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Michigan's 8th Congressional District election, 2018

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Michigan's 8th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: April 24, 2018
Primary: August 7, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent:
Mike Bishop (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Michigan
Race ratings
Cook Partisan Voter Index (2018): R+4
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Inside Elections: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
Michigan's 8th Congressional District
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 13th (special)
Michigan elections, 2018
U.S. Congress elections, 2018
U.S. Senate elections, 2018
U.S. House elections, 2018

Former Obama administration official Elissa Slotkin (D) defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop (R), Brian Ellison (L), and David Jay Lillis (U.S. Taxpayers) in the general election on November 6, 2018, to represent Michigan's 8th Congressional District.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. The Democratic Party gained a net total of 40 seats, winning control of the chamber. This race was identified as a 2018 battleground that might have affected partisan control of the U.S. House in the 116th Congress. Heading into the election, the Republican Party was in the majority holding 235 seats to Democrats' 193 seats, with seven vacant seats. Democrats needed to win 23 GOP-held seats in 2018 to win control of the House. From 1918 to 2016, the president’s party lost an average of 29 seats in midterm elections.

Bishop was first elected in 2014 by 22.5 percentage points and was re-elected in 2016 by 26.8 percentage points. The district voted for Donald Trump (R) over Hillary Clinton (D) by 6.7 percentage points in the 2016 presidential election.[1] Heading into the election, election forecasters called the seat a toss-up.

Michigan's 8th Congressional District is located in the mid region of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It includes Livingston and Ingham counties and sections of Oakland County.[2]


Democratic Party For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
Republican Party For more information about the Republican primary, click here.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 8

Elissa Slotkin defeated incumbent Mike Bishop, Brian Ellison, and David Jay Lillis in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 8 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Elissa Slotkin
Elissa Slotkin (D)
 
50.6
 
172,880
Image of Mike Bishop
Mike Bishop (R) Candidate Connection
 
46.8
 
159,782
Image of Brian Ellison
Brian Ellison (L)
 
1.8
 
6,302
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
David Jay Lillis (U.S. Taxpayers Party)
 
0.8
 
2,629

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 341,593
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 8

Elissa Slotkin defeated Chris Smith in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 8 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Elissa Slotkin
Elissa Slotkin
 
70.7
 
57,819
Image of Chris Smith
Chris Smith
 
29.3
 
23,996

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 81,815
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 8

Incumbent Mike Bishop defeated Lokesh Kumar in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 8 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mike Bishop
Mike Bishop Candidate Connection
 
92.3
 
75,403
Image of Lokesh Kumar
Lokesh Kumar
 
7.7
 
6,254

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 81,657
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. House Michigan District 8

Brian Ellison advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Michigan District 8 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Brian Ellison
Brian Ellison
 
100.0
 
522

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 522
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Candidate profiles

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages


Mike Bishop, U.S. representative from MI-8
Mike Bishop Official.png

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Political office: United States House of Representatives (2015-Present), Michigan State Senate (2007-2010),

Biography: Bishop was born in Oakland Country, Michigan. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1989 and his J.D. from the Detroit College of Law in 1993. Bishop has been the chief legal officer for the International Bancard Corporation and served as an adjunct professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.[3]

Key messages
  • Bishop emphasized that he was a lifelong resident of the area and said he understood its people and needs. He contrasted himself with Slotkin, who he said was an outsider recruited by Nancy Pelosi and did not understand the district.[4]
  • Bishop said he was a problem solver who worked on bipartisan solutions to issues like water quality, child safety, and the opioid epidemic.[5][6]




Elissa Slotkin, former national security official
Elissa Slotkin2.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office: None

Biography: Slotkin grew up in Holly, Michigan. She attended Cornell University for her bachelor's degree and Columbia University for her master's degree. After college, she joined the CIA and served in Iraq. Slotkin then served on President George W. Bush's national security staff and in the Department of Defense during the Obama administration. She opened a consulting business in Michigan after leaving the federal government in January 2017.[7]

Key messages
  • Slotkin emphasized her service in the CIA and said her work for the George W. Bush and Barack Obama national security teams proved she could work across party lines to serve the district's best interest.[8]
  • Slotkin highlighted Bishop's support for the House Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. She said her mother's death from ovarian cancer made her dedicated to ensuring coverage of pre-existing conditions and that the Republican plan would have prevented this.[9]
  • Slotkin said she was not beholden to Democratic leaders or corporate special interests. She said she would not support Nancy Pelosi as House Democratic leader or accept corporate contributions to her campaign.[10][11][12]


Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Michigan's 8th Congressional District, general election
Poll Poll sponsor Elissa Slotkin (D) Mike Bishop (R)Undecided/OtherMargin of errorSample size
Siena College
(October 31-November 4, 2018)		New York Times 49%42%9%+/-5.0447
Target Insyght
(October 2018)		Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS) and FOX 2 Detroit 45%48%7%+/-4.5500
Siena College
(September 28-October 3, 2018)		New York Times 44%47%10%+/-4.8501
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner
(September 17-20, 2018)		Slotkin campaign 47%43%10%+/-4.9400
Public Opinion Strategies
(September 16-18, 2018)		Bishop campaign 43%45%12%+/-4.9400
Target Insyght
(April 3-5, 2018)		MIRS News 39%45%16%+/-5.0400
AVERAGES 44.5% 45% 10.67% +/-4.85 441.33
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.


Campaign finance

The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Mike Bishop Republican Party $3,405,815 $3,395,330 $111,073 As of December 31, 2018
Elissa Slotkin Democratic Party $7,467,573 $7,448,338 $19,235 As of December 31, 2018
Brian Ellison Libertarian Party $8,023 $5,153 $2,870 As of March 31, 2018
David Jay Lillis U.S. Taxpayers Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2018. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[13][14][15]

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

  • America First Action
    • AFA announced on October 24 that it would spend an additional $650,000 supporting Bishop.[16]
    • AFA committed to spending $854,000 to support Bishop. It released an ad opposing Slotkin on September 25.[17]
  • The Congressional Leadership Fund canceled a $2.1 million television ad buy that would have supported Bishop on September 28.[18] The CLF later launched a $1 million buy to support Bishop on October 30.[19]
  • On October 31, Politico reported that End Citizens United would spent an additional $300,000 on television ads opposing Bishop, bringing its total spending on the race to $900,000.[20]
  • Everytown for Gun Safety named MI-08 as one of 15 Republican-held districts it was targeting in a $5 million digital ad campaign to support Democratic challengers.[21]
  • The House Majority PAC (HMP)
    • HMP spent $885,000 on television ads opposing Biship on October 9.[22]
    • HMP had spent more than $235,000 supporting Elissa Slotkin and $16,000 opposing Mike Bishop as of September 19.[23]

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[26]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[27][28][29]

Race ratings: Michigan's 8th Congressional District election, 2018
Race trackerRace ratings
October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018October 9, 2018
The Cook Political ReportToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+4, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 4 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Michigan's 8th Congressional District the 201st most Republican nationally.[30]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.12. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.12 points toward that party.[31]

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.



Noteworthy general election endorsements
Endorsement Slotkin (D) Bishop (R)
Individuals
Former President Barack Obama (D)[32] ✔
Former Vice President Joe Biden (D)[33] ✔
Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama (D)[34] ✔
John Negroponte, National Intelligence Director under President George W. Bush (R)[34] ✔
Stephen Hadley, National Security Advisor under President George W. Bush (R)[34] ✔
Vice President Mike Pence (R)[35] ✔
Individuals
The Detroit Free Press[36] ✔

Timeline

  • November 4, 2018: A New York Times/Siena College poll showed Slotkin with 49 percent and Bishop with 42 percent. The margin of error was 5.0 percentage points.
  • November 1, 2018: Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) held a rally in support of Slotkin and other Michigan Democrats.[37]
  • October 31, 2018: Politico reported that End Citizens United would spent an additional $300,000 on television ads opposing Bishop.[20]
  • October 30, 2018: The Congressional Leadership Fund announced it would launch a $1 million ad campaign to support Bishop. It previously canceled its ad buys in support of him.
  • October 24, 2018: America First Action announced it would spend an additional $650,000 to support Bishop.
  • October 23, 2018: The League of Conservation Voters launched a $355,000 opposing Mike Bishop.
  • October 19, 2018: A Target Insyght poll commissioned by the Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS) and FOX 2 Detroit showed Bishop leading Slotkin 48-45. The margin of error was 4.5 percentage points.
  • October 15, 2018: Bishop reported raising more than $800,000 in the third quarter of 2018. Slotkin reported raising $2.6 million.[38]
  • October 9, 2018: House Majority PAC spent $885,000 on television ads opposing Bishop.[22]
  • October 7, 2018: Slotkin and Bishop debated on the WDIV Flashpoint program. Read more below.
  • October 5, 2018: Michael Bloomberg's Independence PAC reported spending $205,000 on digital ads to support Slotkin.
  • October 4, 2018: President Donald Trump tweeted a statement of support for Bishop. Read more below.
  • October 3, 2018: A New York Times/Siena College poll found Bishop leading Slotkin 47-44. The margin of error was 4.8 percentage points.
  • October 2, 2018: EMILY's List disclosed $284,000 in spending to support Elissa
  • October 1, 2018: Former President Barack Obama (D) endorsed Elissa Slotkin.
  • September 28, 2018: The Congressional Leadership Fund canceled a $2.1 million television ad buy that would have supported Bishop.[18]
  • September 26, 2018: A Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll commissioned by the Slotkin campaign showed Slotkin leading Bishop 47-43. The margin of error was 4.9 percentage points.
  • September 13, 2018: The National Republican Congressional Committee disclosed $469,000 in spending to oppose Elissa Slotkin.
  • September 12, 2018: Elissa Slotkin was endorsed by John Negroponte and Stephen Hadley, national security officials during the George W. Bush administration, and Chuck Hagel, a former Republican U.S. senator and secretary of defense during the Barack Obama administration.
  • September 12, 2018: The House Majority PAC spent $80,000 supporting Elissa Slotkin.[23]

Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Republican Party Mike Bishop

Support

"Bishop Homegrown" Bishop campaign ad released September 5, 2018
"Face of the Future" Bishop campaign ad released April 1, 2018

Opposition

"It Gets Worse" League of Conservation Voters ad released October 23, 2018
"What's Wrong" Slotkin ad released October 16, 2018
"Doors" House Majority PAC ad released October 9, 2018
"ROI" DCCC ad released October 1, 2018
"Did It Again" End Citizens United ad released September 25, 2018
"MI-08 - That Same Year" House Majority PAC ad released September 4, 2018
"Your Vote vs. Their Dollar," House Majority PAC ad released February 14, 2018
"Mike Bishop is Another Paul Ryan Pawn," House Majority PAC ad released November 30, 2017

Democratic Party Elissa Slotkin

Support

"Anyone" Slotkin campaign ad released October 9, 2018
"Honor" VoteVets ad released October 4, 2018
"Service" VoteVets ad released September 24, 2018
"Speaking Truth to Power" Slotkin campaign ad released September 18, 2018
"Farm" Slotkin campaign ad released September 13, 2018
"Service" Slotkin campaign ad released August 28, 2018

Opposition

"Party First" CLF ad released October 31, 2018
"Uprisings" NRCC ad released October 23, 2018
"What Else" NRCC ad released October 9, 2018
"Totally Unqualified" NRCC ad released September 25, 2018
"The Real Elissa Slotkin" America First Action super PAC ad released September 25, 2018
"Ann and Richard" Bishop campaign ad released September 21, 2018
"The Truth" NRCC ad released September 12, 2018
"Michigan’s Own Mike Bishop versus Shady Slotkin Who Doesn’t Know the District" Bishop campaign ad released August 12, 2018

Noteworthy events

Trump tweet in support for Mike Bishop

On October 4, President Donald Trump tweeted the following statement of support for Mike Bishop:

In response Slotkin tweeted the following:

Slotkin had earlier said that she would not support Pelosi for House Democratic leader.[39]

Congressional Leadership Fund cancels ad buys for Bishop

On September 28, 2018, the Congressional Leadership Fund announced it was canceling $2.1 million in ad buys for Mike Bishop. A spokeswoman for the organization said, "CLF will continue to run strong field operations in these districts and will continue to conduct polling and evaluate races across the country, as we do everything we can to protect the Republican majority."

Bishop's campaign consultant said in response, "There is more than $5 million in other groups including NRCC, America First and other conservative groups. When voters learn about Elissa Slotkin's support of higher taxes, the Iran deal and other liberal policies, Mike Bishop's support grows tremendously. Our internal (polling) shows us leading, and we feel confident Mike Bishop will be re-elected."

Slotkin's campaign said, "CLF is taking note of the same things we’re seeing: Elissa is building support across the political spectrum, due to her bipartisan service record and commitment to working on the issues that people care about most, like bringing down the cost of health care and prescription drugs."[40]

On October 30, the CLF announced it was launching a $1 million ad campaign to support Bishop.[19]

Debates and forums

Oct. 7 WDIV Flashpoint debate

On October 7, Slotkin and Bishop debated on WDIV's Flashpoint.

Oct. 16 debate in Lansing

On October 16, Slotkin and Bishop debated on a Lansing radio show.[41]

Oct. 18 debate in Hartland

On October 18, Slotkin and Bishop debated at a forum in Hartland sponsored by the Voter’s Voice and the League of Women Voters.[41]

Campaign themes

Democratic Party Elissa Slotkin

Slotkin’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Why I Am Running
I am running for Congress because like most Americans, I believe our politics must change. I think 2018 can be the year in which, together, we will re-establish our politics for the better by returning the core principles of civility and problem-solving back to government to get results.

I have spent my life in public service and I am running for elected office to serve my community in the U.S. Congress. After 9/11, I began my career in national security and have worked on some of the world’s toughest problems. I approach elected office from a service perspective: if elected, I will go to Washington to fight for you and your families. Over the next year, I hope to earn your confidence and support.

Since launching my campaign in July 2017, I have heard from thousands of folks across the district about what matters most to them. I have tried to do more listening than talking. After more than 50 community meetings, 120 conversations with community leaders, more than 50 meet-and-greets in people’s homes, and some good old-fashioned Saturday door-knocking, this is what I’ve heard: Washington either doesn’t understand what’s happening in Michigan, or they don’t care. The American middle class — the backbone of the American success story for nearly 80 years — is under direct threat. Between stagnant wages and the rising cost of everything, working families are getting squeezed. People here are working harder for less. The game feels rigged by politicians in Washington, who seem to care more about the interests of big donors and corporations, than the very people they represent.

I have spent my life protecting American interests, both at home and abroad. If elected, I will fight to preserve the American Dream in Michigan. I will work every day to make sure that we have world-class, affordable education that prepares our kids for well paid careers in Michigan. I will fight to ensure that all people have access to affordable health care and prescription drugs. I will make sure our kids are safe and healthy by protecting against threats to our environment, our security, and the very real threats posed by our aging infrastructure — and I will fight to bring real economic opportunity to our communities here in Michigan. There’s a lot of work to do, and I hope you give me the chance to do it.

Over the course of the campaign, I hope to meet as many of you in person as possible. I want to hear directly from you. After all, the job of a U.S. Representative is to represent you. So if you have questions or feedback for me, please send me a note and let me know what’s on your mind. I will continue to update this page between now and the election in November.

Affordable Healthcare
I believe all Americans should have access to healthcare they can afford, regardless of pre-existing conditions. No one should ever go broke because they happen to get sick, and no family should have to decide whether they can afford to save the life of a loved one. To get there, I believe we need true bipartisan reform of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We should also consider options that would allow people the choice to buy into plans, such as Medicare, that have been proven to control costs for consumers. Healthcare reform must be accompanied by a serious effort to reform standards on the prescription drug industry in order to bring down prescription drug costs, something both Democrats and Republicans left out of the original ACA legislation, and Republicans have left out of all their recent proposals.

Like many Americans, health care is a deeply personal issue for me. In fact, health care was the reason I decided to get into this race. In 2009, my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer at a time when she was uninsured. She had struggled with her health care since 2002 when she lost her job and benefits. She had breast cancer as a young woman — what we now call a “pre-existing condition” — so she couldn’t find a health care plan that she could afford for many years. Eventually she got insurance, but she let it lapse just months before her cancer returned. A loophole saved her from going bankrupt from the high cost of her medical bills, but our family’s experience was evidence of a broken system.

Our nation has made important strides over the past seven years. The ACA ensured that insurance companies could not discriminate based on pre-existing conditions, eliminated lifetime coverage limits, allowed young people to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26, and made some progress in bringing down healthcare and drug costs for seniors. But there is much more to do: premiums have risen, particularly for small business owners, and too many people in our district are covered but struggle to afford the high premiums and deductibles associated with their insurance plans.

Yet, instead of rolling up their sleeves and solving problems in the ACA, many elected representatives, including our representative Mike Bishop, voted to repeal the ACA with no alternative plan to ensure that Americans would have access to affordable care. The bill that Rep. Bishop proudly voted for in May 2017 would have dramatically raised premiums and thrown 23 million Americans off of their health coverage, including over 30,000 folks here in our district. And when Rep. Bishop couldn’t succeed through legislation, he turned to sabotage. In December 2017, Rep. Bishop helped write the tax bill that included the repeal of a key insurance provision in the ACA. This change will drive up the cost of health care premiums for all of us, and leave millions of Americans without access to affordable health insurance.

We need to approach healthcare with the seriousness and focus it deserves. It is important for our elected leaders to put their egos aside and work in a bipartisan fashion to tackle the challenges that remain under the ACA. But the way ahead must safeguard vital components of the ACA: protection for essential health benefits, no annual or lifetime coverage caps, no denial of coverage based on health status or pre-existing conditions, and no discrimination based on gender. The health and safety of our families are at stake in this debate, and our representatives should treat the issue with the seriousness that it deserves.

Affordable Prescription Drugs
For far too long, the large pharmaceutical companies have had American consumers over a barrel: we need their life-saving drugs so we are at their mercy when they increase prices. And members of Congress, in both parties, have been unwilling to take them on. I am not.

We should be taking real steps to lower the cost of prescription drugs. If elected, I will fight to immediately allow the federal government to negotiate with drug companies to get a lower price on medications for people on Medicare. Buying drugs in bulk will almost immediately bring down costs, benefiting both the consumer and the taxpayer. The Veterans Administration is currently allowed to buy bulk drugs to keep costs down for veteran care. Congress could allow Medicare to do the same, immediately benefitting the 57 million Americans on Medicare, including more than 71,000 residents here in our district.

People recognize that most pharmaceutical companies are for-profit companies that require significant upfront funding to develop life-saving drugs. We all want the United States to continue to be the world leader in developing new cures and treatments, but since lives are at stake, there must be more checks and balances on the pharmaceutical industry’s predatory price increases.

For too long, big pharmaceutical firms have bought influence through campaign donations and politicians have looked the other way as prescription drug prices have skyrocketed. I won’t be accepting a dime from this industry, or any corporate PAC, in my campaign. And if elected, I will pledge to fight for increased checks and balances on the pharmaceutical industry, to ensure that price increases support research, instead of driving profit.

Combating The Opioid Epidemic
If elected, I will push for national comprehensive legislation that addresses the opioid crisis by curbing the supply of opioids and provide substantially greater support for treatment. I will be a vocal champion in Congress to bring drug companies to account if they engage in predatory and misleading practices that contribute to this national epidemic.

It’s no secret we have a national emergency going on with opioid addiction, which today is the leading cause of death for Americans under 50. In Michigan, opioid overdoses now claim more lives than car accidents, including hundreds of deaths each year in communities here in our district. It is the responsibility of our elected officials to address the opioid epidemic head on and take real action.

In addition to pushing for real federal action, if elected I would use my position as a member of Congress to bring the stakeholders of our communities together — from high schools, firefighters, police and first responders, community coalitions, treatment programs, nonprofits and hospitals — to draft a community action plan that tackles this issue at home. I have already begun meeting with community members to learn all that I can about how we are fighting this epidemic here in our district. Pharmaceutical companies have a vested interest in keeping profits sky-high, and we cannot be complacent — this is a fight we must address head-on.

Investing In Education
I believe that all children deserve access to a high-quality education that will allow them to compete in the 21st century economy — both the practical skills and the critical thinking they need to succeed. If elected, I will fight for common-sense measures that support funding for science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education, improve access to the skills training necessary to secure the well-paid jobs here in Michigan, and make higher education affordable for everyone who pursues it.

I believe our public schools will determine the future of our state. From Lansing to Rochester, public schools are the anchor of our communities and as they go, so goes the future of our towns and cities. Thriving public schools require skilled, committed teachers, and I am committed to making sure that they get the respect and support they have earned. I believe educational innovation is important, especially in underserved communities, and I support communities having choices, including magnet schools and public charter schools. But I have strong concerns that private, for-profit charter schools may put profit-making at odds with educating Michigan’s children. Regardless of the school, I believe that it is essential for our state to have robust standards across the board. However, any alternative option must apply equal standards and include public accountability for taxpayers’ dollars that gives parents confidence in the quality of the education their children receive. Furthermore, such alternatives cannot come at the expense of ensuring that quality schools exist in each of our district’s neighborhoods.

I believe our education system should work from the bottom up, from early childhood education to skilled trade programs, so that we’re providing the broad set of skills needed for our children to succeed. College shouldn’t be considered a luxury, or a requirement for success, and should be affordable for those who are interested. We need more options — more certification programs and college apprenticeship programs that are paired with the specific job opportunities available right now in our state — to ensure that we are educating and training our young people to contribute to growing Michigan’s economy.

I believe that hard-working college graduates should get a fair shot at the American dream. However, the reality is that many students finish college saddled with crushing debt. I am committed to making higher education more affordable and more accessible to our district’s young people. If elected, I will fight to strengthen federal Pell grants, expand federal funds for school-to-work programs so that students know that they have a job waiting for them when they graduate, strengthen career and technical education, and cap the student loan interest rates to reduce the debt on graduating students, to ensure that students are getting a fair shake.

Growing Economic Opportunity In Michigan
Growing economic opportunity begins by investing in talent in our communities. We must train the next generation to take on roles in Michigan’s 21st century economy by connecting our workforce to the training that will prepare them for the trades, advanced manufacturing, technical, and cyber jobs of the future.

Michigan has always been a place where things are designed and built. Our state has an amazing history of innovation, from the creation of the modern automobile to the invention of penicillin. But the economy is evolving in our state and we need to face forward and change with it. For our communities to thrive, we must be serious and strategic about growing economic opportunity here in Michigan. That starts with investing in education, connecting our talented young people with opportunities in our businesses, and ensuring that our entrepreneurs and small business owners are able to grow by hiring talent directly from our communities.

Across our district, I hear from businesses big and small that they have trouble finding the local talent they need to compete. Instead, our companies are turning to out-of-state talent to fill their critical openings, particularly in IT, cyber-security, coding, and health care. At the same time, I am constantly meeting people who are unsure of the educational path they should pursue to prepare them for well-paid careers, and fear taking on too much student debt with the promise of a job in their field. I believe we need to get employers and educators together in one room, on an annual basis, to conduct a Michigan workforce planning summit that matches our business’s demands for talent with our great young people. If we have vacancies in fields like IT, we must stand-up sustainable job training programs at our community colleges that teach part time and train part time to fill vacancies in that in-demand field. Instead of our businesses spending money to hire out of state or out of the country, they should have the option to partner with the community high schools and colleges to train their own pipeline of talent.

Investing In Our Infrastructure
Michigan’s infrastructure is at near crisis levels and in serious need of investment. We all know the challenges, and we have the skilled workforce in our state ready to rebuild the roads, bridges, pipelines, and other critical infrastructure that our economy depends on. Investing in our infrastructure will attract investment to our state — improving our economic competitiveness — and improve the safety and security of Michiganders. The time for tackling this issue is now, and I hope this Congress will take up a significant, meaningful, and generous federal infrastructure package that has an immediate impact in our state and in our district. Promises of public-private partnerships are not a substitute for a truly generous federal package that addresses the generational issues we have with our infrastructure.

Thanks to the grit of hardworking Michiganders, we’ve been steadily fighting our way back since the last financial crisis. Now more than ever, our roads, bridges, and infrastructure should attract rather than deter new businesses. We should think bigger about attracting companies to put their roots here. By investing in our towns and updating infrastructure, we’ll create good jobs and a solid foundation for growth.

Of special note is the importance of investing in our water infrastructure. After the Flint water crisis, communities across the state have been testing their water and finding disturbing results. Some have been trying to upgrade their water systems, but, without help from the state or federal government, have been passing often dramatic price increases onto consumers. While the potholes in our roads are the most visible symptom in our under-funding of infrastructure, our water systems pose a growing risk to the health of our kids and communities. As the Great Lakes state, we must do more to ensure our communities have safe, regular, and affordable drinking water. That comes from a significant infrastructure package from Congress that funds rapid work on our most pressing water systems.

Ensuring Retirement Security
If you work hard your whole life, you deserve a dignified retirement. Social Security and Medicare are a promise — one that seniors have paid into through a lifetime of hard work. Protecting these programs is a critical way to keep faith with retirees, and those planning for retirement. Safeguarding the economic security of retirees by defending these programs and bringing the costs of prescription drugs down will be a top priority for me, if elected.

Michiganders pay their fair share towards Medicare and Social Security. Hundreds of thousands of people across our state rely on a responsible government to preserve and protect their benefits. While I wholeheartedly support common-sense approaches to improve efficiency and reduce administrative costs for Medicare, politicians should not be looking to balance the federal budget on the backs of seniors. Cuts to Medicare and Social Security benefits would fundamentally break faith with our seniors. As a debate about “entitlement reform” looms in Washington, it is essential that these programs are safeguarded and defended. Our seniors have earned it.

As the cost of living continues to rise retirees depend more than ever on the pensions they earned during their careers to maintain their retirement security. We simply cannot accept a roll back of this critical source of income for our seniors. I strongly believe that we need to prioritize and determine the best way to protect the solvency of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and at risk plans.

Fighting For Campaign Finance Reform
I believe our campaign finance system is broken and largely responsible for the polarization and dysfunction in our politics today. Much of this can be traced back to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which allowed corporate special interest money to flood into our democratic system and drown out the voice of voters in our own elections. For these reasons, I have made a commitment to not accept corporate PAC money during this campaign.

If elected, I promise I will fight to reform our campaign finance laws, supporting policies that would increase transparency and end unlimited spending in our politics, to ensure that the voices of our citizens are heard. I support measures that would hold candidates and donors — including my own — accountable through clearly defined fundraising disclosures, deadlines, and penalties. Voters deserve to know who is funding their elected officials.

Fiscal Responsibility And Government
Crafting a budget for the federal government is one of the most fundamental duties of the U.S. Congress. Just like a family’s budget, the federal budget is a reflection of our national values and priorities. And just like a family budget, we must identify the waste to cut in order to spend on the things that are most important to us. I believe we need to rigorously cut waste and excess, while simultaneously making smart investments in health care, education, support for small businesses, and improvements to our infrastructure. I believe that a core tenet of being an elected official is to be upfront about spending decisions, to explain both the benefits and the cuts. For too long, politicians haven’t played it straight.

Solving our country’s debt and deficit issues starts with an efficient and effective government. We need to get rid of government waste, fraud, and abuse. Fiscal responsibility defines my approach to the U.S. federal budget, which is a point of real difference between myself and our representative, Rep. Mike Bishop. For far too long politicians in Washington have taken a harried, stop-gap approach to budgeting, funding the federal government through short continuing resolutions, leaving federal agencies without the necessary tools to efficiently plan their budgets. Unable to compromise and have an honest conversation about budgetary tradeoffs, our elected representatives in Congress have forced multiple government shutdowns in the last decade. I was serving in the Pentagon during the thirteen-day Government shutdown in 2013, a decision that cost the U.S. economy an estimated $20 billion. It is political brinkmanship at its most cynical and I believe it must end.

I believe that it is the responsibility of our elected leaders to be candid about how legislative measures will impact their constituents. The tax bill that was drafted by Rep. Mike Bishop and signed by the President in December 2017 permanently slashed taxes for corporations and the richest Americans, while adding more than a trillion dollars to our national debt. In my mind, that’s the definition of fiscal irresponsibility – giving away permanent tax breaks to corporations without being clear what vital programs will be cut to pay the bill. We should not balance the federal budget on the backs of Middle Class families, seniors, students, or veterans — and the public should be informed about how these new bills will be paid.

Strengthening America’s National Security
The United States plays a unique and vital role in the world. Keeping Americans safe at home and abroad starts with a strong defense, but military power alone is not an effective strategy in a world of increasingly globalized and networked challenges. The United States must be ready to confront both existing international challenges and new threats, from terrorism to sophisticated cyber-attacks. To do so, the United States must make investments in its military, intelligence, and diplomatic power – and continue to work with allies and partners around the globe – to confront common challenges. If elected, I will bring my expertise on national security and experience in three federal agencies to the halls of Congress, in order to provide a check on the actions of this Administration.

I served for fourteen years in the intelligence and defense communities working on some of our country’s most critical national security matters, including U.S.-Russia relations, the counter-ISIS campaign, and the U.S. relationship with NATO. I regularly briefed members of Congress on defense matters. I have seen the potential impact individual members of Congress can have in holding federal agencies accountable by asking tough questions, and if elected, I intend to bring my expertise to Congress to ensure our government is using its diplomatic and military power to advance U.S. interests in the world. I will also fight to bring defense jobs back to Michigan — something we have hemorrhaged over the last decade — to strengthen the economies of our local communities.

Providing For Our Veterans
My family is a service family. My husband is an Apache pilot and served for thirty years in the Army, retiring as a Colonel. My grandfather was awarded the Silver Star for his service at Normandy, during World War Two. My father-in-law served for twenty years in the Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Today, my two stepdaughters are both serving in their own right: one is an active duty Army officer and the other is a physician at a VA hospital. For me, providing world-class care and support to our nation’s veterans is not an abstract policy question – it affects my life and that of my family. If elected, it would be one of my top priorities.

Less than one percent of the population serves in our nation’s armed forces. Given the sacrifices that our veterans have made, our government must ensure that when veterans return to civilian life they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve — not just given lip service by politicians. It should be the responsibility of Congress to ensure that veteran medical care is delivered efficiently and in a cost-effective manner. While we have made strides in veteran care, there is far more to do to — particularly in ensuring that veterans living with serious injuries are provided world class, lifetime care. We must also do more to ensure that returning veterans are given opportunities to successfully reintegrate, through more support for education, apprenticeship, and job training. Programs like Helmets to Hardhats, which many in our communities participate in, provide win-win solutions to support our veterans and connect them with skill development and well-paid careers.

Preserving Our Environment
A threat to our environment is a threat to our security and a threat to our way of life. I do not believe that a strong economy and a clean environment are mutually exclusive. In fact, in Michigan, they are intrinsically linked. After all, if you can’t sustain your business because our lakes and rivers have become polluted, that’s a threat to your economic security. If you and your family don’t have access to clean drinking water, that’s a threat to your family’s health and well being. And if polluters continue to write the rules and buy votes from our representatives, that’s a threat to the future of our state — and the environment we will pass down to our kids.

Here in Michigan, we not only cherish our beautiful natural resources, but we depend on them to keep our families healthy and our economy strong. If elected, I will make protecting our environment — and the businesses that depend on them — a top priority, since over 525,000 jobs in our state are tied to the Great Lakes. I will be a vocal champion for Michigan moving to the frontier of the “green-economy,” helping to accelerate wind and solar jobs in our state. Since Michigan has always been a leader in advanced manufacturing, we should be leading the pack in the development of renewable energy technologies, creating a new generation of high-skill, well-paid jobs here in Michigan.

As protecting our state’s natural resources is a priority, appropriate oversight is required to ensure public works projects, current and future pipeline projects, and infrastructure development are conducted with the safety and preservation of our communities in mind. Unlike our current Representative, I am strongly against any proposal that would allow drilling in the Great Lakes. Line 5 poses an undeniable threat to our Great Lakes. I believe pipelines that run under our Great Lakes should not operate unless they pass independent, third-party safety standards.

The impact of climate change is being felt nationally, and can be seen here in Michigan. I believe climate change is an issue that must be taken seriously, and prudent planning should be undertaken to prepare for and mitigate its negative impacts. During my time at the Pentagon, my team participated in the first ever climate change survey which studied how rising sea-levels, increased temperatures, and a higher frequency of superstorms could impact our military bases. We must be realistic about our changing climate and prepare our state’s economy, communities, and environment for the impact of climate change — and get serious about how to stop it.

Defending Our Freedoms And Advancing Equality
I believe that every Michigander, no matter who they are, where they come from, how they identify, who they worship, or who they love, deserves to be safe, healthy and thrive in their community. I have spent my life working to keep Americans safe, to defend the rights that are promised to each of us in our founding documents – and that’s a fight I’ll continue in Congress. Doing one’s duty as a public servant means defending equal rights, but also ensuring equal opportunity – when it comes to access to quality schools, equitable employment opportunities, dependable and affordable healthcare, safety, and security.

FIGHTING FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS When women succeed, families succeed, and communities succeed. While we have made great strides as a society, we must do more to ensure women have every opportunity to chart their own paths, rise up in their careers, and provide for their families. Women deserve equal pay for equal work, and there is far more to do to ensure all women are treated equally in the workplace. The United States lags far behind other nations with regards to access to maternity care and paid family leave, which helps women and families stay healthy and get ahead. I believe that women should make their own personal decisions about their reproductive health, and that politicians should not tell women what to do with their bodies.

The national conversation regarding sexual harassment is long overdue. For far too long, women have been unable to come forward to report sexual misconduct due to a hostile work climate, or because of policies that make reporting difficult or detrimental. Workplaces and institutions in every sector must have robust, transparent, and consistent processes for handling misconduct, and offenders must be held accountable for their actions. This includes members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.

DEFENDING LGBTQ RIGHTS Members of the LGBTQ community deserve to have full and equal protection under the law. There have been important advances in LGBTQ equality in my lifetime, but that progress must be defended. I have always been a strong supporter of equality for the LGBTQ community, including marriage equality. It is a deeply personal issue for me: my mother came out in the 1980’s and was in a committed same-sex relationship prior to her passing away. From equality in the workplace, to access to critical healthcare services, LGBTQ Michiganders deserve equal rights and opportunities.

I was serving in the Pentagon when the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was repealed, an action I strongly supported. No service member who meets the requirements for service should be turned away based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, including transgender service members who are currently serving on the frontline. I am proud to have the endorsement of Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest civil rights organization working for equality on behalf of LGBTQ Americans.

ADVANCING EQUALITY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR It’s time that our representatives in Congress truly put the public first – and that means fighting to break down the barriers that still hold Michiganders back. We have a long way to go to address the racial inequities in economic security, education, housing, safety, employment, and our criminal justice system – and these issues must be at the center of an agenda to build a stronger economy that works for everyone, and a safer and fairer Michigan.

My first job out of college was working for an organization that helped address educational disparities in marginalized communities. In Congress, I will fight to ensure every child is given the chance to succeed, level the playing field in our criminal justice system, protect and expand voting rights, and promote fair hiring practices that give Michiganders a second chance to thrive and contribute in their communities.

Passing Common Sense Gun Legislation
I believe in and support the Second Amendment. I believe that individuals across our district, state, and country who operate guns with care and safety should be allowed to exercise the right to do so. I grew up in a gun-owning family, and when I served as an intelligence officer alongside the military in Iraq, I was trained on and carried a Glock 17 handgun and an M-4 semi-automatic weapon. My husband, who served in the U.S. Army for 30 years, carried a weapon every day he was deployed.

But I also believe we need to be honest that gun violence presents a serious national security and public health issue. And it is precisely because of my experience both operating firearms and working in national security that I believe we must pass common-sense gun safety legislation. We must prohibit terrorists, the mentally ill, and domestic abusers from obtaining guns. And as an Army wife, I do not believe ordinary citizens should be able to easily obtain weapons or materiel that allow them to outgun their local police or military.

Mass shootings and gun violence are a threat to the security of our families, our communities, and our schools. No parent should fear for their child’s safety after dropping them off for class. I believe the only person who should carry a weapon in a school is a trained, security professional, hired by the school to be there. We’ve seen longstanding inaction from our representatives in Congress to move forward on common-sense legislation. Failing to do all we can to protect our children is a failure to put the public first – and in my view, a dereliction of duty to address one of the nation’s pressing security issues.

Michigan’s Ballot Initiative On Marijuana
Michiganders will likely take up the question of legalizing recreational use of marijuana in November. I have listened to folks in the district — veterans, parents, the elderly, and law enforcement officers — to understand the range of views about this issue. I strongly believe that for this matter, voters should be able to decide. Too often the priorities of voters are discounted by legislators who claim they are voting in our name. Opening up marijuana for recreational use is a big decision for our state, and voters should have their voice heard.

I have seen firsthand how medical marijuana can help people who are dealing with long-term chronic conditions. I support the use of medical marijuana, which was approved by Michigan voters in 2008. We must ensure the implementation process continues in a manner that is transparent and accessible for all folks in need.

I also support the decriminalization of marijuana, a step that some of our communities have already pursued. Every dollar used to prosecute marijuana offenses is a law enforcement dollar that isn’t being used for more pressing issues. By removing marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, we can reduce the backlog of non-violent, marijuana-related incarcerations — and streamline our criminal justice system for the better.

Like a lot of folks, I am reviewing the impact of the legalization of recreational marijuana on the local economy, public safety, and healthcare in states like Washington and Colorado, to understand if, on balance, it would be a net positive for our communities here in Michigan. I’m keeping an open mind, and welcome the opportunity to meet with groups on all sides of this issue to better inform my thinking.

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—Elissa Slotkin’s campaign website (2018)[43]

Republican Party Mike Bishop

Bishop’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Jobs and the Economy
Congressman Mike Bishop understands that our families, job creators, and communities thrive when our economy is growing. That is why he is working hard to help encourage economic growth through lower taxes and less government over-regulation so that everyone has access to expanded opportunity, good jobs and rising wages. That commitment is why his colleagues called on Mike Bishop to help craft tax reform that allows families and small businesses to keep more of what they earn so that they can meet their needs and thrive in our growing economy.

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Protecting Our Great Lakes
Mike Bishop understands that the Great Lakes are central to our identity as a state, vital for our continued prosperity, and a treasure that must be protected for future generations. That is why Mike has always been a champion for our Great Lakes. While some in the federal government from other states fought to reduce the commitment to protecting the Great Lakes, Congressman Bishop stood strong, fought for and secured $300 million per year for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to make sure we can keep our Great Lakes clean and safe. When it comes to protecting our Great Lakes – Mike Bishop will never back down.

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Pipeline Safety
Mike Bishop’s commitment to protect the Great Lakes extends to making certain critical underground infrastructure like our pipelines are secure. When it comes to pipeline safety, Congressman Mike Bishop is leading the way. Bishop is the author of legislation to replace out-of-date pipelines that endanger our environment because we must make every effort to protect against catastrophic spills in our lakes. Bishop believes that Congress has a duty to ensure our pipelines are safe and secure to promote efficient transportation of energy resources while putting the highest possible priority on protecting our environment.

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Curbing Opioids
Opioid abuse has been ravaging families, disrupting our communities, and destroying lives for too long. That is why Mike Bishop has been one of the leading voices in Congress to work on finding bipartisan solutions to the opioid epidemic. His leadership helped lead to the passage of the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act. This expands education and prevention programs to protect our children, provides greater access to overdose reversal drugs to law enforcement and first responders, expand treatment programs for those already addicted, and provide states with greater tools to prevent further addiction. Mike Bishop believes this battle will be won with more caring and love.

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Improving Education and Making College More Affordable
Mike Bishop believes every young American should have the ability to receive a quality education including access to college, technical or vocation training to prepare them for a successful career. He also believes that education is an inherently state and local responsibility and local districts and parents know best how to educate their children. This is why he has been working to give parents and local communities more control over their schools and curriculums without interference from the federal government. Bishop helped pass a law that makes college student loans more accessible for students most in need of financial aid.

– Defending Our Values
As a strong conservative, Mike Bishop has always defended our values. Mike Bishop grew up in this community and lived his whole life here. He believes that defending our 2nd amendment and pro-life values are important. Mike Bishop opposes sanctuary cities and believes in strong immigration enforcement. Congressman Mike Bishop has always protected religious freedom. Congressman Mike Bishop grew up in this community and cares deeply about it.

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Protecting Our Kids
Mike Bishop believes our children are our greatest treasure and we have a duty to keep them safe. That is why Mike authored The Child Protection Improvements Act of 2017 which is bi-partisan legislation that gives youth serving organizations like little leagues, dance groups, and any organization that serves children has access to the FBI background check system so that our children can be protected from predators. It is also why Mike Bishop has been a leading voice demanding accountability for those responsible for the heinous crimes of Larry Nassar at Michigan State University and making certain that Nassar’s victims receive justice while also protecting student athletes and our kids from future assaults. Protecting our children has been the top priority for Mike Bishop throughout his time in public service, and he will never back down when it comes to keeping our kids safe.

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—Mike Bishop’s campaign website (2018)[44]

Social media

Twitter accounts

Facebook accounts

Click the icons below to visit the candidates' Facebook pages.

Democratic Party Elissa Slotkin Facebook

Republican Party Mike Bishop Facebook

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Twelve of 83 Michigan counties—14 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Bay County, Michigan 12.55% 5.56% 15.31%
Calhoun County, Michigan 12.46% 1.60% 9.36%
Eaton County, Michigan 4.72% 3.13% 8.40%
Gogebic County, Michigan 14.80% 8.10% 17.27%
Isabella County, Michigan 3.66% 9.28% 19.26%
Lake County, Michigan 22.77% 5.01% 12.28%
Macomb County, Michigan 11.53% 3.99% 8.62%
Manistee County, Michigan 15.29% 5.93% 13.26%
Monroe County, Michigan 21.97% 0.98% 4.35%
Saginaw County, Michigan 1.13% 11.89% 17.34%
Shiawassee County, Michigan 19.59% 3.67% 8.59%
Van Buren County, Michigan 13.92% 0.45% 8.78%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Michigan with 47.5 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 47.3 percent. In presidential elections between 1836 and 2016, Michigan voted Republican 60.8 percent of the time and Democratic 34.7 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Michigan voted Democratic four out of the five elections.[45]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Michigan. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[46][47]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 53 out of 110 state House districts in Michigan with an average margin of victory of 37.1 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 43 out of 110 state House districts in Michigan with an average margin of victory of 39.3 points. Clinton won four districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 57 out of 110 state House districts in Michigan with an average margin of victory of 12.4 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 67 out of 110 state House districts in Michigan with an average margin of victory of 21.2 points. Trump won eight districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

District history

2016

See also: Michigan's 8th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Mike Bishop (R) defeated Suzanna Shkreli (D), Jeff Wood (L), Maria Green (G), and Jeremy Burgess (Natural Law) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Bishop faced no opposition in the Republican primary. Melissa Gilbert (D) withdrew from the race prior to the primary, but still appeared on the primary ballot. She was replaced by Shkreli on the general election ballot.[48][49][50][51][52][53]

U.S. House, Michigan District 8 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMike Bishop Incumbent 56% 205,629
     Democratic Suzanna Shkreli 39.2% 143,791
     Libertarian Jeff Wood 2.6% 9,619
     Green Maria Green 1.5% 5,679
     Natural Law Jeremy Burgess 0.6% 2,250
Total Votes 366,968
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

2014

See also: Michigan's 8th Congressional District elections, 2014
U.S. House, Michigan District 8 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMike Bishop 54.6% 132,739
     Democratic Eric Schertzing 42.1% 102,269
     Libertarian James Weeks II 1.9% 4,557
     Green Jim Casha 0.8% 1,880
     Natural Law Jeremy Burgess 0.7% 1,680
Total Votes 243,125
Source: Michigan Secretary of State Vote totals above are unofficial and will be updated once official totals are made available.

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Michigan heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

State executives

State legislature

  • Republicans controlled both chambers of the Michigan State Legislature. They had a 63-46 majority in the state House and a 27-10 majority in the state Senate.

Trifecta status

2018 elections

See also: Michigan elections, 2018

Michigan held elections for the following positions in 2018:

Demographics

Demographic data for Michigan
 MichiganU.S.
Total population:9,917,715316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):56,5393,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:79%73.6%
Black/African American:14%12.6%
Asian:2.7%5.1%
Native American:0.5%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.6%3%
Hispanic/Latino:4.7%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:89.6%86.7%
College graduation rate:26.9%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$49,576$53,889
Persons below poverty level:20%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Michigan.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2016, Michigan's three largest cities were Detroit (pop. est. 673,000), Grand Rapids (pop. est. 199,000), and Warren (pop. est. 135,000).[54]

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Michigan from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Michigan Secretary of State.

Historical elections

Presidential elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Michigan every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), Michigan 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Republican Party Donald Trump 47.5% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 47.3% 0.2%
2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 54.2% Republican Party Mitt Romney 44.7% 9.5%
2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 57.4% Republican Party John McCain 41.0% 16.4%
2004 Democratic Party John Kerry 51.2% Republican Party George W. Bush 47.8% 3.4%
2000 Democratic Party Al Gore 51.3% Republican Party George W. Bush 46.2% 5.1%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Michigan from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), Michigan 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2014 Democratic Party Gary Peters 54.6% Republican Party Terri Lynn Land 41.3% 13.3%
2012 Democratic Party Debbie Stabenow 58.8% Republican Party Pete Hoekstra 38.0% 20.8%
2008 Democratic Party Carl Levin 62.7% Republican Party Jack Hoogendyk, Jr. 33.9% 28.8%
2006 Democratic Party Debbie Stabenow 56.9% Republican Party Michael Bouchard 41.3% 15.6%
2002 Democratic Party Carl Levin 60.6% Republican Party Rocky Raczkowski 37.9% 22.7%
2000 Democratic Party Debbie Stabenow 49.5% Republican Party Spence Abraham 47.9% 1.6%

Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Michigan.

Election results (Governor), Michigan 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2014 Republican Party Rick Snyder 50.9% Democratic Party Mark Schauer 46.9% 4.0%
2010 Republican Party Rick Snyder 58.1% Democratic Party Virg Bernero 39.9% 18.2%
2006 Democratic Party Jennifer Granholm 56.4% Republican Party Dick DeVos 42.3% 14.1%
2002 Democratic Party Jennifer Granholm 51.4% Republican Party Dick Posthumus 47.4% 4.0%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Michigan in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, Michigan 2000-2016
Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
2016 Republican Party 9 64.3% Democratic Party 5 35.7% R+4
2014 Republican Party 9 64.3% Democratic Party 5 35.7% R+4
2012 Republican Party 9 64.3% Democratic Party 5 35.7% R+4
2010 Republican Party 9 60.0% Democratic Party 6 40.0% R+3
2008 Republican Party 7 46.7% Democratic Party 8 53.3% D+1
2006 Republican Party 8 53.3% Democratic Party 7 46.7% R+1
2004 Republican Party 9 60.0% Democratic Party 6 40.0% R+3
2002 Republican Party 9 60.0% Democratic Party 6 40.0% R+3
2000 Republican Party 7 43.75% Democratic Party 9 56.25% D+2

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

Michigan Party Control: 1992-2025
Two years of Democratic trifectas  •  Fourteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D
Senate R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D
House D S S R R D D R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R D D R


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for the 2016 and 2012 elections," accessed November 9, 2017
  2. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Counties by Congressional Districts," accessed June 8, 2016
  3. ↑ Elect Mike Bishop, "About," accessed February 4, 2015
  4. ↑ YouTube, "Michigan’s Own Mike Bishop versus Shady Slotkin Who Doesn’t Know the District," August 12, 2018
  5. ↑ YouTube, "Mike Bishop for Congress," accessed September 15, 2018
  6. ↑ Mike Bishop for Congress, "Issues," accessed September 15, 2018
  7. ↑ Elissa Slotkin for Congress, "Meet Elissa," accessed September 15, 2018
  8. ↑ Elissa Slotkin for Congress, "About Elissa," accessed September 15, 2018
  9. ↑ YouTube, "Farm," accessed September 15, 2018
  10. ↑ Elissa Slotkin on October 4, 2018"
  11. ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Charges fly in Bishop, Slotkin race — here's what's true," September 26, 2018
  12. ↑ Detroit News, "Bishop rival Slotkin wouldn’t back Pelosi as speaker," May 3, 2018
  13. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  14. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  15. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  16. ↑ Twitter, "America First Action on October 24, 2018"
  17. ↑ Roll Call, "Trump Super PAC Goes After Michigan Democrat Challenging Bishop," September 25, 2018
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Detroit News, "Super PAC aligned with GOP leaders axes funding for Bishop," September 28, 2018
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Detroit News, "GOP super PAC re-enters Bishop-Slotkin race with attack ad," October 30, 2018
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Politico, "Dem path to House win hinges on women’s vote," October 31, 2018
  21. ↑ Politico, "Bloomberg-founded gun control group launches ads to flip 15 GOP House districts," September 25, 2018
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 House Majority PAC, "HMP Launches $20 Million Media Blitz in 13 Districts," October 9, 2018
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 ProPublica, "MI-08," accessed September 26, 2018 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "outside" defined multiple times with different content
  24. ↑ League of Conservation Voters, "Mike Bishop sides with corporate polluters over Michigan families," October 23, 2018
  25. ↑ ProPublica, "MI-08," accessed September 26, 2018
  26. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  27. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  28. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  29. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  30. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  31. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  32. ↑ Twitter, "Barack Obama on October 1, 2018"
  33. ↑ Michigan Live, "Joe Biden endorses Democrat Elissa Slotkin in 8th Congressional District," April 4, 2018
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Detroit News, "Slotkin picks up high-profile national-security endorsements from Republicans," September 12, 2018
  35. ↑ Detroit News, "Pence: Ensure 'blue wave hits red wall right here in Michigan,'" October 29, 2018
  36. ↑ The Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Free Press endorsement: Elissa Slotkin and Haley Stevens for Congress," October 31, 2018
  37. ↑ Michigan Live, "Former Vice President Joe Biden to rally in Lansing," October 29, 2018
  38. ↑ Washington Examiner, "Republican congressman: I'm being 'blown away' by Democratic cash," October 17, 2018
  39. ↑ The Hill, "Trump tweets support for vulnerable House GOP tax writer," October 5, 2018
  40. ↑ The Detroit News, "Super PAC aligned with GOP leaders axes funding for Bishop," September 28, 2018
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 WHMI, "Bishop & Slotkin Settle On Three Debates Next Month," September 26, 2018
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  43. ↑ Elissa Slotkin for Congress, “Priorities,” accessed September 14, 2018
  44. ↑ Mike Bishop for Congress, “Issues,” accessed September 14, 2018
  45. ↑ 270towin.com, "Michigan," accessed June 29, 2017
  46. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  47. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  48. ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2016 Michigan Candidate Listing," accessed April 20, 2016
  49. ↑ Michigan Radio, "Assistant Macomb prosecutor Suzanna Shkreli seeks to replace Melissa Gilbert in 8th Dist. House race," July 6, 2016
  50. ↑ Politico, "Michigan House Primaries Results," August 2, 2016
  51. ↑ The Detroit News, "State board lets Dems select new Rep. Bishop challenger," August 22, 2016
  52. ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2016 Michigan Candidate Listing," accessed September 6, 2016
  53. ↑ CNN, "Election Results," accessed November 8, 2016
  54. ↑ Michigan Demographics, "Michigan Cities by Population," accessed September 5, 2018
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2017-2018 Elections to the United States Congress
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Michigan's current delegation to the United States Congress
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Elissa Slotkin (D)
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