1994 United States Senate election in Michigan
November 8, 1994
 
Nominee Spencer Abraham Bob Carr
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,578,770 1,300,960
Percentage 51.9% 42.7%
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 U.S. Senator Don Riegle decided to retire and not run for re-election. Republican Spencer Abraham won the open seat, becoming the first 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 was the only time since 1972 that Republicans won a U.S. Senate election in Michigan.

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]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Carr 157,585 24.02%
Democratic Lana Pollack 151,323 23.06%
Democratic Joel Ferguson 130,125 19.83%
Democratic William Brodhead 94,601 14.42%
Democratic John F. Kelly 71,964 10.97%
Democratic Carl Marlinga 50,329 7.67%
Write-in 271 0.04%
Total votes 656,198 100.00%

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]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Spencer Abraham 292,399 51.95%
Republican Ronna Romney 270,304 48.02%
Write-in 202 0.04%
Total votes 562,905 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Spencer Abraham, former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party (Republican)
  • Bob Carr, U.S. Representative from East Lansing (Democratic)
  • Jon Coon (Libertarian)
  • William Roundtree (Workers' World)
  • Chris Wege (Natural Law)

Results

1994 United States Senate election in Michigan[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Spencer Abraham 1,578,770 51.88%
Democratic Bob Carr 1,300,960 42.75%
Libertarian Jon Coon 128,393 4.22%
Workers World William Roundtree 20,010 0.66%
Natural Law Chris Wege 14,746 0.48%
Write-in 506 0.02%
Total votes 3,043,385 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

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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