Elections / 1976 · Senate · MI
The Democratic candidate won Michigan's Senate seat D+5.6.
Michigan, 1976. Candidate results and statewide totals below. The presidential race shared this ballot.
Michigan — 1976 Senate result
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1976–2024 Senate returns (party-classified by literal ballot party).
Democratic (D)
1,831,031
52.5%
Republican (R)
1,635,087
46.8%
All others
24,294
0.7%
Margin
D+5.6
Candidates
Statewide candidate totals — MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1976 Senate returns.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR. Donald W. Riegle | DDemocrat | 1,831,031 | 52.5% |
| Marvin L. Esch | RRepublican | 1,635,087 | 46.8% |
| Bette Jane Erwin | OLibertarian | 8,842 | 0.3% |
| Theodore G. Albert | OHuman Rights | 7,281 | 0.2% |
| Paula L. Reimers | OSocialist Workers | 3,399 | 0.1% |
| Frank Girard | OSocialist Labor | 2,554 | 0.1% |
| Peter A. Signorelli | OU.S. Labor | 2,218 | 0.1% |
Michigan's Senate margins
Every contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +5.6% |
| 1978 | +4.3% |
| 1982 | +16.9% |
| 1984 | +4.6% |
| 1988 | +21.9% |
| 1990 | +16.3% |
| 1994 | −9.1% |
| 1996 | +18.5% |
| 2000 | +1.6% |
| 2002 | +22.7% |
| 2006 | +15.7% |
| 2008 | +28.8% |
| 2012 | +20.8% |
| 2014 | +13.3% |
| 2018 | +6.5% |
| 2020 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | +0.3% |