1972 United States Senate election in Michigan

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. As of 2020, this is the last time the Republicans won the Class 2 Senate seat in Michigan.

1972 United States Senate election in Michigan

November 7, 1972

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:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Robert P. Griffin Republican Elected U.S. Senator Robert P. Griffin Republican

Candidates

Democratic

• Frank J. Kelley, Michigan Attorney General

Republican

• Robert P. Griffin, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1966

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. Dillinge	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

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.