1976 United States Senate election in Michigan

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 because he had terminal cancer. Republican turned Democrat Representative Donald Riegle won the open seat, keeping it in Democrats' hands.

1976 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1970 November 2, 1976 1982 →

Nominee Don Riegle Marvin Esch Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,831,031 1,635,087 Percentage 52.46% 46.85%

County results Riegle:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Esch:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Philip Hart Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Don Riegle Democratic

• Richard H. Austin, Michigan Secretary of State
• James L. Elsman
• James G. O'Hara, U.S. Representative from Utica
• Donald Riegle, U.S. Representative from Flint

• Deane Baker
• Thomas E. Brennan, former Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
• Marvin L. Esch, U.S. Representative from Ann Arbor
• Robert J. Huber, former U.S. Representative from Troy and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1970

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.

• 1976 United States Senate elections