ðˌoʊ dˈɛməkɹˌæts wɜː dʒˈɛnɚɹəli ðə mˈoːɹ səksˈɛsfəl pˈɑːɹɾi ɪnðə θˈɜːd dˈɪstɹɪkt dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðɪs pˈiəɹɪəd, ɹᵻpˈʌblɪkənz ɛkspˈiəɹɪənst ɐ stˈeɪtwaɪd wˈeɪv ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈuː, ænd kɹˈʌtʃfiːld ˈɛdʒd kˈiː, tˈɛn,zˈiəɹoʊ fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn vˈoʊts tʊ ˈeɪt,nˈaɪnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti, ɪnðə dʒˈɛnɚɹəl ᵻlˈɛkʃən.
Though Democrats were generally the more successful party in the 3rd district during this period, Republicans experienced a statewide wave in 1872, and Crutchfield edged Key, 10,041 votes to 8,960, in the general election.