1972 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election

The 1972 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972, in order to elect the lieutenant governor of Texas. Democratic nominee William P. Hobby Jr. defeated Raza Unida nominee and activist Alma Canales and Socialist Workers nominee Meyer Alewitz.^[1] This was the last lieutenant gubernatorial election before the Constitution of Texas was amended in 1972, which extended the state's federal officers terms from 2 to 4 years.

The Democratic primary election was held on May 6, 1972. As no candidate won a majority of votes, there was a run-off on June 3, 1972, between the two highest ranking candidates William P. Hobby Jr. and Wayne Connally. Hobby would eventually win the primary with 55.84% against Connally, and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.^[2]

On election day, November 7, 1972, Democratic nominee William P. Hobby Jr. won the election by a margin of 2,209,170 votes against his foremost opponent Raza Unida nominee Alma Canales, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of lieutenant governor. Hobby was sworn in as the 37th lieutenant governor of Texas on January 16, 1973.^[4]