Closest U.S. Senate elections in Michigan
The closest U.S. Senate election in Michigan history was in 2024, a margin of 0.34 points. Elissa Slotkin beat Mike Rogers, 2,712,686 to 2,693,680. Next closest are 1952 (1.6 points) and 2000 (1.6 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Michigan has held, special elections included, see the Michigan U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Michigan history?
The Michigan Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 2024, 0.34 points. Elissa Slotkin beat Mike Rogers, 2,712,686 to 2,693,680. The next closest were 1952 (1.6 points) and 2000 (1.6 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Michigan’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Michigan Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Michigan election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2024 | Elissa Slotkin D def. Mike Rogers R | 2,712,686 – 2,693,680 | 0.34 points |
| 2 | 1952 | Charles E. Potter R def. Blair Moody D | 1,428,352 – 1,383,416 | 1.6 points |
| 3 | 2000 | Debbie Stabenow D def. Spencer Abraham R | 2,061,952 – 1,994,693 | 1.6 points |
| 4 | 2020 | Gary C. Peters D def. John James R | 2,734,568 – 2,642,233 | 1.7 points |
| 5 | 1918 | Truman H. Newberry R def. Henry Ford D | 220,054 – 212,487 | 1.7 points |
| 6 | 1954 | Patrick McNamara V D def. Homer Ferguson R | 1,088,550 – 1,049,420 | 1.8 points |
| 7 | 1948 | Homer Ferguson R def. Frank E. Hook D | 1,045,156 – 1,000,329 | 2.2 points |
| 8 | 1922 | Woodbridge N. Ferris D def. Charles E. Townsend R | 294,932 – 281,843 | 2.2 points |
| 9 | 1942 | Homer Ferguson R def. Prentiss M. Brown D | 589,652 – 561,595 | 2.3 points |
| 10 | 1960 | Patrick McNamara V D def. Alvin M. Bentley R | 1,669,179 – 1,548,873 | 3.7 points |
| 11 | 1978 | Carl Levin D def. Robert P. Griffin R | 1,484,193 – 1,362,165 | 4.3 points |
| 12 | 1934 | Arthur H. Vandenburg R def. Frank A. Picard D | 626,017 – 573,574 | 4.3 points |
| 13 | 1984 | Carl Levin D def. Jack Lousma R | 1,915,831 – 1,745,302 | 4.6 points |
| 14 | 1976 | Donald W. Riegle Jr. D def. Marvin L. Esch R | 1,831,031 – 1,635,087 | 5.6 points |
| 15 | 1940 | Arthur H. Vandenberg R def. Frank Fitzgerald D | 1,053,104 – 939,740 | 5.7 points |
| 16 | 1972 | Robert P. Griffin R def. Frank J. Kelley D | 1,781,065 – 1,577,178 | 6.0 points |
| 17 | 2018 | Debbie Stabenow D def. John James R | 2,214,478 – 1,938,818 | 6.5 points |
| 18 | 1958 | Philip A. Hart D def. Charles E. Potter R | 1,216,966 – 1,046,963 | 7.5 points |
| 19 | 1994 | Spencer Abraham R def. Bobb Carr D | 1,578,770 – 1,300,960 | 9.1 points |
| 20 | 1936 | Prentiss M. Brown D def. Wilbur M. Brucker R | 910,937 – 714,602 | 11.5 points |
| 21 | 1966 | Robert P. Griffin R def. G. Mennen Williams D | 1,363,530 – 1,069,484 | 12.0 points |
| 22 | 2014 | Gary C. Peters D def. Terri Lynn Land R | 1,704,936 – 1,290,199 | 13.3 points |
| 23 | 2006 | Debbie Stabenow D def. Michael Bouchard R | 2,151,278 – 1,559,597 | 15.6 points |
| 24 | 1990 | Carl Levin D def. Bill Schuette R | 1,471,753 – 1,055,695 | 16.3 points |
| 25 | 1916 | Charles E. Townsend R def. Lawrence Price D | 364,657 – 257,954 | 16.5 points |