State Senate
In 1964, he was elected to the Michigan State Senate.
Following the death of U.S. Senator Patrick V. McNamara in April 1966, Vander Jagt, along with fellow Republicans Robert P. Griffin and Leroy Augenstein, was a leading contender for appointment to the vacant U.S. Senate seat. Michigan Governor George Romney set guidelines for determining a consensus candidate, and when it became clear that none would meet the 65% support level that Romney demanded, Vander Jagt withdrew and threw his support behind Griffin, who was appointed to the Senate in May. In turn, Vander Jagt was elected in November simultaneously to fill the remainder of Griffin's term in the U.S. House and to a full term.
He was reelected 12 times, never facing truly serious opposition in a district widely considered to be the most Republican district in Michigan.
Read more about this topic: Guy Vander Jagt
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