Richard Nixon Republican Richard Nixon Republican The 1972 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November 7, 1972, as part of the 1972 United States presidential election.

Michigan was won by incumbent President Richard Nixon (R–California), with 56.20% of the popular vote, against George McGovern (D–South Dakota), with 41.81% of the popular vote—a victory margin of 14.4%.

Despite voting for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time since 1956, this result nonetheless made Michigan 8.8% more Democratic than the nation at large.

Nixon became the first Republican to win the White House without carrying Washtenaw since Benjamin Harrison in 1888.

As of the 2024 presidential election, this is the last time Wayne County was decided by a single-digit margin.