United States Senate elections, 1972

Infobox Election
election_name = United States Senate elections, 1972
country = United States
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election = United States Senate elections, 1970
previous_year = 1970
next_election = United States Senate elections, 1974
next_year = 1974
seats_for_election = 34 seats in the United States Senate
election_date = November 7, 1972

leader1 = Mike Mansfield
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = Montana
last_election1 = 54 seats
seats1 = 56
seat_change1 = +2
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Hugh Scott
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = Pennsylvania
last_election2 = 44 seats
seats2 = 42
seat_change2 = -2
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

leader1 = Mike Mansfield
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = Montana
last_election1 = 54 seats
seats1 = 56
seat_change1 = +2
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Hugh Scott
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = Pennsylvania
last_election2 = 44 seats
seats2 = 42
seat_change2 = -2
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

---

map_size = 300px
map_caption = legend|#800|Republican holds

title = Majority Leader
before_election = Mike Mansfield
before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
after_election = Mike Mansfield
after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

The 1972 United States Senate election was an election for the United States Senate coinciding with the landslide re-election of Richard Nixon. However, Nixon's victory did not help his allies in the Senate, and the Democrats increased their majority by two seats. The result was a Democratic Senate, with 56 seats, to the Republicans' 42, with one independent and one Conservative senator.

Democratic pickups included open seats in Kentucky and South Dakota, and defeats of Senators Gordon L. Allott of Colorado, J. Caleb Boggs of Delaware, Jack Miller of Iowa, and Margaret Chase Smith of Maine. Republican pickups included open seats in New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, and the defeat of incumbent William B. Spong, Jr. of Virginia.

In 1974, William B. Saxbe of Ohio resigned to become Attorney General, and Democrat Howard Metzenbaum was appointed to replace him. This is not included in the party balances.

Notable Freshman include future two time presidential candidate and 2008 Democratic Party vice presidential nominee Joe Biden and conservative icon Jesse Helms.

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