William H. James (Acting) Republican Robert Wilkinson Furnas Republican The 1872 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on October 8, 1872.

[a] Three-term incumbent Governor of Nebraska, David Butler was impeached and removed from office on June 2, 1871.

[3] Because Nebraska's Constitution at the time did not include the office of lieutenant governor, Butler was replaced by Nebraska Secretary of State William H. James as acting governor, filling out the remainder of Butler's term.

In 1872, James decided not to seek election to the governorship.

The election of 1872 thus featured Republican nominee Robert Wilkinson Furnas, a member of the University of Nebraska Board of regents since 1869, defeating Democratic nominee Henry C. Lett, a lawyer from Brownville, Nebraska.