and Rosellini received 24.66% and 30.27% of the votes in the primary, respectively. On election day, Evans defeated Rosellini by a comfortable margin of 50.78%-42.82% in a rematch of the 1964 contest.

Republican Party

 * Daniel J. Evans, incumbent Governor
 * L. R. Kemore, candidate for governor in 1948
 * Earl Monaghan
 * John "Hugo Frye" Patric, perennial candidate
 * Perry Woodall, State Senator

Democratic Party

 * Martin Durkan Sr., State Senator
 * Jim McDermott, psychiatrist and State Representative
 * Albert Rosellini, former governor
 * Rudolfo Valdez

Candidates

 * Albert Rosellini (D), former governor
 * Daniel J. Evans (R), incumbent Governor