The 1976 United States Senate election in Michigan took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator
Philip Hart decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican turned Democrat Representative
Donald Riegle won the open seat.
Democratic primary
Candidates
*
Richard H. Austin
Richard Henry Austin (May 6, 1913 – April 20, 2001) was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the Michigan secretary of state from 1971 to 1995, the first African American elected to the position, the first to win election to any sta ...
, Michigan Secretary of State
*James L. Elsman
*
James G. O'Hara
James Grant O'Hara (November 8, 1925 – March 13, 1989) was a soldier and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan, serving as U.S. Representative from 1959 to 1977.
Early life
O'Hara was born in Washington, D.C. He moved with his parents to ...
, U.S. Representative from
Utica
*
Donald Riegle, U.S. Representative from
Flint
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
*Deane Baker
*
Thomas E. Brennan
Thomas E. Brennan (May 27, 1929 – September 29, 2018) was an American attorney, jurist, and academic administrator who was the founder of Thomas M. Cooley Law School and the 81st Justice and chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
Earl ...
, former Justice of the
Michigan Supreme Court
*
Marvin L. Esch
Marvin Leonel Esch (August 4, 1927 – June 19, 2010) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Michigan and a member of the Republican Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1967 to 1977 before unsuccessfully seekin ...
, U.S. Representative from
Ann Arbor
Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), ...
*
Robert J. Huber
Robert James Huber (August 29, 1922 - April 23, 2001) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.
Huber was born in Detroit, Michigan, where he attended the public schools. He attended the University of Detroit 1935–1937, and graduated f ...
, U.S. Representative from
Troy and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1970
Results
General election
Results
Aftermath
Incumbent Senator Hart died of melanoma on December 26, and Riegle was appointed to finish the remaining days of his final term in office, giving him seniority over his freshman colleagues.
See also
*
1976 United States Senate elections
The 1976 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate that coincided with Democrat Jimmy Carter's presidential election and the United States Bicentennial celebration. Although almost half of the seats decided in t ...
References
Michigan
1976
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...
1976 Michigan elections
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