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United States Senate election in Michigan (August 7, 2018 Republican primary)

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U.S. Senate, Michigan
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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:
Debbie Stabenow (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Michigan
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Likely Democratic
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
U.S. Senate, Michigan
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

Army veteran John James (R) defeated venture capitalist Sandy Pensler (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan on August 7, 2018.

James had party support, receiving endorsements from President Donald Trump, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Reps. Mike Bishop (R-Mich.) and Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.). Outsider PAC, Right to Life of Michigan Victory Fund, and Senate Conservatives Fund also launched direct mail campaigns and made ad buys for James.[1]

Pensler had the fundraising advantage, having contributed $5 million to his own campaign through the second quarter of 2018. He emphasized his Detroit roots in campaign ads.[2][3][4]

In the only televised debate of the race in July, the candidates attacked one another’s conservative bona fides. James criticized Pensler for his past support of legalized abortion. His campaign later released a statement saying Pensler was “pro-choice and would vote to confirm pro-choice judges."[5]

Pensler said that his views on abortion had changed after the birth of his son two decades earlier and that he was anti-abortion, supporting exceptions in cases of rape or incest. James expressed support for exceptions only where the woman’s life was at risk.[5]

While both candidates opposed sanctuary jurisdictions, Pensler attacked James for making his only political donation to Detroit City Council member Raquel Castañeda-López, who supports Detroit’s status as a sanctuary city. James said the donation was a fee to attend a nonpartisan event.[5]

For more on related elections, please see:

Candidates and election results

See also: Statistics on U.S. Congress candidates, 2018

John James defeated Sandy Pensler in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Michigan on August 7, 2018.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Michigan

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of John James
John James
 
54.7
 
518,564
Image of Sandy Pensler
Sandy Pensler Candidate Connection
 
45.3
 
429,885

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

Total votes: 948,449
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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Top candidates

Republican Party John James

John James (Michigan).png

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

James graduated from West Point and spent eight years in the Army as a Ranger-qualified aviation officer, serving with distinction in Operation Iraqi Freedom. After his military service, James grew his family business from $35 million in revenue to $137 million and created 100 jobs in the United States. He earned an MBA from the University of Michigan.[6]

"I am called to a life of service. I want to serve my country and my community and my state. When I would come back from Iraq on leave during the great recession, the economic and societal devastation I saw here in my own state floored me," James said of his decision to run for office.[7]

On his campaign website, James listed national security, economic opportunity, and support for the Trump administration as his guiding policy priorities.[8]

Republican Party Sandy Pensler

Sandy Pensler.png

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Pensler worked as a private investor and financial advisor for large corporations like Chrysler, Sprint, and Scholastic. He founded Pensler Capital and several businesses, including four manufacturing plants that employ 100 Michigan workers. Pensler received his B.A. in chemical engineering from Yale University and J.D. from Harvard Law School.[9]

“I think the country is at a tipping point between two visions,” Pensler said when announcing his candidacy. "There’s one that is Washington directing things on a pathway that will lead to weakening of the country. And the other is putting individuals and markets in charge and empowering Michiganders to solve problems.”[10]

On his campaign website, Pensler listed decreasing regulations to improve job growth, embracing technology in education, and renegotiating trade deals as some of his policy priorities.[11]

Debates and forums

July 18, 2018, debate

James and Pensler appeared on WJR with Frank Beckmann for a radio debate on July 18, 2018. The candidates discussed Trump's performance at the July 2018 Helsinki press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, their business experience, and immigration policy.[12]

  • Find The Detroit News round-up of the debate here.
  • Find the MLive round-up of the debate here.

July 6, 2018, debate

James and Pensler participated in a debate moderated by reporter and columnist Tim Skubick on July 6, 2018, where the candidates discussed abortion, gun ownership, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and LGBT discrimination, and support for Trump in the 2016 presidential election.[13]

  • Find The Detroit Free Press round-up the debate here.
  • Find The Detroit News round-up of the debate here.
  • Find the MLive round-up of the debate here.

Campaign themes and policy stances

Campaign themes

These were the policy positions listed on the candidates' websites, if available.

Republican Party John James

“

Defend the Constitution

Supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States means abiding by it as written. I will fight to preserve separation of powers, fight for limited government and will approve justices who will interpret the constitution as written.

Border Security

I understand how to secure a border because I’ve done it before. Sovereign nations must have secure borders and entry points. I support Kate’s Law and I will support defunding ‘sanctuary cities,’ or as I call them, ‘outlaw cities’.

Pro-2nd Amendment

“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, SHALL NOT be infringed.” Enough said!

Pro-Life

I am 100% Pro-Life. Always have been. Always will be.

Veterans

We must to do a better job preparing our service members for life outside of the military, because re-integrating into civilian life should not be the toughest battle that we (vets) face.

Social Security

Protecting Social Security for our seniors today and saving it for our grandchildren tomorrow are moral obligations. Hard working and honest Michiganders of all generations are owed a return on their lifelong investment into the System.

Balanced Budget

Our debt is a national security threat. We must rein in spending! I would support a balanced budget amendment and will work to cut waste and consolidate or eliminate entire departments in the federal bureaucracy.

Infrastructure

Pot holes and blighted buildings have no place in Michigan’s future. I will work to ensure an infrastructure package that is more than simply repairing our legacy but building our future.

Trade

Michigan is a global leader in the agriculture and automotive industries. I support free, but fair trade. We must ensure that our trade deals and federal regulations make sense, do not put Michigan-made goods at a disadvantage and keep jobs in Michigan.

Entitlement Reform

Dependency should not be the destiny of any American. Michigan deserves a Senator who will work to eliminate poverty, not just make it more comfortable.

Immigration

We are a nation of immigrants but we are also a nation of laws. We welcome legal immigrants, but illegal immigration is a direct affront to our laws and to those who abide by them. We must end illegal immigration.

Michigan's Agriculture

Michigan’s food and agricultural industry includes over 52,000 farms, employing over 900,000 Michiganders. To remain a global leader in agriculture we must ensure that federal regulations make sense and do not put Michigan farmers on an unequal playing field with our competitors.

Education

Every child in Michigan should be career or college ready when he or she leaves high school. Parents and local communities should be empowered to determine the best way to achieve this goal, not Washington.

Great Lakes

Our Great Lakes are a national treasure which also supports a robust fish and tourism industry here in Michigan. I will champion policies and programs that not only protect environmental quality throughout the Great Lakes but will protect them from invasive species such as Asian carp.[14]

”
—John James for Senate[15]

Republican Party Sandy Pensler

“

Putting Michigan First...Again!

Implementing an agenda that puts Michigan First will make sure that Michigan becomes on track to be 1st. Michigan wasn’t just 1st in the country, we were 1st in the world.

We were the automobile capital. We were the manufacturing epicenter of the globe. We led in cars, chemicals, retailing, cereal, and helped win a world war. Michigan has made great strides in the past eight years because of the leadership at our state level, but the help from our Senators hasn’t been there. Debbie Stabenow cares more about what Chuck Schumer thinks than how struggling Michiganders live. Things are going to change. We are going to implement policies at the federal level that put Michigan First, and that is going to make Michigan 1st in the statistics that matter.

That means 1st in job creation. That means 1st in wages. That means 1st in education. That means 1st in entrepreneurship. We can create the future in mobility, healthcare, and manufacturing.

We are going to put Michigan First.

Michigan First: Create Great Jobs

We are going to make Michigan First in job creation. We are going to provide purpose and meaning through good jobs, not dependency through entitlements. I advised the turnaround of some of the county’s largest companies Chrysler, TJX, Navistar, Sprint, Time Warner and started and run my own companies. I know what it takes to create jobs. As an economist I understand we need to fix the tax code and decrease regulations. We will create great jobs by empowering Michigan citizens and businesses rather than dictating results and pathways from Washington.

Michigan First: Improve education; reward performance, create competition and choice

We are going to make Michigan First by emphasizing the benefits of choice and competition in our schools. We will embrace technology and reward performance by our teachers rather than simply rewarding seniority.

Michigan First: Re-negotiate Unfair Trade Deals

We are going to put Michigan First by renegotiating trade deals so that companies are incentivized to create and maintain the good jobs here in Michigan rather than send them to China and Mexico.

Michigan First: Reform Entitlements

We are going to put Michigan first by putting people to work and reforming entitlement programs while protecting seniors on social security and medicare. There are over 100 means tested entitlement programs. Many of these programs spend billions on projects whose long term effects harm those they are intended to help. Most of the programs incentivize single parent households over dual family living. This bias is destructive to the children and parents it intends to help.

Michigan First: Crack-Down on Illegal Immigration

We are going to put Michigan First by cracking down on illegal immigration and ensuring jobs that can be done by Michigan workers are done by Michigan workers. We will enhance our border security and create borders which are impenetrable by illegal immigrants. We will support the rule of law by defunding sanctuary cities.

Michigan First: Protect the Great Lakes

We are going to put Michigan First by investing in and protecting our Great Lakes. They are one of our nation’s greatest treasures. We are going to use funds which Debbie Stabenow wants to send to China and India via the Paris Climate Treaty to clean up our environment in Michigan and create urban parks. We will not have the people of Lansing, Detroit, Saginaw and other Michiganders pay to take their jobs to Mumbai, Beijing and Shanghai.

Michigan First: Fight for Projects

We are going to put Michigan First by fighting for defense, transportation, and other projects that are currently going to other states.

Pro-2nd Amendment

I strongly support second amendment rights. The right to carry arms is and was the bulwark of liberty. This is not simply an issue of sports use or self defense. The second amendment right to carry arms is a bulwark for protecting freedom and repelling tyranny. In the Federalist papers the primary framer of the bill of rights James Madison contrasted the United States to the European kingdoms, which he contemptuously described as "afraid to trust the people with arms." He assured his fellow citizens that they need never fear their government because of "the advantage of being armed." I will stand with our founding principles.

Pro-Life

I am pro life. My wife and I think abortion is wrong. I will act to defund Planned Parenthood. Roe vs. Wade was wrongly decided. Legislating from the bench and stripping the states of rights granted to them in the constitution by judicial fiat is an abuse of power which undermines democracy and trust in the rule of law. I will fight for judges who interpret the law based on its intent and not their personal viewpoints of society.[14]

”
—Sandy Pensler for Senate[16]

Satellite spending

  • Outsider PAC released an ad presenting Pensler as liberal and James as an ally with Trump on immigration policy in July 2018.

Endorsements

The table below summarizes the endorsements Ballotpedia identified for Republican candidates in the primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan.

Republican candidate endorsements
Endorsement James Pensler
Federal officials
President Donald Trump (R)[17] ✔
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.)[18] ✔
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)[19] ✔
Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.)[20] ✔
Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Mich.)[21] ✔
State figures
Former Republican National Committee member Chuck Yob (R)[22] ✔
Former state Rep. Jon Bumstead (R)[22] ✔
Former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bob Young (R)[23] ✔
Organizations
Susan B. Anthony List[24] ✔
National Right to Life Committee[25] ✔
American Conservative Union[26] ✔
Senate Conservatives Fund[27] ✔

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
U.S. Senate election in Michigan, Republican primary: James vs. Pensler
Poll James (R) Pensler (R)Undecided/OtherMargin of ErrorSample Size
Detroit Free Press/EPIC-MRA Poll
July 21-22, 2018		 39%38%23%+/-3.11,000
National Research
July 11-14, 2018		 21%28%51%+/-4.0600
Target Insyght
June 24-26, 2018		 29%32%39%+/-5.0400
Strategic National
June 16-21, 2018		 18%33%49%+/-3.11,000
Strategic National
April 4-5, 2018		 12%20%68%+/-4.0600
Denno Research
April 2-3, 2018		 12%16%72%+/-4.0500
Strategic National
March 19-20, 2018		 17%21%62%+/-4.9400
Note: A "0%" finding means the question was not a part of the poll. 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
U.S. Senate election in Michigan, Republican primary: James, Pensler, Young
Poll Young (R) James (R)Pensler (R)UndecidedMargin of ErrorSample Size
Strategic National
December 16-17, 2017		 11%9%5%75%+/-4.0600
Note: A "0%" finding means the question was not a part of the poll. 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


Timeline

  • July 18, 2018: James and Pensler participated in a radio debate where they discussed Trump's performance at the July 2018 Helsinki press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, their business experience, and immigration policy.[12]
  • July 6, 2018: James and Pensler participated in the only televised debate of the race, where they discussed abortion, gun ownership, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and LGBT discrimination, and support for Trump in the 2016 presidential election.[5]
  • May 4, 2018: James released his first campaign ad, highlighting his military experience and conservative platform.
  • April 5, 2018: Two more polls from Strategic National and Denno Research showed that a majority of voters—68 percent and 72 percent, respectively, in each poll—continue to be undecided or unfamiliar with Pensler and James.
  • March 20, 2018: Strategic National released a poll finding that a majority of Republican voters—62 percent—were undecided in a match-up between James (17 percent) and Pensler (21 percent).

Race ratings

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in Michigan, 2018
Race trackerRace ratings
October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018October 9, 2018
The Cook Political ReportLikely DemocraticLikely DemocraticLikely DemocraticLikely Democratic
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe DemocraticSafe Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

Campaign finance

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


Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Debbie Stabenow Democratic Party $17,893,755 $17,225,717 $1,782,307 As of December 31, 2018
John James Republican Party $12,551,467 $12,043,512 $507,955 As of December 31, 2018
Sandy Pensler Republican Party $5,235,247 $5,235,247 $0 As of September 30, 2018
Marcia Squier Green Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
John Howard Wilhelm Natural Law Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
George Huffman III 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.


Campaign advertisements

John James

Support

"President Donald J. Trump Endorses John James for U.S. Senate" - James campaign ad, released July 30, 2018
"Difference" - Outsider PAC ad, released July 14, 2018
"Flight Suit" - James campaign ad, released July 5, 2018
"Kid Rock for John James" - James campaign ad, released June 28, 2018
"Conservative Warrior" - James campaign ad, released May 4, 2018


Sandy Pensler

Support

"The Truth" - Pensler campaign ad, released July 26, 2018
"Fighting for Michigan" - Pensler campaign ad, released July 6, 2018
"Detroit Tough" - Pensler campaign ad, released February 4, 2018


Election history

2014

U.S. Senate, Michigan General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngGary Peters 54.6% 1,704,936
     Republican Terri Lynn Land 41.3% 1,290,199
     Libertarian Jim Fulner 2% 62,897
     U.S. Taxpayers Party Richard Matkin 1.2% 37,529
     Green Chris Wahmhoff 0.8% 26,137
Total Votes 3,121,698
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

2012

U.S. Senate, Michigan General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDebbie Stabenow Incumbent 58.8% 2,735,826
     Republican Pete Hoekstra 38% 1,767,386
     Libertarian Scotty Boman 1.8% 84,480
     Green Harley Mikkelson 0.6% 27,890
     UST Richard Matkin 0.6% 26,038
     NLP John Litle 0.2% 11,229
Total Votes 4,652,849
Source: Michigan Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

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.[28]

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.[29][30]

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.


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).[31]

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. ↑ FEC, "2018 Senate Independent Expenditure—Michigan," accessed August 8, 2018
  2. ↑ Detroit News, "Pensler puts $5M of own money into U.S. Senate race," January 10, 2018
  3. ↑ Detroit News, "Pensler launching ‘Detroit Tough’ Super Bowl ad," February 2, 2018
  4. ↑ FEC, "Pensler, Sandy," accessed July 26, 2018
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Detroit Free Press, "Republican candidates for U.S. Senate battle over abortion, TV ads," July 6, 2018
  6. ↑ John James for Senate, "Meet John," accessed July 9, 2018
  7. ↑ RealClearPolitics, "John James Could Be the Future Republicans Have Been Waiting for," October 25, 2017
  8. ↑ John James for Senate, "Issues," accessed July 9, 2018
  9. ↑ Pensler for Senate, "About," accessed July 9, 2018
  10. ↑ Detroit News, "Pensler joins U.S. Senate race to take on Stabenow," November 20, 2017
  11. ↑ Pensler for Senate, "Issues," accessed July 9, 2018
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Detroit News, "James, Pensler trade jabs, defend Trump in Senate GOP radio debate," July 18, 2018
  13. ↑ Detroit News, "Republicans Pensler, James agree to July Senate debate," June 7, 2018
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  15. ↑ John James for Senate, "Issues," accessed June 15, 2018
  16. ↑ Sandy Pensler for Senate, "Issues," accessed June 15, 2018
  17. ↑ Twitter, "Donald J. Trump," July 27, 2018
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 WHTC, "Huizenga Throws Support to James' US Senate Campaign," July 10, 2018
  19. ↑ John James for Senate, "Conservative Outsider John James Announces Endorsement of Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio," accessed January 31, 2018
  20. ↑ John James for Senate, "Rep. Paul Mitchell Endorses John James for U.S. Senate," accessed January 31, 2018
  21. ↑ John James for Senate, "Mike Bishop Endorses John James for Senate," November 20, 2017
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Pensler for Senate, "Republicans in Trump Country Unite Behind Sandy Pensler for US Senate," April 9, 2018
  23. ↑ John James for Senate, "Bob Young Endorses John James for Senate," accessed January 31, 2018
  24. ↑ Breitbart, "National Pro-Life Group Endorses Michigan Republican John James for U.S. Senate," June 18, 2018
  25. ↑ Detroit News, "Right to Life group endorses James for U.S. Senate," May 9, 2018
  26. ↑ American Conservative Union, "ACU Endorses John James," March 22, 2018
  27. ↑ Senate Conservatives Fund, "John James for Senate in Michigan," January 30, 2018
  28. ↑ 270towin.com, "Michigan," accessed June 29, 2017
  29. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  30. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  31. ↑ Michigan Demographics, "Michigan Cities by Population," accessed September 5, 2018


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