# 1994 United States Senate election in Michigan

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
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vte :
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 was the last time that a Republican was elected to a U.S. 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 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.

## 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 :
| Party | 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 | Write-in | 271 | 0.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 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. Scott and Mitt's father George W. Romney, the former Governor of Michigan, endorsed Abraham, having promised Abraham the endorsement prior to her candidacy. Her daughter, the future Chairman of the Republican National Committee Ronna Romney McDaniel, volunteered as a driver during her campaign.

### Results

1994 Republican U.S. Senate primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Spencer Abraham | 292,399 | 51.95% |
| | Republican | Ronna Romney | 270,304 | 48.02% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 202 | 0.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 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 :
| Party | 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 | Write-in | 506 | 0.02% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,043,385 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |