1972 United States Senate election in Michigan

1972 United States Senate election in Michigan
	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, 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 2024, 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%

References

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

[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.

[1]

[2]

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1972 United States Senate election in Michigan

General election

Candidates

Results

See also

References