1994 United States Senate election in Michigan
← 1988 November 8, 1994 2000 →
 
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

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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

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. ^ a b "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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