In 1972, Bodron ran as the Democratic nominee for the 4th district congressional seat. In the general election he faced Republican Thad Cochran and black independent Eddie McBride. McBride had been recruited by Mayor of Fayette Charles Evers, who was bitter that Bodron had blocked an initiative to build a nursing home in his town. With McBridge peeling away black votes and Cochran benefitting from a strong coattail effect from Richard Nixon's presidential candidacy, Cochran won the race with a plurality of 48 percent of the vote.
