1974 Michigan gubernatorial election

The 1974 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974. William Milliken was elected to his second term as Governor of Michigan in a rematch with Sander Levin.^[1] This was the last time until 1990 that the state elected a governor of the same party as the sitting president.

1974 Michigan gubernatorial election

← 1970 November 5, 1974 (1974-11-05) 1978 →

Nominee William Milliken Sander Levin Party Republican Democratic Running mate James Damman Paul Brown Popular vote 1,356,865 1,242,247 Percentage 51.1% 46.8%

County results Milliken:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Levin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election William G. Milliken Republican Governor William G. Milliken Republican

Primary elections

The primary elections occurred on August 6, 1974.^[2]

Democratic primary

Michigan gubernatorial Democratic primary, 1974^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sander M. Levin	445,273	61.29
	Democratic	James P. Cavanagh	199,361	27.44
	Democratic	James E. Wells	81,844	11.27
Total votes			726,478	100.00

Republican primary

Michigan gubernatorial Republican primary, 1974^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William Milliken (incumbent)	326,454	100.00
Total votes			326,454	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Eldon K. Andrews (Conservative)^[2]
  • Running mate: Al G. Terwilliger^[2]
• Hugh McDermand Davidson (American Independent)^[2]
  • Josephine A. Chapman^[2]
• Thomas Dennis (Communist)^[2]
  • Running mate: William Allan^[2]
• Zolton Ferency, Michigan State University law professor and 1966 Democratic nominee for governor (Human Rights)
  • Running mate: Regina McNulty^[2]
• James Horvath (Socialist Labor)^[2]
  • Running mate: Alfred W. Wegener^[2]
• Sander M. Levin, former state senator from Berkley and nominee for governor in 1970 (Democratic)
  • Running mate: Paul Brown^[2]
• William G. Milliken, incumbent governor (Republican)^[2]
  • Running mate: James Damman, incumbent lieutenant governor
• Robin Maisel (Socialist Workers)^[2]
  • Running mate: Ruth C. Getts^[2]
• Peter Signorelli (U.S. Labor)^[2]
  • Running mate: Ronald Wayne Evans^[2]

Other running mates

Results

Michigan gubernatorial election, 1974

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William G. Milliken (incumbent)	1,356,865	51.07
	Democratic	Sander M. Levin	1,242,247	46.75
	Human Rights	Zolton Ferency	28,675	1.08
	American Independent	Hugh McDermand Davidson	20,278	0.76
	Conservative	Eldon K. Andrews	4,117	0.15
	Socialist Workers	Robin Maisel	1,505	0.06
	Socialist Labor	James Horvath	1,296	0.06
	Communist	Thomas Dennis	1,119	0.04
	U.S. Labor	Peter Signorelli	898	0.03
Total votes			2,657,000	100.0
	Republican hold