1972 United States Senate election in Michigan

1972 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1966 November 7, 1972 1978 →

Nominee Robert P. Griffin Frank J. Kelley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,781,065 1,577,178 Percentage 52.28% 46.29%

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

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v t e

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, won reelection defeating the Democratic candidate, 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.

As of 2023^[update], this was the last time that the Republicans have won Michigan’s Class 2 Senate seat, as well as the last time that a member of the party has been re-elected to either of the state’s Senate seats.

General election

Candidates

• Thomas D. Dennis Jr. (Communist)
• Patrick V. Dillinger (American Independent)
• Robert P. Griffin, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1967 (Republican)
• Barbara Halpert (Human Rights)
• Frank J. Kelley, Michigan Attorney General (Democratic)
• Linda Norquist (Socialist Workers)
• James Sim (Socialist Labor)

Results

General election results^[1][2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Robert P. Griffin (incumbent)	1,781,065	52.28%	3.62
	Democratic	Frank J. Kelley	1,577,178	46.29%	2.44
	American Independent	Patrick V. Dillinger	23,121	0.68%	N/A
	Human Rights	Barbara Halpert	19,118	0.56%	N/A
	Socialist Workers	Linda Norquist	2,389	0.07%	N/A
	Socialist Labor	James Sim	2,127	0.06%	0.19
	Communist	Thomas D. Dennis Jr.	1,908	0.06%	N/A
Total votes			3,406,906	100.00%

See also

• 1972 United States Senate elections

References