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Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2020
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| 2020 Michigan House Elections | |
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| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | August 4, 2020 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2018・2016・2014 2012・2010・2008 |
| 2020 Elections | |
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| Choose a chamber below: | |
Michigan Republicans maintained their existing majority in the 2020 House elections but fell short of gaining a supermajority. All 110 seats were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans had a 58-51 majority with one vacant seat. Republicans neither gained nor lost seats and Democrats gained a net one seat, bringing the chamber's post-election partisan balance to 58-52. A 74-seat majority is required to override gubernatorial vetoes.
Ballotpedia identified 17 of the races as battlegrounds.
Democrats held 8 battleground districts (9, 20 25, 41, 48, 62, 67, and 71), and the incumbent was seeking re-election in every district. Incumbents in all districts won less than 55% of the vote in the 2018 election, and Donald Trump (R) won Districts 19, 25, 48, 62, and 71.
Republicans held nine battleground districts (38, 39, 61, 72, 93, 98, 99, 104, 110), and the incumbent was seeking re-election in every district but Districts 38, 61, and 104. Incumbents in all districts won less than 55% of the vote in the 2018 election, and Hillary Clinton (D) won District 61.
Heading into the election, Michigan had been under a divided government since 2018, when Democrats flipped the governorship. Before 2018, Michigan had been governed by a Republican trifecta since 2011. Democrats needed to flip four of the 110 seats up (4% of the chamber) in order to win control of the chamber. Heading into the 2020 elections, 15 states were Democratic trifectas, 21 states were Republican trifectas, and 14 were under divided government.
The Michigan House of Representatives was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
Heading into the 2020 general election, Democrats controlled 39 out of 99 state legislative chambers in the U.S., while Republicans controlled 59 chambers. The Alaska House was the sole chamber in which there was a power-sharing agreement between the parties. Democrats also had trifectas in 15 states. A party has a trifecta when it controls the governorship and majorities in both state legislative chambers.
For detailed campaign finance information for the elections in this chamber, click here.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Michigan modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee ballot applications were sent to all registered voters in the general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| Michigan House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 51 | 52 | |
| Republican Party | 58 | 58 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 110 | 110 | |
Districts
- See also: Michigan state legislative districts
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Candidates
General candidates
The candidate list below is based on candidate filing lists provided by the Michigan Secretary of State. (I) denotes an incumbent.[1]
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate ConnectionPrimary candidates
The candidate list below is based on candidate filing lists provided by the Michigan Secretary of State on April 22, 2020. (I) denotes an incumbent.[2]
2020 battleground chamber
The Michigan House of Representatives was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle. Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.
What was at stake?
- Democrats needed to gain four seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
Why was it a battleground?
- Seats needed to flip: Democrats needed to flip four of the 110 seats up (4% of the chamber) in order to win control of the chamber.
- 2018 battleground chamber: The Michigan House of Representatives was a battleground chamber in 2018. That year, Democrats gained six seats from Republicans and Republicans gained one seat from Democrats. Read more about the 2018 elections here.
- More flips in 2018 than needed to change control in 2020: More seats flipped in the 2018 election (seven) than needed to flip to change control of the chamber in 2020 (four).
- Race ratings: The Cook Political Report rated the Michigan House of Representatives a toss-up chamber in 2020, meaning both parties had a good chance to win a majority.[3]
Battleground races
| Michigan House of Representatives Battleground races |
|---|
| Republican seats |
 District 38
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| District 39
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| District 61
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| District 72
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| District 93
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| District 98
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| District 99
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| District 104
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| District 110
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| Democratic seats |
 District 19
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| District 20
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| District 25
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| District 41
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| District 48
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| District 62
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| District 67
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| District 71
|
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identified 17 battleground races in the Michigan House of Representatives 2020 elections, nine of which were Republican-held seats, and eight of which were Democratic-held seats. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.
To determine state legislative battleground races in 2020, Ballotpedia looked for races that fit one or more of the four factors listed below:
- In the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the incumbent is not on the ballot this year.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and that presidential candidate won the district by a margin of 20 percentage points or more.
District 19
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and was won by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. Laurie Pohutsky (D) was first elected in 2018, where she received 50.2 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of .4 percentage points. District 19 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 19 by a margin of 7.54 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 4.74 percentage points. |
District 20
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Matt Koleszar (D) was first elected in 2018, where he received 50.2 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of 2.8 percentage points. District 20 was one of 43 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 20 by a margin of 3.54 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 4.13 percentage points. |
District 25
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Nate Shannon (D) was first elected in 2018, where he received 54 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of 8 percentage points. District 25 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 25 by a margin of 9.55 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 3.53 percentage points. |
District 38
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55%. Kathy Crawford (D) was first elected in 2014. She was re-elected in 2018, where she received 49.4 percent of the vote and defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 1.3 percentage points. Crawford did not file to run for re-election in 2020. District 38 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 38 by a margin of 3.66 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 7.85 percentage points. |
District 39
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55%. Ryan Berman (D) was first elected in 2018, where he received 54.1 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 11.8 percentage points and his libertarian challenger by a margin of 50.5 percentage points. District 39 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 38 by a margin of 3.66 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 3.59 percentage points. |
District 41
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Padma Kuppa (D) was first elected in 2018, where she received 51.3 percent of the vote and defeated her Republican challenger by a margin of 2.6 percentage points. District 41 was one of 43 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 20 by a margin of 1.38 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 3.84 percentage points. |
District 48
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Sheryl Kennedy (D) was first elected in 2018, where she received 54.8 percent of the vote and defeated her Republican challenger by a margin of 9.6 percentage points. District 48 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 48 by a margin of 8.85 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 19.08 percentage points. |
District 61
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the incumbent is not on the ballot this year. Brandt Iden (R) was first elected in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018, where he received 51.4 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 2.8 percentage points. Iden did not file to run for re-election in 2020. District 61 was one of 43 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 20 by a margin of 4.33 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 0.91 percentage points. |
District 62
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and was won by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. Jim Haadsma (D) was first elected in 2018, where he received 51.8 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of 3.6 percentage points. District 62 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 62 by a margin of 2.3 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 11.49 percentage points. |
District 67
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Kara Hope (D) was first elected in 2018, where she received 53.7 percent of the vote and defeated her Republican challenger by a margin of 9.8 percentage points and her Libertarian challenger by a margin of 51.3 percentage points. District 67 was one of 43 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 67 by a margin of 2.99 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 9.32 percentage points. |
District 72
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Steven Johnson (R) was first elected in 2016. He was re-elected in 2018, where he received 53.7 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 10.3 percentage points and his Libertarian challenger by 50.7 percentage points. District 72 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 72 by a margin of 9.61 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 13.41 percentage points. |
District 93
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Graham Filler (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 52.5 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 7.9 percentage points and his Libertarian challenger by 49.5 percentage points. District 93 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 93 by a margin of 9.61 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 6.64 percentage points. |
District 98
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Annette Glenn (R) was first elected in 2018, where she received 52 percent of the vote and defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 4 percentage points. District 98 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 98 by a margin of 18.62 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 13.03 percentage points. |
District 99
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Roger Hauck (R) was first elected in 2016. He was re-elected in 2018, where he received 53.4 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 6.8 percentage points. District 99 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 99 by a margin of 11.89 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 2.7 percentage points. |
District 104
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Larry Inman (R) was first elected in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018, where he received 50.4 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of .8 percentage points. Inman did not file to run for re-election in 2020. District 104 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 104 by a margin of 12.53 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 11.81 percentage points. |
District 110
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Gregory Markkanen (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 50.8 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 1.6 percentage points. District 110 was one of 67 Michigan House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 110 by a margin of 18.96 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 4.58 percentage points. |
Battleground races map
Campaign finance
The section and tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. Districts and elections are grouped in sections of 10. To view data for a district, click on the appropriate bar below to expand it. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
Two incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Sheryl Kennedy |  Democratic |
House District 48 |
| Brian Elder | Democratic |
House District 96 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
No incumbents lost in the Aug. 4 primaries.
Retiring incumbents
There were 26 open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[4] Those incumbents were:
The 26 seats left open in 2020 represented a lower-than-average number relative to the preceding five elections. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Michigan House of Representatives elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 110 | 26 (24 percent) | 84 (76 percent) |
| 2018 | 110 | 43 (39 percent) | 67 (61 percent) |
| 2016 | 110 | 40 (36 percent) | 70 (64 percent) |
| 2014 | 110 | 41 (37 percent) | 69 (63 percent) |
| 2012 | 110 | 18 (16 percent) | 92 (84 percent) |
| 2010 | 110 | 48 (44 percent) | 62 (56 percent) |
Redistricting in Michigan
- See also: Redistricting in Michigan
In Michigan, a non-politician commission is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district plans. The commission comprises 13 members, including four Democrats, four Republicans, and five unaffiliated voters or members of minor parties. In order for a map to be enacted, at least seven members must vote for it, including at least two Democrats, two Republicans, and two members not affiliated with either major party.[5]
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission prepared this document specifically explaining the redistricting process after the 2020 census.
Process to become a candidate
For major party candidates
See statutes: Michigan Election Law, "Preparation and Filing of Nominating Petitions; Fees"
Political parties whose principal candidate received at least 5 percent of the total votes cast for all candidates for Michigan Secretary of State at the most recent general election are considered major parties and must generally nominate their candidates by primary election.[6]
A major party candidate for governor, the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, or the state legislature must file an affidavit of identity and nominating petition by 4:00 p.m. on the 15th Tuesday preceding the primary election. Candidates for secretary of state and attorney general are not nominated by primary, but by convention.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag[7][8]
The affidavit of identity requires the candidate to provide basic identifying information (such as name, residential and mailing address, the office being sought, etc.). The affidavit also includes a campaign finance compliance statement, which the candidate must sign before a notary public.[7]
Nominating petition signature requirements vary according to the population of the electoral division (e.g., entire state, congressional district, state legislative district, etc.) and are summarized in the table below.[9]
| Statutory signature requirements for major party candidates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Population of electoral division | Minimum signatures | Maximum signatures |
| 0 - 9,999 | 3 | 10 |
| 10,000 - 24,999 | 20 | 50 |
| 25,000 - 49,999 | 50 | 100 |
| 50,000 - 74,999 | 100 | 200 |
| 75,000 - 99,999 | 200 | 400 |
| 100,000 - 199,999 | 300 | 500 |
| 200,000 - 499,999 | 500 | 1,000 |
| 500,000 - 999,999 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| 1,000,000 - 1,999,999 | 2,000 | 4,000 |
| 2,000,000 - 4,999,999 | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| Over 5 million (statewide) | 15,000 | 30,000 |
A major party state legislative candidate may pay a filing fee of $100 in lieu of filing a nominating petition.[10]
Filing paperwork for federal, statewide, and multi-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State. Filing paperwork for single-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the appropriate county clerk.[8]
For minor party candidates
See statutes: Michigan Election Law, Section 168.686a
Political parties whose principal candidate received less than 5 percent of the total votes cast for all candidates for Michigan Secretary of State at the most recent general election are considered non-major parties and cannot nominate their candidates by primary election. Instead, such parties must nominate their candidates by county caucuses and state conventions. Candidates for the United States House of Representatives or the state legislature may be nominated by county caucuses, provided that the applicable electoral district lies entirely within the boundaries of a single county. Candidates for statewide office must be nominated by state conventions. District candidates (e.g., state legislative or congressional candidates whose districts encompass parts of more than one county) may be nominated at district caucuses held in conjunction with state conventions, provided that delegates from the district are in attendance.[6][11]
No more than one day following the conclusion of a caucus or convention, the chairperson and secretary of the caucus or convention must certify the names and mailing addresses of the selected candidates to the county clerk (if nominated by county caucus) or Michigan Secretary of State (if nominated by state convention). This certification must be accompanied by an affidavit of identity (the same as that filed by major party candidates) and a signed certificate of acceptance of the nomination for each candidate.[11]
Caucuses and conventions must be held by the date of the state primary election.[11]
For independent candidates
See statutes: Michigan Election Law, "Candidates Without Political Party Affiliation"
An independent candidate seeking placement on the general election ballot must file an affidavit of identity (the same as that filed by party candidates) and a qualifying petition. All filing materials must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on the 110th day preceding the general election.[12]
Qualifying petition signature requirements vary according to the population of the electoral division (e.g., entire state, congressional district, state legislative district, etc.) and are summarized in the table below.[9]
| Statutory signature requirements for independent candidates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Population of electoral division | Minimum signatures | Maximum signatures |
| 0 - 9,999 | 9 | 30 |
| 10,000 - 24,999 | 60 | 150 |
| 25,000 - 49,999 | 150 | 300 |
| 50,000 - 74,999 | 300 | 600 |
| 75,000 - 99,999 | 600 | 1,200 |
| 100,000 - 199,999 | 900 | 1,500 |
| 200,000 - 499,999 | 1,500 | 3,000 |
| 500,000 - 999,999 | 3,000 | 6,000 |
| 1,000,000 - 1,999,999 | 6,000 | 12,000 |
| 2,000,000 - 4,999,999 | 12,000 | 24,000 |
| Over 5 million (statewide) | 30,000 | 60,000 |
Signatures on qualifying petitions must be collected in the 180 days prior to the date the petition is filed. Any signatures collected prior to that will not be counted.[9]
Filing paperwork for federal, statewide, and multi-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State. Filing paperwork for single-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the appropriate county clerk.[8]
For write-in candidates
In order to have his or her votes tallied, a write-in candidate must submit a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate to the appropriate filing official by 4:00 p.m. on the second Friday immediately preceding an election.[13]
Filing paperwork for federal, statewide, and multi-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State. Filing paperwork for single-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the appropriate county clerk.[8]
Candidate name conventions
Michigan law establishes the following conventions to govern how a candidate's name can be rendered on an election ballot:[14]
| “ | If you are using a name that was not provided to you at birth, you must check the box and provide your former name. However, you do not need to provide a former name if your name changed because of marriage or divorce, is a nickname that you have been known as for at least 6 months, or was formally changed for any reason more than 10 years ago.[14][15] | ” |
Vacancies
Upon the death, resignation, or removal of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, the governor must issue a call for a special election to fill the vacancy. A special primary must be held at least 20 days prior to the date of the special election. The proclamation must establish all election dates and candidate filing deadlines.[16]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Michigan House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Michigan House of Representatives | Qualified party | Varies by district population | N/A | 4/21/2020 | Source |
| Michigan House of Representatives | Unaffiliated | Varies by district population | N/A | 7/16/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
Section 7 of Article 4 of the Michigan Constitution states, "Each senator and representative must be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, and an elector of the district he represents. The removal of his domicile from the district shall be deemed a vacation of the office. No person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be eligible for either house of the legislature."
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[17] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $71,685/year | No per diem is paid. Legislators receive an expense allowance of $10,800/year for session and interim. |
When sworn in
Michigan legislators assume office at noon on the first day of January.[18]
2020 battleground chamber
The Michigan House of Representatives was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle. Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.
What was at stake?
- Democrats needed to gain four seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
Why was it a battleground?
- Seats needed to flip: Democrats needed to flip four of the 110 seats up (4% of the chamber) in order to win control of the chamber.
- 2018 battleground chamber: The Michigan House of Representatives was a battleground chamber in 2018. That year, Democrats gained six seats from Republicans and Republicans gained one seat from Democrats. Read more about the 2018 elections here.
- More flips in 2018 than needed to change control in 2020: More seats flipped in the 2018 election (seven) than needed to flip to change control of the chamber in 2020 (four).
- Race ratings: The Cook Political Report rated the Michigan House of Representatives a toss-up chamber in 2020, meaning both parties had a good chance to win a majority.[19]
Michigan political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
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 |
Presidential politics in Michigan
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Michigan, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 47.3% | 2,268,839 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
47.5% | 2,279,543 | 16 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 3.6% | 172,136 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 1.1% | 51,463 | 0 | |
| U.S. Taxpayers | Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.3% | 16,139 | 0 | |
| Natural Law | Emidio Soltysik/Angela Nicole Walker | 0% | 2,209 | 0 | |
| Other | Write-in votes | 0.2% | 8,955 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 4,799,284 | 16 | |||
| Election results via: Michigan Department of State | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Michigan utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[20][21]
Poll times
In Michigan, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Most of the state is observes Eastern Time, while several counties observe Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[22]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Michigan, a voter must be a United States citizen and a resident of their city or township for at least 30 days. Voters must be at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not be currently serving a sentence in jail or prison.[23]
Voters may register to vote online, by mail, or in person at clerk's offices in their county, city, or township, or at a state department branch office 15 days or earlier before an election .[23]
Within 14 days of an election and on Election Day, voters can register in person at their local clerk's office by presenting proof of residency documentation.[23] According to the Michigan Secretary of State's website:[23]
| “ | Proof of residency is official documentation (paper or digital) that lists a voter’s current name and address. When registering to vote within 14 days of an election, voters must present one form of proof of residency in person at a local clerk’s office. Proof of residency examples include:
|
” |
Automatic registration
Michigan automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they apply for or update a driver’s license or personal identification card.[20]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Michigan has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[20]
Same-day registration
Michigan allows same-day voter registration.[20]
Residency requirements
Michigan law requires 30 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.[23]
Verification of citizenship
Michigan does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[24] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
This page, administered by the Michigan Department of State, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Michigan requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[25] Voters without identification can cast a regular ballot by signing an affidavit.[25]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the Michigan Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- Michigan driver’s license
- Michigan personal identification card
- Current driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state
- Current operator's or chauffeur's license
- Current federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID
- Current U.S. passport
- Current military identification card with photo
- Current student identification with photo from an educational institution
- Current tribal identification card with photo.
Voters can obtain a state identification card at a secretary of state branch office for $10. Voters over the age of 65, voters who are blind, and voters whose driving privileges have been terminated due to a physical or mental disability can obtain an identification card for free. Additionally, voters who can present a reason for having the fee waived may also obtain an ID for free. Visit the Michigan secretary of state’s page or call (888) SOS-MICH (767-6424) for more information.[25]
Early voting
Michigan permits early voting. Michigan refers to early voting as early in-person voting. Early voting dates vary across the state, but must include a minimum of nine consecutive days, ending on the Sunday before an election. For more information, click here.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Any Michigan voter can cast an absentee ballot. To vote absentee, a request must be received online or by mail no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election. In person requests can be made until 4 p.m. on the day before Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must then be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day.[26]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2020 Michigan Candidate Listing, accessed July 21, 2020
- ↑ Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State, Department of State, "2020 Michigan Candidate Listing," accessed April 23, 2020
- ↑ The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ Michigan Radio, "Redistricting proposal passes in Michigan," November 6, 2018
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Michigan Election Law, "Section 168.532," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Michigan Secretary of State, "Affidavit of Identity and Receipt of Filing," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Michigan Department of State, "Preparing, Ciculating, and Filing Petitions for Public Office," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Michigan Secretary of State, "Petition Signature Requirement Chart," accessed May 19, 2023
- ↑ Michigan Election Law, "Section 168.163," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Michigan Election Law, "Section 168.686a," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ Michigan Election Law, "Section 168.590c," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ Michigan Election Law, "Section 168.737a," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Michigan Secretary of State, "Affidavit of Identity and Receipt of Filing," accessed March 25, 2025
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Michigan Election Law, "Section 168.145," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Michigan Constitution, "Article XI, Section 2," accessed February 12, 2021
- ↑ The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 NCSL, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 7, 2024 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "ncsl" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Michigan.gov, "Questions and Answers: Michigan’s Presidential Primary," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions: Elections and Voting," accessed April 16, 2023
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 Michigan Secretary of State, "Registering to Vote," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Michigan.gov, "Notice to Voters: Voter Identification Requirement in Effect," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "Vote at home (Absentee)," April 17, 2023
