1972 United States Senate election 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:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Robert P. Griffin
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Robert P. Griffin
Republican

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. Griffin won reelection, defeating the Democratic nominee and Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley by 6%. Despite President Richard Nixon’s landslide victory in Michigan and the rest of the country, Griffin’s margin of victory decreased from the previous election.

As of 2025, this was the last time that the Republicans have won Michigan’s Class 2 Senate seat, as well as the last time that a Republican won re-election to either Senate seat in Michigan. Since this election, Republicans have only won one more Michigan U.S. race, in 1994.