| Robert VanderLaan | |
| Order: | 5th |
| Office: | List of Majority Leaders of the Michigan SenateMajority Leader of the Michigan Senate |
| Term Start: | 1971 |
| Term End: | 1974 |
| Term Start2: | January 1, 1963 |
| Term End2: | December 31, 1982 |
| Prior Term2: | 17th District (1963-1964) |
| Constituency2: | 17th district (1963–1964) 31st district (1965–1982) |
| Birth Date: | 4 June 1930 |
| Mawards: | is not set --> |
| Awards: | is not set --> |
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]