P. B. S. Pinchback Republican William Pitt Kellogg Republican The 1872 Louisiana gubernatorial election was the second election to take place under the Louisiana Constitution of 1868.

The results of this election were highly contentious and resulted in racial violence across the state, including the Colfax massacre.

U. S. President Ulysses S. Grant had to step in and formally recognize Kellogg as Governor to resolve the violence.

Kellogg's Democratic opponent John McEnery finally conceded the election in September 1874 after briefly overthrowing Kellogg's government.

This was Last time a Republican won the governorship in Louisiana until 1979 Popular Vote