1994 United States Senate election in Michigan

1994 United States Senate election in Michigan
	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.

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

William Brodhead, former U.S. Representative from Detroit
Bob Carr, U.S. Representative from East Lansing
Joel Ferguson, businessman and member of the Democratic National Committee
John F. Kelly, State Senator from Grosse Pointe Woods
Carl Marlinga, Macomb County Prosecuting Attorney
Lana Pollack, State Senator from Ann Arbor

Declined

Donald W. Riegle, incumbent Senator since 1977

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

Spencer Abraham, former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
Ronna Romney, conservative radio talk show host

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

References

^ Richard L. Berke (July 27, 1993). "Senate Democrats See Re-election Perils in '94". New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
^ William J. Eaton (September 29, 1993). "Riegle Is 3rd Keating Case Senator to Not Seek Office". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
^ "MI US Senate- D Primary". OurCampaigns.com. January 2, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Mitt Romney stuck in family political drama on this date 18 years ago". Boston.com. July 26, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ "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)
^ "A complicated Romney family". POLITICO. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ "Latest Romney in politics is not a candidate". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ "MI US Senate- R Primary". OurCampaigns.com. January 2, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ Parker, Randy (May 27, 2003). "Our Campaigns: MI U.S. Senate". Our Campaigns.
^ 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.

[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.

[romneys-4] "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.

[Clerk-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.

[1]

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Background

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declined

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Results

General election

Candidates

Results

See also

References