1976 United States Senate election in Michigan

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1976 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1970 November 2, 1976 1982 →
  Riegle2.jpg Marvin Esch.png
Nominee Don Riegle Marvin Esch
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,831,031 1,635,087
Percentage 52.5% 46.9%

1976 United States Senate election in Michigan results map by county.svg
County results
Riegle:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Esch:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election

Philip Hart
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Don Riegle
Democratic

The 1976 United States Senate election in Michigan took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Philip Hart decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican turned Democrat Representative Donald Riegle won the open seat.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

  • Richard H. Austin, Michigan Secretary of State
  • James L. Elsman
  • James G. O'Hara, U.S. Representative from Utica
  • Donald Riegle, U.S. Representative from Flint

Results[]

1976 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donald Riegle 325,705 44.31%
Democratic Richard H. Austin 208,310 28.34%
Democratic James G. O'Hara 170,473 23.19%
Democratic James L. Elsman 30,655 4.17%
Total votes 735,143 100.00%

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

  • Deane Baker
  • Thomas E. Brennan, former Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
  • Marvin L. Esch, U.S. Representative from Ann Arbor
  • Robert J. Huber, U.S. Representative from Troy and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1970

Results[]

1976 Republican U.S. Senate primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Marvin L. Esch 209,250 44.23%
Republican Thomas E. Brennan 129,917 27.46%
Republican Robert J. Huber 82,092 17.35%
Republican Deane Baker 51,852 10.96%
Total votes 473,111 100.00%

General election[]

Results[]

General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Don Riegle 1,831,031 52.46% Decrease14.38
Republican Marvin Esch 1,635,087 46.85% Increase13.96
Libertarian Bette Jane Erwin 8,842 0.25% N/A
Human Rights Theodore G. Albert 7,281 0.21% N/A
Socialist Workers Paula L. Reimers 3,399 0.10% Decrease0.05
Socialist Labor Frank Girard 2,554 0.07% Decrease0.06
U.S. Labor Peter A. Signorelli 2,218 0.06% N/A
Total votes 3,490,412 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

Aftermath[]

Incumbent Senator Hart died of melanoma on December 26, and Riegle was appointed to finish the remaining days of his final term in office, giving him seniority over his freshman colleagues.

See also[]

  • 1976 United States Senate elections

References[]

  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - MI US Senate - D Primary Race - Aug 03, 1976".
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - MI US Senate - R Primary Race - Aug 03, 1976".
  3. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf


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