1972 United States Senate election in Michigan

Last updated

1972 United States Senate election in Michigan
Flag of Michigan.svg
  1966 November 7, 1972 1978  
  Robert Paul Griffin.jpg Frank J. Kelley 1975.png
Nominee Robert P. Griffin Frank J. Kelley
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,781,0651,577,178
Percentage52.28%46.29%

1972 United States Senate election in Michigan results map by county.svg
County results
Griffin:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%
Kelley:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Robert P. Griffin
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Robert P. Griffin
Republican

The 1972 United States Senate election in Michigan was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator and Senate Minority Whip Robert P. Griffin ran for re-election to a second term. Griffin won reelection, defeating the Democratic nominee and Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley by 6%. Despite President Richard Nixon’s landslide victory in Michigan and the rest of the country, Griffin’s margin of victory decreased from the previous election.

Contents

As of 2025, this was the last time that the Republicans have won Michigan’s Class 2 Senate seat, as well as the last time that a Republican won re-election to either Senate seat in Michigan. Since this election, Republicans have only won one more Michigan U.S. race, in 1994.

General election

Candidates

Results

General election results [1] [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Robert P. Griffin (incumbent) 1,781,065 52.28% Decrease2.svg3.62
Democratic Frank J. Kelley 1,577,17846.29%Increase2.svg2.44
American Independent Patrick V. Dillinger23,1210.68%N/A
Human Rights Barbara Halpert19,1180.56%N/A
Socialist Workers Linda Norquist2,3890.07%N/A
Socialist Labor James Sim2,1270.06%Decrease2.svg0.19
Communist Thomas D. Dennis Jr.1,9080.06%N/A
Total votes3,406,906 100.00%

See also

References

  1. Parker, Randy; crickets chirp (July 7, 2003). "Our Campaigns: MI U.S. Senate". Our Campaigns.
  2. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1973). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.