Robert VanderLaan

Robert VanderLaan
5th Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate
In office
1971–1974
Preceded byEmil Lockwood
Succeeded byMilton Zaagman
Member of the Michigan Senate
In office
January 1, 1963 – December 31, 1982
Preceded byCharles R. Feenstra
Succeeded byDick Posthumus
Constituency17th district (1963–1964)
31st district (1965–1982)
Personal details
Born(1930-06-04)June 4, 1930
Paris Township, Michigan
DiedNovember 1, 2015(2015-11-01) (aged 85)
Political partyRepublican

Robert "Robbie" VanderLaan (c. 1930-November 1, 2015[1]) was a former majority leader of the Michigan State Senate.[2] A Republican, he ran to replace Gerald Ford as representative for Michigan's 5th congressional district in a 1974 special election, but was defeated by Democrat Richard Vander Veen. It was seen as a stunning upset; VanderLaan had previously never lost an election and the district had long been considered a Republican stronghold. He served in the Senate for 20 years in total; after retirement he joined Democrat Bobby Crim in forming a lobbying firm; he also had a career as a lawyer.[3]