An election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect all 38 members of the Michigan Senate for the 78th Michigan Legislature. In the election, the Democrats won a 24–14 majority from what had previously been a Republican controlled chamber.
History The 1970 general election resulted in an even 19–19 split of Republicans and Democrats in the state Senate. While the Republicans did not have a majority in the chamber, they were able to control it, due to the Republican Lt. Governor James H. Brickley's tie-breaking vote. The death of Republican Anthony Stamm in April 1974 temporarily created a slight Democratic majority, but the death of Democrat Michael J. O'Brien in June returned the chamber to Republican control. O'Brien's vacancy was not filled before the 1974 general election, resulting in a 19–18 Republican majority going into the general.
The 1974 state primary was held on August 6. Three Democratic incumbents were unseated. Garland Lane, dean of the state Senate, was unseated by Dale Kildee. James Gray was unseated by Joseph Snyder. This was the first state Senate election following redistricting, which put two Democratic incumbents, John C. Hertel and Stanley F. Rozycki, into the same district. Hertel defeated Rozycki.
The general election was held on November 5. Five incumbent Republicans were unseated, resulting in a 24–14 Democratic majority in the chamber. Majority Leader Milton Zaagman, defeated by Democrat John Otterbacher, was one of the Republicans unseated. The others were Oscar E. Bouwsma, L. Harvey Lodge, Philip O. Pittenger, and Gordon Rockwell. They were defeated by Democrats Tony A. Derezinski, Kerry Kenneth Kammer, Earl E. Nelson, and Gary G. Corbin, respectively. After the election, William B. Fitzgerald Jr. was elected majority leader, succeeding Democratic leader George S. Fitzgerald. The Republicans chose Bob Davis to serve as minority leader.
The state Senate was sworn in on January 8, 1975.
Results The following are the official results as printed in the 1975–1976 Michigan Manual.
Statewide Party Candi-dates Votes Seats No. % No. +/– % Democratic Party 38 1,411,763 58.34% 24 6 63.15% Republican Party 36 990,154 40.92% 14 5 36.84% American Independent Party 10 8,994 0.37% 0 0.00% Human Rights Party 5 6,402 0.26% 0 0.00% U.S. Labor Party 10 1,568 0.06% 0 0.00% Socialist Workers Party 1 328 0.01% 0 0.00% Conservative Party 1 219 0.00% 0 0.00% Write-ins 50 0.00% 0 0.00%Total 101 2,419,478 100.00% 38 100.00%
By district
Special election There was a special election held alongside the general election on November 5, 1974. Democrat Michael J. O'Brien died on June 6, 1974. On July 29, Governor William Milliken called for a special election to fill the vacancy. The special primary was to be held on September 10, and the special general to be held on November 5. No special primary election was held.
O'Brien's son, Michael J. O'Brien Jr., won the special election to serve the partial term. He also won a full term as state senator. He was sworn in on November 19.
The following are the official results as printed in the 1975–1976 Michigan Manual.
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