1994 United States Senate election in Michigan

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1994 United States Senate election in Michigan
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←  1988 November 8, 1994 2000  →
  Sen. Spencer Abraham.jpg Bob Carr-103rd Congress (1993).jpeg
Nominee Spencer Abraham Bob Carr
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,578,7701,300,960
Percentage51.88%42.75%
1994 United States Senate election in Michigan results map by county.svg
County results
Abraham:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Carr:     40–50%     50–60%
U.S. senator before election

Don Riegle
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Spencer Abraham
Republican

The 1994 United States Senate election in Michigan was held November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic Senator Don Riegle decided not run for re-election. Spencer Abraham won the open seat, becoming the first and so far only Republican to win a U.S. Senate race in Michigan since Robert P. Griffin in 1972 and the first to win the state's Class I seat since Charles E. Potter in 1952. As of 2024, this is the last time that a man won the Class 1 Senate seat in Michigan.

Contents

Background

Riegle, a three term incumbent, was considered one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats in the 1994 mid-term elections, due to the unpopularity of President Bill Clinton [1] and his being involved as a member of the Keating Five, a group of five United States Senators who were accused of corruption. After months of speculation, Riegle announced he would not seek a 4th term in a speech on the Senate floor. [2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declined

Results

1994 Democratic U.S. Senate primary [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bob Carr 157,585 24.02%
Democratic Lana Pollack151,32323.06%
Democratic Joel Ferguson130,12519.83%
Democratic William Brodhead 94,60114.42%
Democratic John F. Kelly 71,96410.97%
Democratic Carl Marlinga 50,3297.67%
Write-in 2710.04%
Total votes656,198 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

The Republican primary campaign amicably divided the Romney family. Though Ronna Romney had divorced Scott Romney two years prior, Scott's brother Mitt Romney (also a candidate for the United States Senate in Massachusetts) returned to Michigan to campaign for her. [4] [5] Scott and Mitt's father George W. Romney, the former Governor of Michigan, endorsed Abraham, having promised Abraham the endorsement prior to her candidacy. [4] [6] Her daughter, the future Chairman of the Republican National Committee Ronna Romney McDaniel, volunteered as a driver during her campaign. [7]

Results

1994 Republican U.S. Senate primary [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Spencer Abraham 292,399 51.95%
Republican Ronna Romney 270,30448.02%
Write-in 2020.04%
Total votes562,905 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1994 United States Senate election in Michigan [9] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Spencer Abraham 1,578,770 51.88%
Democratic Bob Carr 1,300,96042.75%
Libertarian Jon Coon128,3934.22%
Workers World William Roundtree20,0100.66%
Natural Law Chris Wege14,7460.48%
Write-in 5060.02%
Total votes3,043,385 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Richard L. Berke (July 27, 1993). "Senate Democrats See Re-election Perils in '94". New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  2. ↑ William J. Eaton (September 29, 1993). "Riegle Is 3rd Keating Case Senator to Not Seek Office". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  3. ↑ "MI US Senate- D Primary". OurCampaigns.com. January 2, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Mitt Romney stuck in family political drama on this date 18 years ago". Boston.com. July 26, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Romney to stump for former in-law; His father backs rival Mich. hopeful". July 26, 1994. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ↑ "A complicated Romney family". POLITICO. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Latest Romney in politics is not a candidate". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  8. ↑ "MI US Senate- R Primary". OurCampaigns.com. January 2, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ Parker, Randy (May 27, 2003). "Our Campaigns: MI U.S. Senate". Our Campaigns.
  10. ↑ Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. "STATISTICS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 8, 1994" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. p. 17,19. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
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