2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan
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The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the 14 U.S. representatives from the state of Michigan, a decrease of one following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on August 7, 2012. The filing deadline for candidates to file to run in the primary was May 15.[1][2] Except for two seats, all the incumbents sought re-election. The open seats were the 5th and 11th congressional districts. Due to the loss of one seat from the 2010 census, two congressmen ran against each other.
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November 6, 2012
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All 14 Michigan seats to the United States House of Representatives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Despite Democrats winning more than 240,000 more votes for U.S. House districts statewide, Republicans won nine of 14 seats, and Michiganders tied a state record by electing the lowest rate (35 percent) of U.S. representatives by a major party while simultaneously casting its electoral votes for that party's presidential nominee.[3] This made Michigan one of five states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2012, the other states being Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Overview
| United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2012[4] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats before | Seats after | +/– | |
| Democratic | 2,327,985 | 50.89% | 6 | 5 | -1 | |
| Republican | 2,086,804 | 45.62% | 9 | 9 | - | |
| Libertarian | 102,141 | 2.23% | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Green | 25,379 | 0.55% | 0 | 0 | - | |
| U.S. Taxpayers | 16,264 | 0.36% | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Independents | 16,059 | 0.35% | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Total | 4,574,632 | 100.00% | 15 | 14 | -1 | |
Redistricting
The Michigan Legislature, which is controlled by the Republican Party, began the redistricting process on April 11, 2011.[5] A plan released by the Republican Party in June 2011, which would place the homes of Democrats Gary Peters and Sander Levin into the same district,[6] was passed by the Michigan House of Representatives[7] and Senate[8] later that month. The plan was signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder on August 9.[9] The two incumbents forced to face each other were Gary Peters and Hansen Clarke.
District 1
In redistricting, the 1st district was made slightly more favorable to Republicans: Republican nominee John McCain received less than one percentage point more of the vote in the 2008 presidential election in the newly drawn district compared to the former district.[6] Roll Call had rated the race as "Leans Republican,"[10] but changed the rating first to "Tossup"[11] and then "Leans Democratic."[12] Republican Dan Benishek, who was first elected to represent the 1st district in 2010, ran for re-election.[13]
The third-party candidates were Emily Salvette as the Libertarian Party nominee and Ellis Boal as the Green Party nominee.[14]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Dan Benishek, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Benishek (incumbent) | 64,411 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 64,411 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Gary McDowell, former state representative and nominee for this seat in 2010[15][2]
Withdrawn
- Derek Bailey, tribal chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (running for the 101st State House district)[16]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gary McDowell | 36,339 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 36,339 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
- National Republican Congressional Committee "Patriot" Program[17]
- National Right to Life Committee[18]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[19][20]
- United States Chamber of Commerce[21]
Newspapers
Labor unions
Organizations
- Blue Dog Coalition[26]
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program[27]
- League of Conservation Voters[28]
Newspapers
Debate
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
||||||
| Dan Benishek | Gary McDowell | |||||
| 1 | Oct. 16, 2012 | League of Women Voters of the Grand Traverse Area |
Jennifer Berry | C-SPAN[30] | P | P |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Dan Benishek (R) |
Gary McDowell (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benenson Strategy Group[31] | September 29 – October 1, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 40% | 43% | 17% |
| Garin-Hart-Yang[32] | September 18–20, 2012 | 402 | ± 4.9% | 40% | 49% | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling[33] | September 18–19, 2012 | 866 | ± 3.3% | 42% | 44% | 14% |
| Garin-Hart-Yang[34] | June 19–20, 2012 | 402 | ± 4.9% | 40% | 38% | 22% |
| Public Policy Polling[35] | January 18–23, 2012 | 867 | ± 3.3% | 41% | 46% | 13% |
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Tossup | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Tossup | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Lean D (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Benishek: 40–50% 50–60%
McDowell: 40–50% 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Benishek (incumbent) | 167,060 | 48.1 | |
| Democratic | Gary McDowell | 165,179 | 47.6 | |
| Libertarian | Emily Salvette | 10,630 | 3.1 | |
| Green | Ellis Boal | 4,168 | 1.2 | |
| Total votes | 347,037 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 2
Republican Bill Huizenga, who was first elected to represent the 2nd district in 2010, sought re-election.[13] He was unopposed for the Republican primary. Other third-party candidates on the ballot were Mary Buzuma for the Libertarian Party, Ronald Graeser for the U.S. Taxpayers Party, and William Opalicky for the Green Party. Roll Call rated the race as "Safe Republican",[43] and Huizenga easily won re-election with 61.2% of the vote.[44]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Bill Huizenga, incumbent U.S. representative
Declined
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Huizenga (incumbent) | 58,170 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 58,170 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Muskegon city commissioner Willie German, Jr. ran in the August primary as a write-in candidate[46] after David Takitaki, a political science professor at Adrian College and Muskegon Community College, was seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Huizenga, but withdrew from the race for health reasons.[47] Commissioner German was therefore on the ballot on the Democratic side.[14]
Candidates
Nominee
- Willie German Jr, Muskegon city commissioner
Withdrawn
- David Takitaki, political science professor at Adrian College and Muskegon Community College
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Willie German Jr. (write-in) | 1,813 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 1,813 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Huizenga: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
German: 40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Huizenga (incumbent) | 194,653 | 61.2 | |
| Democratic | Willie German, Jr. | 108,973 | 34.2 | |
| Libertarian | Mary Buzuma | 8,750 | 2.6 | |
| Constitution | Ronald Graeser | 3,176 | 1.1 | |
| Green | William Opalicky | 2,715 | 0.9 | |
| Total votes | 318,267 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 3
Republican Justin Amash, who was first elected to represent the 3rd district in 2010, sought re-election and ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[13] Libertarian Party candidate Bill Gelineau was also on the ballot.[14]
In redistricting, the 3rd district was made more favorable to Democrats.[6] Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican."[11]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Justin Amash, incumbent U.S. representative
Declined
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Justin Amash (incumbent) | 51,113 | 100.0 | |
| Republican | Steven Lee Butler (write-in) | 16 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 51,129 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Steve Pestka, former state representative, former judge, former Kent County Commissioner and small business owner[49]
Eliminated in primary
- Trevor Thomas, former employee in the executive office of Jennifer Granholm[50]
Declined
Endorsements
U.S. senators
- Carl Levin, U.S. senator (1979–present)[54]
State legislators
- Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Senate minority leader[55]
Labor unions
- AFL-CIO[24]
- Michigan Education Association[56]
- Service Employees International Union[57]
- United Auto Workers[58]
Local officials
- John H. Logie, mayor of Grand Rapids (1992–2003)[59]
Individuals
- Jocelyn Benson, law professor and nominee for secretary of state in 2010
U.S. representatives
- Barney Frank, U.S. representative from Massachusetts's 4th congressional district (1981–present)[60]
- Raul Grijalva, U.S. representative from Arizona's 7th congressional district (2003–present)[61]
Statewide officials
- Jennifer Granholm, governor of Michigan (2003–2011)[54]
- John Cherry, lieutenant governor of Michigan (2003–2011)
- Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, lieutenant governor of Maryland (1995–2003)
Organizations
- Equality Michigan[62]
- National Organization for Women[63]
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund[55]
- Stonewall Democrats[64]
Individuals
- Cate Edwards, attorney and daughter of former US Senator John Edwards[55]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Steve Pestka | 13,414 | 59.0 | |
| Democratic | Trevor Thomas | 9,321 | 41.0 | |
| Total votes | 22,735 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
U.S. senators
- Carl Levin, U.S. senator (1979–present)
- Debbie Stabenow, U.S. senator (2001–present)[69]
U.S. representatives
- Mark Schauer, U.S. representative from Michigan's 7th congressional district (2009–2011)
- Joe Schwarz, U.S. representative from Michigan's 7th congressional district (2005–2007)
Statewide officials
- Jennifer Granholm, governor of Michigan (2003–2011)
State legislators
- Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Senate minority leader
Labor unions
- AFL-CIO[24]
- International Association of Fire Fighters
- Laborers' International Union of North America
- Michigan Education Association[56]
- National Association of Letter Carriers[25]
- Service Employees International Union
- United Auto Workers[58]
Organizations
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program[27]
- Equality Michigan[70]
Newspapers
Local officials
- John H. Logie, mayor of Grand Rapids (1992–2003)
Individuals
- Jocelyn Benson, law professor and nominee for secretary of state in 2010
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Justin Amash (R) |
Steve Pestka (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glengariff Group[71] | October 17–18, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 34% | 35% | 29% |
| Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research[72] | October 8–9, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 48% | 44% | 8% |
| Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research[73] | August 18–21, 2012 | 501 | ± 4.4% | 50% | 42% | 8% |
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Likely R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Amash: 50–60%
Pestka: 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Justin Amash (incumbent) | 171,675 | 52.6 | |
| Democratic | Steve Pestka | 144,108 | 44.2 | |
| Libertarian | Bill Gelineau | 10,498 | 3.2 | |
| Independent | Steven Butler (write-in) | 2 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 326,283 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 4
Republican David Lee Camp, who had represented the 4th district since 1993 and previously represented the 10th district from 1991 until 1993, sought re-election.[13] Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican".[43]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- David Lee Camp, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dave Camp (incumbent) | 67,028 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 67,028 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Debra Friedell Wirth, attorney[74]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Debra Friedell Wirth | 20,519 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 20,519 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Camp: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dave Camp (incumbent) | 197,386 | 63.1 | |
| Democratic | Debra Freidell Wirth | 104,996 | 33.6 | |
| Libertarian | John Gelineau | 4,285 | 1.4 | |
| Constitution | George Zimmer | 3,506 | 1.1 | |
| Green | Pat Timmons | 2,776 | 0.9 | |
| Total votes | 312,949 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 5
Democrat Dale Kildee, who had represented the 5th district since 2003, and previously represented the 9th district from 1993 until 2003 and the 7th district from 1977 until 1993, chose to retire rather than run for re-election in 2012.[77]
Flint school board member David Davenport ran as an independent.[78] Also running was Gregory Creswell of the Libertarian Party.[14]
Roll Call rated the race as "Safe Democratic".[43]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Dan Kildee, former Genesee County treasurer and nephew of Dale Kildee[79]
Declined
- Jim Barcia, former U.S. representative[80]
- Deborah Cherry, Genesee County treasurer[80]
- John Cherry, former lieutenant governor[81]
- David Crim, union organizer[82]
- John Gleason, state senator[80]
- Dale Kildee, incumbent U.S. representative
- Woodrow Stanley, state representative[82]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dan Kildee | 51,840 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 51,840 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jim Slezak, former Democratic state representative[83]
Eliminated in primary
- Tom Wassa, Tuscola County public safety officer[84][79][52]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Slezak | 16,951 | 63.9 | |
| Republican | Tom Wassa | 9,583 | 36.1 | |
| Total votes | 26,534 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Labor unions
- AFL-CIO[23][24]
- National Association of Letter Carriers[25]
- Service Employees International Union[85]
- United Auto Workers[86]
Organizations
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Majority Makers" Program[27]
- Equality Michigan[70]
- National Organization for Women[87]
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund[63]
- Sierra Club[88]
Newspapers
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe D | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Kildee: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dan Kildee | 214,531 | 65.0 | |
| Republican | Jim Slezak | 103,931 | 31.5 | |
| Independent | David Davenport | 6,694 | 2.0 | |
| Libertarian | Gregory Creswell | 4,990 | 1.5 | |
| Total votes | 330,146 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 6
Republican Fred Upton, who had represented the 6th district since 1993 and previously represented the 4th district from 1987 until 1993, sought re-election.[13]
Jason Gatties, a business manager and security consultant from St. Joseph, received the US Taxpayers Party of Michigan's nomination at their state convention on June 16, 2012. Christie Gelineau received the Libertarian Party's nomination at their state convention on June 2, 2012. Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican".[43]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Fred Upton, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
- Jack Hoogendyk, former state representative and candidate for this seat in 2010[90]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Jack Hoogendyk |
Fred Upton |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPIC-MRA[91] | July 28–29, 2012 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 31% | 61% | 8% |
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Fred Upton (incumbent) | 34,581 | 66.3 | |
| Republican | Jack Hoogendyk | 17,561 | 33.7 | |
| Total votes | 52,142 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Mike O'Brien, project leader at Herman Miller and former organic farmer[92]
Withdrawn
- John Waltz, Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, nominee for Kentucky's 4th congressional district in 2010;[93] dropped out in February 2012 due to illness[94]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike O'Brien | 14,224 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 14,224 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Labor unions
Organizations
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program[27]
- Equality Michigan[70]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Upton: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Fred Upton (incumbent) | 174,955 | 54.6 | |
| Democratic | Mike O'Brien | 136,563 | 42.6 | |
| Libertarian | Christie Gelineau | 6,366 | 2.1 | |
| Independent | Jason Gatties | 2,591 | 0.7 | |
| Total votes | 320,475 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 7
In redistricting, the 7th district was made slightly more favorable to Republicans: McCain received less than one percentage point more of the vote in the 2008 presidential election in the newly drawn district compared to the former district.[6]
Republican Tim Walberg, who had represented the 7th district since January 2011 and previously served from 2007 until 2009, ran for re-election.[13] Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican".[43]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Tim Walberg, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
- Dan Davis, businessman and former police officer[96]
- Mike Stahly, former member of Potterville City Council and candidate for this seat in 2010
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tim Walberg (incumbent) | 45,592 | 76.0 | |
| Republican | Dan Davis | 14,386 | 24.0 | |
| Total votes | 59,978 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Joe Schwarz, who represented the 7th district from 2005 to 2007 as a Republican and was defeated by Walberg in the Republican primary in 2006, was recruited by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[97]
Candidates
Nominee
- Kurt Haskell, attorney[98]
Eliminated in primary
- Ruben Marquez, chair of the Jackson County Democratic Party[99]
Declined
- Mark Schauer, former U.S. representative [100]
- Joe Schwarz, former Republican U.S. representative[101]
Endorsements
Labor unions
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kurt Richard Haskell | 18,812 | 66.7 | |
| Democratic | Ruben Marquez | 9,371 | 33.3 | |
| Total votes | 28,183 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Labor unions
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Walberg: 50–60% 60–70%
Haskell: 40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tim Walberg (incumbent) | 169,668 | 53.3 | |
| Democratic | Kurt R. Haskell | 136,849 | 43.0 | |
| Libertarian | Ken Proctor | 8,088 | 2.6 | |
| Green | Richard Wunsch | 3,464 | 1.1 | |
| Total votes | 318,069 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 8
Republican Mike Rogers, who had represented the 8th district since 2001, sought re-election.[13]
Other candidates were Daniel Goebel of the Libertarian Party and independent candidate Preston Brooks.[14] Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican".[43]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Mike Rogers, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Rogers (incumbent) | 56,208 | 85.7 | |
| Republican | Brian Hetrick | 6,098 | 9.3 | |
| Republican | Vernon Molnar | 3,257 | 5.0 | |
| Total votes | 65,563 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lance Enderle | 29,322 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 29,322 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Rogers: 60–70%
Enderle: 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Rogers (incumbent) | 202,217 | 58.6 | |
| Democratic | Lance Enderle | 128,657 | 37.3 | |
| Libertarian | Daniel Goebel | 8,083 | 2.3 | |
| Independent | Preston Brooks | 6,097 | 1.8 | |
| Total votes | 345,054 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 9
In redistricting, the homes of Democratic Representatives Sander Levin and Gary Peters were drawn into the 9th district,[6] which comprises mostly Macomb County but also includes a part of Oakland County.[108] Levin, who had represented the 12th district since 1993 and previously represented the 17th district from 1983 until 1993, sought re-election here.[43] Peters, who had represented the 9th district since 2009, sought re-election in the redrawn 14th district.[109]
Jim Fulner, an engineer from Berkley, earned the Libertarian Party nomination at their state convention on June 2, 2012, in Livonia.[110] Julia Williams, the 2010 Green Party Candidate for the same seat, was nominated again at the 2012 Michigan Green Party convention, on June 9, 2012, in Mount Pleasant.[111] Lester Townsend received the US Taxpayers Party of Michigan's nomination at their state convention on June 16, 2012. This marks the fourth election cycle in a row in which Townsend challenged Levin for his seat. Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Democratic".[43]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Sander Levin, incumbent U.S. representative for the 12th district
Withdrawn
- Allen James O'Neil, businessman[112]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sander Levin (incumbent) | 55,198 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 55,198 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Gregory Dildilian, woodworker
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Don Volaric | 24,521 | 61.6 | |
| Republican | Gregory C. Dildilian | 15,283 | 38.4 | |
| Total votes | 39,804 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe D | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Levin: 50–60% 60–70%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sander Levin (incumbent) | 208,846 | 61.8 | |
| Republican | Don Volaric | 114,760 | 34.0 | |
| Libertarian | Jim Fulner | 6,100 | 1.8 | |
| Green | Julia Williams | 4,708 | 1.4 | |
| Constitution | Les Townsend | 2,902 | 0.9 | |
| Total votes | 337,316 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 10
Republican Candice Miller, who had represented the 10th district since 2003, sought re-election.[13] Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican".
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Candice Miller, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Candice S. Miller (incumbent) | 68,063 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 68,063 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Chuck Stadler, practical nurse and accountant[52]
Eliminated in primary
- Jerome Quinn, attorney
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Chuck Stadler | 13,480 | 58.1 | |
| Democratic | Jerome George Quinn | 9,705 | 41.9 | |
| Total votes | 23,185 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Miller: 60–70% 70–80%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Candice Miller (incumbent) | 226,075 | 68.8 | |
| Democratic | Chuck Stadler | 97,734 | 29.7 | |
| Libertarian | Bhagwan Dashairya | 4,803 | 1.5 | |
| Total votes | 328,612 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 11
Thad McCotter had represented the old 11th district since 2003 and sought the Republican presidential nomination. After poor polling results, McCotter ended his presidential campaign and announced plans to run again for his seat in Congress. On May 26, 2012, the Michigan Secretary of State announced that McCotter had fallen well short of the required 1,000 petition signatures required for him to qualify for the primary ballot.[114][115] In what state officials described as a level of fraud unprecedented in Michigan political history, subsequent reviews of McCotter's petitions revealed that over 85 percent of the signatures were invalid. Most of them were either duplicates or signatures that appeared to have been pasted from past years' petitions.[116][117] Conceding that the signatures were indeed invalid, McCotter announced he would mount a write-in bid for his seat;[118] however, he decided not to continue with his write-in bid on June 2 and announced his intention to retire after completing his term.[119] McCotter suddenly resigned from his seat on July 6, leaving the 11th district unrepresented.[120]
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson found the apparent fraud egregious enough to turn the evidence over to the Michigan Attorney General's office to determine if laws were broken regarding the invalid signatures.[121] The Michigan Attorney General's office charged four McCotter aides with forgery, although McCotter was not charged with any wrongdoing.[122][123]
McCotter's resignation resulted in a special election, which was expected to cost taxpayers $650,000.[124][125]
As a result of Republican-leaning areas of the old 9th district being drawn into the new 11th,[6] the 11th district was made more favorable to Republicans. McCain received four percentage points more of the vote in the 2008 presidential election in the newly drawn district compared to the current district. While Roll Call rated this race as "Likely Republican" before the primary,[126] they changed the rating to "Leans Republican".[127] It subsequrently changed back to "Likely Republican."
Republican primary
For the regular primary held August 7, 2012, for the upcoming two-year term in Congress, Kerry Bentivolio, a veteran and former teacher who had already planned to challenge McCotter, was left as the only candidate on the Republican primary ballot.[128] The Troy Republican Club, U.S. House member Justin Amash, Tea Party groups and Ron Paul's PAC all endorsed Bentivolio.[129] Other Republicans, including Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, refused to endorse Bentivolio and instead endorsed former state senator Nancy Cassis as a write-in candidate.[130] Bentivolio defeated Cassis in the August 7 primary, and was the only Republican candidate on the ballot in areas covered by the new 11th. Cassis and Drexel Morton also ran as write-in candidates.[131]
Bentivolio was endorsed by Gov. Rick Snyder, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Senator Rand Paul; Congress members Candice Miller, Justin Amash, Dan Banishek and Ron Paul; and former officeholders Rick Santorum and Peter Hoekstra.[132]
Candidates
Nominee
- Kerry Bentivolio, veteran and former teacher
Eliminated in primary
- Nancy Cassis, former state senator[133]
Declined
- Mike Kowall, state senator[133]
- Rocky Raczkowski, former state representative, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2002 and nominee for 9th district in 2010
- David Trott, attorney
- Paul Welday, former Oakland County Republican Party chair
Disqualified
- Thad McCotter, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kerry Bentivolio | 42,470 | 66.3 | |
| Republican | Nancy Cassis (write-in) | 21,436 | 33.4 | |
| Republican | Drexel Morton (write-in) | 161 | 0.3 | |
| Republican | Loren Bennett (write-in) | 14 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 64,081 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Dr. Syed Taj, member of the Canton Township Board of Trustees[134]
Eliminated in primary
- Bill Roberts, follower of Lyndon LaRouche
Declined
- David Curson, labor activist and nominee for this seat in 2012 special election
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Syed Taj | 21,953 | 58.9 | |
| Democratic | William F. Roberts | 15,338 | 41.1 | |
| Total votes | 37,291 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Organizations
- National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program[135]
- National Right to Life Committee[18]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[20]
- Republican Liberty Caucus[67]
- Tea Party Express[136]
Newspapers
Labor unions
Organizations
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program[27]
- Equality Michigan[70]
- National Organization for Women[87]
Newspapers
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Kerry Bentivolio (R) |
Syed Taj (D) |
Others | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FMWB (D)[137] | October 22–23, 2012 | 392 | ± 5.0% | 47% | 39% | 5% | 9% |
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Lean R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Bentivolio: 40–50% 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kerry Bentivolio | 181,788 | 50.8 | |
| Democratic | Syed Taj | 158,879 | 44.4 | |
| Libertarian | John Tatar | 9,637 | 2.7 | |
| Green | Steven Paul Duke | 4,569 | 1.3 | |
| Natural Law | Daniel Johnson | 3,251 | 0.9 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 15 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 358,139 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
Democratic candidate David Curson defeated Kerry Bentivolio in the special general election, conducted in the 2012-configured 11th district only, and coinciding with the regular general election on November 6.[138][139]
District 12
Democrat John Dingell, who had represented the district since 2003 and previously from 1955 until 1965, and previously represented the 16th district from 1965 until 2003, sought re-election here. Roll Call rated the race as "Safe Democratic".[43]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- John Dingell, incumbent U.S. representative for the 15th district
Eliminated in primary
- Daniel Marcin, doctorate student at the University of Michigan[140]
Declined
- Sander Levin, incumbent U.S. representative (running in the 9th district)[43]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Dingell (incumbent) | 41,116 | 78.5 | |
| Democratic | Daniel Marcin | 11,226 | 21.5 | |
| Total votes | 52,342 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Cynthia Kallgren, former candidate for state representative
Eliminated in primary
- Karen Jacobsen, businesswoman[140]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cynthia Kallgren | 12,028 | 50.7 | |
| Republican | Karen E. Jacobsen | 11,670 | 49.2 | |
| Republican | Timothy Kachinski (write-in) | 10 | 0.1 | |
| Total votes | 23,708 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe D | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Dingell: 60–70% 70–80%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John D. Dingell (incumbent) | 216,884 | 67.9 | |
| Republican | Cynthia Kallgren | 92,472 | 29.0 | |
| Libertarian | Richard Secula | 9,867 | 3.1 | |
| Total votes | 319,223 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 13
Democrat John Conyers, who had represented the 14th district since 1993 and previously represented the 1st district from 1965 until 1993, sought re-election in the new 13th district.
The Libertarian Party of Michigan nominated Chris Sharer of Westland as their candidate.[141] Martin Gray was the U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate.[14] Roll Call rated the race as "Safe Democratic".[43]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- John Conyers, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
- Glenn S. Anderson, state senator[142]
- Shanelle Jackson, state representative[143]
- Bert Johnson, state senator[144][145]
- John Goci Wayne-Westland, school board member[146]
Disqualified
- Godfrey Dillard, attorney[147]
Declined
- Hansen Clarke, incumbent U.S. representative (running in the 14th district)[148]
Endorsements
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Glenn Anderson |
John Conyers |
John Goci |
Shanelle Jackson |
Bert Johnson |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPIC-MRA[149] | July 28–29, 2012 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 17% | 57% | 4% | 7% | 5% | 10% |
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Conyers, Jr. (incumbent) | 38,371 | 55.4 | |
| Democratic | Glenn Anderson | 12,586 | 18.2 | |
| Democratic | Bert Johnson | 6,928 | 10.0 | |
| Democratic | Shanelle Jackson | 8,708 | 12.6 | |
| Democratic | John Goci | 2,664 | 3.8 | |
| Total votes | 69,257 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Harry Sawicki[147]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Harry Sawicki | 8,462 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 8,462 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe D | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Conyers, Jr. (incumbent) | 235,336 | 82.8 | |
| Republican | Harry T. Sawicki | 38,769 | 13.6 | |
| Libertarian | Chris Sharer | 6,076 | 2.1 | |
| Constitution | Martin Gray | 4,089 | 1.5 | |
| Total votes | 284,270 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 14
The new 14th district crosses the traditional boundary of the 8 Mile Road (separating Detroit from Oakland County) in order to continue to have a majority of minority voters. A large part of the district is now outside of Detroit (it comprises approximately 40 percent Detroit, 40 percent Oakland County, and 20 percent outlying Wayne County).[108]
Leonard Schwartz, lawyer and perennial candidate from Oak Park, who most recently challenged Sandy Levin for US House District 12 in 2010, was the Libertarian nominee.[150] Douglas Campbell, an engineer from Ferndale, was the Green Party candidate. Roll Call rated the race as "Safe Democratic".[43]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Gary Peters, incumbent U.S. representative for the 9th district
Eliminated in primary
- Hansen Clarke, incumbent U.S. representative for the 13th district
- Bob Costello, magistrate for the 36th District Court
- Brenda Lawrence, mayor of Southfield and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2010[109][151]
- Mary Waters, former state representative and candidate for the 13th district in 2008,[152]
Declined
- John Conyers, incumbent U.S. representative (running in the 13th district)[148]
- Geoffrey Feiger, attorney and nominee for governor in 1998[153]
- Irv Lowenberg, Southfield city treasurer[154]
- Tim Melton, state representative[155]
- Buzz Thomas, state senator [108]
Endorsements
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Hansen Clarke |
Bob Costello |
Brenda Lawrence |
Gary Peters |
Mary Waters |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPIC-MRA[149] | July 28–29, 2012 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 33% | 1% | 7% | 52% | 2% | 5% |
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gary Peters (incumbent) | 41,230 | 47.0 | |
| Democratic | Hansen Clarke (incumbent) | 30,847 | 35.2 | |
| Democratic | Brenda Lawrence | 6,928 | 13.3 | |
| Democratic | Mary Waters | 2,919 | 3.3 | |
| Democratic | Bob Costello | 1,027 | 1.2 | |
| Total votes | 87,667 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- John Hauler, government contractor for ACE electronics
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Hauler | 17,691 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 17,691 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[36] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg[37] | Safe D | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call[38] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] | Safe D | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times[40] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP[41] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill[42] | Safe D | November 4, 2012 |
Results
Peters: 70–80% 80–90%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gary Peters (incumbent) | 270,450 | 82.3 | |
| Republican | John Hauler | 51,395 | 15.6 | |
| Libertarian | Leonard Schwartz | 3,968 | 1.2 | |
| Green | Douglas Campbell | 2,979 | 0.9 | |
| Total votes | 328,792 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||