was originally appointed in 1964 (to fill the vacancy created when Hubert Humphrey was elected to the office of Vice President) and elected to a full term in 1966, defeated Republican challenger Phil Hansen. Mississippi The incumbent Democrat James Eastland was re-elected. Montana Incumbent Democrat Lee Metcalf, who was first elected to the Senate in 1960 and was re-elected in 1966, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary, he moved on to the general election, where he faced Hank Hibbard, a State senator and the Republican nominee. Following a close campaign, Metcalf managed to narrowly win re-election to his third term in the Senate over Hibbard. Nebraska Incumbent Republican Carl Curtis won re-election over former congressman Terry Carpenter. New Hampshire The incumbent Democratic Senator Thomas J. McIntyre was re-elected. New Jersey The incumbent Republican Clifford P. Case was re-elected. New Mexico The incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Clinton Presba Anderson retired, and was succeeded by Republican Pete Domenici. North Carolina The incumbent Democratic senator B. Everett Jordan was defeated in the primary by Nick Galifianakis. Galifianakis went on to lose the election to Jesse Helms, making Helms the first Republican Senator from the state in the 20th century. Oklahoma The incumbent Democratic Senator Fred R. Harris retired, and was succeeded by Republican Dewey F. Bartlett. Oregon The incumbent Republican Mark Hatfield was re-elected. Rhode Island The incumbent Democratic Senator Claiborne Pell was re-elected. South Carolina The incumbent Republican Strom Thurmond was re-elected. South Dakota The incumbent Republican Karl E. Mundt retired, and was succeeded by James Abourezk. Tennessee One-term Republican Howard Baker was re-elected. He defeated Democrat Ray Blanton. Texas Incumbent Republican John Tower was re-elected. Vermont (special) The special election was held January 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican Robert Stafford, appointed in September 1971 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Winston L. Prouty, successfully ran for re-election to the remainder of Prouty's term. Stafford defeated Democratic candidate Randolph T. Major. Bernie Sanders, the Liberty Union candidate, was later elected to this seat in 2006, serving as an Independent. Virginia The incumbent Democratic senator William B. Spong Jr. was defeated by Republican William L. Scott, making Scott the first Republican Senator from the state since John F. Lewis in 1870. West Virginia The incumbent Democratic Senator Jennings Randolph was re-elected. Wyoming Incumbent Republican Clifford Hansen was re-elected. See also 1972 United States elections 1972 United States gubernatorial elections