1982Final results
1982 election for Michigan Senate District 17
Michigan State Senate · Michigan
Richard Fessler (R) won with 63.1% of the vote, defeating E. Leonard Howarth (D) by 31.5 points.
Richard FesslerRepublican · winner
63.1%54,247
E. Leonard HowarthDemocrat
31.6%27,156
Hugh J. BrothertonOther party
4.3%3,678
James R. RaymanLibertarian
1.0%881
85,965 votes
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1982
Races before and after
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The candidates
Richard Fessler (R)E. Leonard Howarth (D)
Also on the ballot: Hugh J. Brotherton (Other party), 4.3%; James R. Rayman (Libertarian), 1.0%