1972 United States Senate election in Louisiana

Candidates Declared • Frank Tunney Allen, resident of West Monroe • J. Bennett Johnston, former state representative and candidate for Governor in 1972 Deceased • Allen Ellender, incumbent Senator Senator Ellender died July 27, a few weeks before the August 19 primary, but his name remained on the ballot. Results == Republican primary ==

Candidates • Ben Toledano, attorney and nominee for Mayor of New Orleans in 1970 Withdrew • Charles M. McLean Results Following Ellender's death, the Republican Party replaced presumptive nominee Charles McLean with attorney and New Orleans mayoral candidate Ben Toledano. Toledano was unopposed for the Republican nomination. == Independents and third parties ==

American Independent • Hall Lyons, Republican nominee for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district in 1966 Independent • John J. McKeithen, former Governor of Louisiana Following Ellender's death, former governor John McKeithen joined the race as an independent candidate. He initially hoped to enter the race as a Democrat but was barred by party leaders from entering the primary. He campaigned against the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, George McGovern. ==General election==

Campaign The sudden death of Ellender and the independent candidacy of former governor McKeithen made this a rare competitive general election in Louisiana. The Republican Party had not seriously contested one of Louisiana's Senate seats since Reconstruction, and Republican leaders believed McKeithen's presence in the race could split the Democratic vote. McKeithen ran a populist, agrarian campaign against Johnston, citing his own investment in the state's agriculture industry and attempting to portray Johnston as an urban elitist, similar to McKeithen's campaign against former New Orleans Mayor deLesseps Story Morrison in the 1963-64 governor's race. All three major candidates supported President Nixon's handling of the Vietnam War. Results == See also ==