1976 United States Senate election in Michigan
November 2, 1976
 
Nominee Don Riegle Marvin Esch
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,831,031 1,635,087
Percentage 52.5% 46.9%
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 because he had terminal cancer. Republican turned Democrat Representative Donald Riegle won the open seat, keeping it in Democrats' hands.

Democratic primary

Candidates

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

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

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. ↑ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 21.


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