Russell W. Peterson Republican Sherman W. Tribbitt Democratic The 1972 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972.

Democratic nominee Sherman W. Tribbitt defeated incumbent Republican Governor Russell W. Peterson with 51.27% of the vote.

This was the last time a Democrat won statewide office in Delaware until 1992, when Tom Carper (future U.S.

Senator) won the gubernatorial election over Republican B. Gary Scott.

From 1972 to 1992 Delaware used a system of “challenge” primaries, in which a candidate for statewide office who received at least 35 percent of the convention vote could challenge the endorsed candidate in a primary.