2022 Michigan gubernatorial election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2022 Michigan gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Michigan. Incumbent Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer ran for election to a second term and faced former political commentator Tudor Dixon in the general election.[2]

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2022 Michigan gubernatorial election
← 2018
November 8, 2022
2026 →
Turnout55.2% Decrease0.2[1]
 
Nominee Gretchen Whitmer Tudor Dixon
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Garlin Gilchrist Shane Hernandez
Popular vote 2,430,505 1,960,635
Percentage 54.47% 43.94%
Whitmer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Dixon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election

Gretchen Whitmer
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Gretchen Whitmer
Democratic

Close

Whitmer defeated Dixon by a margin of nearly 11 percentage points, a wider margin than polls indicated as well as a wider margin than Whitmer's first victory four years prior. Whitmer won independent voters by double-digit margins.[3] This was the first gubernatorial election in Michigan history in which both major party candidates were women.[4]

Background

Process for ballot appearance and fraud allegations

In order to appear on a primary ballot for the August 2 Democratic and Republican primaries, candidates must submit between 15,000 and 30,000 signatures in addition to their filing paperwork.[5] These signatures are submitted to the Board of State Canvassers, a bipartisan and independent board that verifies petition signatures. Within seven days of the filing deadline, citizens and organizations can challenge nomination signatures submitted by candidates.[5] Voters are only allowed to sign one nomination petition.[5]

After the filing deadline, the Board of State Canvassers received nearly 30 challenges to nomination petitions. Among them, the Michigan Democratic Party alleged that several Republican candidates engaged in signature fraud with their petitions. This was followed by a report by the Michigan Bureau of Elections, which alleged that 36 paid signature circulators faked signatures and engaged in practices that added fraudulent signatures to other candidate's petitions.[5]

An eight-hour meeting of the Board of State Canvassers reached a deadlock on whether to allow the candidates in question to stay on the ballot.[5] Due to the deadlock, the candidates in question were not allowed to appear on the primary ballot. The rushed pace of the proceedings and the decision were criticized by Common Cause of Michigan, whose policy director suggested that the candidates in question had to plead their cases to the Board of Canvassers days after finding out about the alleged fraud themselves.[5][6]

Several candidates filed lawsuits appealing the decision. These suits were rejected in the Michigan Court of Appeals.[7] Three candidates appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court, but these appeals were denied.[5]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Endorsements

Gretchen Whitmer

Organizations

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gretchen Whitmer (incumbent) 938,382 100.0%
Total votes 938,382 100.0%
Close

Republican primary

Fourteen people declared their candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.[16] At the filing deadline, 10 candidates submitted enough signatures to appear on the ballot, a state record.[16] However, following challenges by the state Democratic party and other organizations, five candidates were deemed ineligible to appear on the ballot due to alleged fraudulent signatures.[17] Several of these candidates, including former Detroit police chief James Craig and Michael Markey, pledged to appeal the decision to the State Supreme Court.[5] Craig also mentioned that, should the appeal fail, he would still plan to run as a write-in candidate for both the primary and the general election.[5] On June 15, 2022, Craig announced he was launching a write-in campaign for the nomination.[18]

On June 9, 2022, candidate Ryan Kelley was arrested by the FBI following numerous tips that he had participated in the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[19] The criminal complaint alleges that Kelley engaged in disorderly conduct on restricted grounds and engaged in acts of violence against a person or property.[19] He agreed in June 2023 to plead guilty on a lesser charge in relation to his participation in the insurrection.[20][21]

On August 19, 2022, Dixon announced former state representative Shane Hernandez as her running mate. However, shortly after, former gubernatorial candidates Ralph Rebandt and Garrett Soldano both announced that they were exploring the possibility of launching their own campaigns for lieutenant governor to contest Hernandez at the August 27 state GOP convention for not being conservative enough.[22] On August 22, 2022, Soldano announced that he would not seek the position of lieutenant governor at the convention.[23] Later that same day, Rebandt announced that he would seek the nomination at the convention.[24] Hernandez secured his party's nomination at the convention, despite heated opposition from supporters of Rebandt.[25]

On June 22, 2023, charges were filed against three individuals regarding the fraudulent signatures that disqualified five of the candidates in the Republican primary.[26][27][28]

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Disqualified, write-in campaign

Failed to qualify

  • Bob Scott, jelly maker and Vice President of the Evangelical Alliance Ministerial Association[29][16]
  • Evan Space, Michigan Army National Guard veteran and candidate for governor in 2018[49][50][16]

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Mike Brown (disqualified)

State representatives

Local officials

Individuals

  • Ted Nugent, singer-songwriter and conservative political activist (switched endorsement to Rinke)[77]
James Craig (disqualified/write-in)

U.S. representatives

State officials

Mayors

Tudor Dixon

U.S. Executive Branch officials

State officials

U.S. representatives

State senators

Individuals

Organizations

Newspapers

Perry Johnson (disqualified)

U.S. representatives

Michael Jay Markey Jr. (disqualified)
State Senators
Kevin Rinke

Individuals

  • Ted Nugent, singer-songwriter and conservative political activist (previously endorsed Brown)[92]

Newspapers

Polling

Graphical summary

Aggregate polls

More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation		 Dates
administered		 Dates
updated		 Tudor
Dixon		 Ryan
Kelley		 Kevin
Rinke		 Garrett
Soldano		 Other
[a]		 Margin
Real Clear Politics[94] July 28 – August 1, 2022 August 1, 2022 40.7% 11.7% 20.3% 14.7% 12.6% Dixon +20.4
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Mike
Brown		 James
Craig		 Tudor
Dixon		 Perry
Johnson		 Ryan
Kelley		 Kevin
Rinke		 Garrett
Soldano		 Other Undecided
The Trafalgar Group (R)[95] July 31 – August 1, 2022 1,074 (LV) ± 2.9% – – 41% – 10% 19% 18% 2%[c] 11%
Mitchell Research (R)[96] July 31, 2022 443 (LV) ± 4.7% – – 37% – 12% 23% 12% 2%[c] 15%
Emerson College[97] July 28–30, 2022 869 (LV) ± 3.3% – – 41% – 12% 17% 12% 9%[d] 9%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[98] July 26–28, 2022 1,098 (LV) ± 2.9% – – 28% – 14% 17% 19% 3%[e] 19%
co/efficient (R)[99][A] July 24–26, 2022 1,000 (LV) ± 3.1% – – 21% – – 22% – – –
Mitchell Research (R)[100] July 24–25, 2022 436 (LV) ± 5.0% – – 28% – 14% 22% 11% 1%[f] 25%
Mitchell Research (R)[101] July 17–18, 2022 501 (LV) ± 4.4% – – 28% – 15% 20% 10% 1%[f] 26%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[102] July 13–15, 2022 500 (LV) ± 4.4% – – 19% – 13% 15% 12% 2%[c] 38%
Mitchell Research (R)[103] July 7–8, 2022 683 (LV) ± 3.8% – – 26% – 15% 13% 13% 1%[f] 33%
Mitchell Research (R)[104] June 21–22, 2022 588 (LV) ± 4.0% – – 15% – 13% 15% 8% 3%[e] 46%
EPIC-MRA[105] June 10–13, 2022 398 (LV) ± 4.9% – – 5% – 17% 12% 13% 8%[g] 45%
Target Insyght[106] May 26–27, 2022 400 (LV) ± 5.0% – – 9% – 19% 15% 6% 1%[f] 49%
May 23, 2022 Board of Elections announces Brandenburg, Brown, Craig, Johnson, and Markey did not file enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[107] April 29 – May 1, 2022 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 2% 23% 2% 5% 5% 6% 8% 3%[h] 44%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[108] March 29–31, 2022 1,072 (LV) ± 3.0% 2% 34% 3% 16% 7% 2% 15% 8% 12%
March 3, 2022 Chenge withdraws from the race
Mitchell Research (R)[109] February 17–19, 2022 539 (LV) ± 4.2% 3% 32% 4% 3% 4% 5% 10% 3% 37%
Strategic National (R)[110][B] September 18–19, 2021 400 (LV) ± 4.9% – 38% 1% – 1% 0% 8% 2%[i] 50%
– 40% 1% – – 0% 10% – 49%
Close
Hypothetical polling

John James vs. James Craig

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 John
James		 James
Craig		 Undecided
Target Insyght[111] May 9–11, 2021 304 (RV) ± 3.5% 36% 21% 42%
Close

Results

Results by county
  Dixon
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  Rinke
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tudor Dixon 436,350 39.69%
Republican Kevin Rinke 236,306 21.50%
Republican Garrett Soldano 192,442 17.51%
Republican Ryan Kelley 165,587 15.06%
Republican Ralph Rebandt 45,046 4.10%
Write-in 23,542 2.14%
Total votes 1,099,273 100.0%
Close

Libertarian convention

Candidates

Nominated

Constitution convention

Candidates

Nominee

  • Donna Brandenburg, businesswoman (Nominated following disqualification from GOP ballot)[113]

General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[114] Lean D October 28, 2022
Inside Elections[115] Tilt D March 4, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[116] Lean D November 7, 2022
Politico[117] Lean D May 23, 2022
RCP[118] Tossup October 21, 2022
Fox News[119] Lean D August 22, 2022
538[120] Likely D November 8, 2022
Elections Daily[121] Lean D November 7, 2022
Close

Endorsements

Gretchen Whitmer (D)

U.S. Executive Branch officials

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

State officials

State senators

State representatives

  • Kyra Harris Bolden, state representative from Michigan's 35th district[127]
  • Doug Hart, former state representative from Michigan's 73rd district (Republican)[132]
  • Mike Pumford, former state representative from Michigan's 100th district (Republican)[132]

Local officials

Individuals

Newspapers

Organizations

Tudor Dixon (R)

U.S. Executive Branch officials

State officials

U.S. representatives

Individuals

Newspapers

Organizations

Declined to endorse

State officials

Local officials

Organizations

  • Michigan Chamber of Commerce (withdrew endorsement of Dixon from the primary)[160]
  • Small Business Association of Michigan[160]

Polling

Aggregate polls

More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation		 Dates
administered		 Dates
updated		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 Tudor
Dixon (R)		 Other
[j]		 Margin
Real Clear Politics[162] October 30 – November 7, 2022 November 8, 2022 48.3% 47.3% 4.4% Whitmer +1.0
FiveThirtyEight[163] January 3 – November 8, 2022 November 8, 2022 49.9% 45.1% 5.0% Whitmer +4.8
270toWin[164] November 3–7, 2022 November 8, 2022 50.4% 46.4% 3.2% Whitmer +4.0
Average 49.5% 46.3% 4.2% Whitmer +3.2
Close

Graphical summary

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 Tudor
Dixon (R)		 Other Undecided
The Trafalgar Group (R)[165] November 5–7, 2022 1,097 (LV) ± 2.9% 48% 49% 1%[k] 2%
Cygnal (R)[166] November 1–4, 2022 1,603 (LV) ± 2.5% 50% 47% 2%[l] 1%
Mitchell Research[167] November 3, 2022 658 (LV) ± 3.8% 50% 48% 1%[m] 2%
Cygnal (R)[168] October 31 – November 2, 2022 1,754 (LV) ± 2.3% 51% 46% 2%[n] 2%
EPIC-MRA[169] October 28 – November 1, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 54% 43% 1%[o] 2%
Emerson College[170] October 27–31, 2022 1,584 (LV) ± 2.5% 50% 45% 3%[p] 3%
51% 46% 3%[q] –
Cygnal (R)[171] October 27–31, 2022 1,584 (LV) ± 2.5% 51% 45% 2%[r] 3%
InsiderAdvantage (R)[172][C] October 30, 2022 550 (LV) ± 4.2% 45% 45% 5%[s] 5%
Wick Insights[173] October 26–30, 2022 1,137 (LV) ± 3.2% 49% 47% 2%[t] 2%
KAConsulting (R)[174][D] October 27–29, 2022 501 (LV) ± 4.4% 48% 41% 5%[u] 7%
Cygnal (R)[175] October 25–29, 2022 1,543 (LV) ± 2.5% 51% 44% 2%[v] 3%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[176] October 26–28, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 52% 43% 3% 2%
Cygnal (R)[177] October 23–27, 2022 1,822 (LV) ± 2.3% 51% 44% 3%[w] 2%
Cygnal (R)[178] October 21–25, 2022 1,378 (LV) ± 2.6% 51% 45% 3%[x] 2%
Cygnal (R)[179] October 19–23, 2022 1,459 (LV) ± 2.6% 50% 44% 3%[y] 3%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[180] October 18–21, 2022 1,022 (LV) ± 2.9% 48% 48% 2%[z] 2%
Cygnal (R)[181] October 17–21, 2022 1,904 (LV) ± 2.3% 50% 44% 3%[aa] 4%
Mitchell Research[182] October 19, 2022 541 (LV) ± 4.2% 49% 47% 1%[ab] 3%
Cygnal (R)[183] October 15–19, 2022 1,793 (LV) ± 2.3% 49% 44% 3%[ac] 4%
CNN/SSRS[184] October 13–18, 2022 901 (RV) ± 4.2% 55% 41% 4%[ad] 1%
651 (LV) ± 4.9% 52% 46% 2%[ae] –
Emerson College[185] October 12–14, 2022 580 (LV) ± 4.0% 49% 44% 3%[af] 4%
Cygnal (R)[186][E] October 12–14, 2022 640 (LV) ± 3.9% 49% 44% 4%[ag] 4%
Wick Insights (R)[187] October 8–14, 2022 1,136 (LV) ± 3.1% 47% 48% 2%[ah] 3%
InsiderAdvantage (R)[188][C] October 12, 2022 550 (LV) ± 4.2% 44% 44% 6%[ai] 7%
EPIC-MRA[189] October 6–12, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 49% 38% 4%[aj] 9%
YouGov/CBS News[190] October 3–6, 2022 1,285 (RV) ± 3.6% 53% 47% – –
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[191] September 26–29, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 32% 9%[ak] 9%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[192] September 24–28, 2022 1,075 (LV) ± 2.9% 51% 45% 4%[al] 1%
EPIC-MRA[193][F] September 15–19, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 55% 39% – 6%
EPIC-MRA[194][G] September 7–13, 2022 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 51% 40% 7%[am] 2%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[195] August 29 – September 1, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 48% 35% 4% 13%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[196] August 22–25, 2022 1,080 (LV) ± 2.9% 49% 45% 3%[an] 2%
EPIC-MRA[197] August 18–23, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 39% – 11%
Blueprint Polling (D)[198] August 15–16, 2022 611 (LV) ± 4.0% 51% 39% 3% 8%
Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)[199] August 8–14, 2022 1,365 (LV) ± 4.4% 51% 46% – 3%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[200] July 5–8, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 51% 40% – 9%
Target Insyght[201] May 26–27, 2022 600 (RV) ± 4.0% 58% 21% – 21%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[202] January 3–7, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 31% – 19%
Strategic National (R)[203][B] September 18–19, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 46% 41% – 13%
Close
Hypothetical polling

Gretchen Whitmer vs. Ryan Kelley

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 Ryan
Kelley (R)		 Undecided
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[200] July 5–8, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 41% 9%
Target Insyght[201] May 26–27, 2022 600 (RV) ± 4.0% 57% 23% 19%
Close

Gretchen Whitmer vs. Ralph Rebandt

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 Ralph
Rebandt (R)		 Undecided
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[200] July 5–8, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 52% 37% 10%
Target Insyght[201] May 26–27, 2022 600 (RV) ± 4.0% 58% 19% 23%
Close

Gretchen Whitmer vs. Kevin Rinke

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 Kevin
Rinke (R)		 Undecided
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[200] July 5–8, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 52% 40% 8%
Target Insyght[201] May 26–27, 2022 600 (RV) ± 4.0% 58% 24% 18%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[202] January 3–7, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 33% 17%
Close

Gretchen Whitmer vs. Garrett Soldano

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 Garrett
Soldano (R)		 Undecided
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[200] July 5–8, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 52% 38% 10%
Target Insyght[201] May 26–27, 2022 600 (RV) ± 4.0% 58% 22% 20%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[202] January 3–7, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 33% 17%
Close

Gretchen Whitmer vs. James Craig

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 James
Craig (R)		 Undecided
Blueprint Polling (D)[204] February 1–4, 2022 632 (LV) ± 3.9% 44% 44% 12%
EPIC-MRA[205] January 15–20, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 46% 41% 13%
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[202] January 3–7, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 49% 39% 12%
ARW Strategies (R)[206][B] January 4–6, 2022 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 46% 46% 8%
Strategic National (R)[203][B] September 18–19, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 47% 46% 7%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[207] September 13–15, 2021 1,097 (LV) ± 3.0% 44% 50% 5%
EPIC-MRA[208] August 9–15, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 44% 11%
Competitive Edge Research & Communication (R)[209][H] May 26 – June 4, 2021 809 (LV) ± 4.0% 38% 45% 17%
Target Insyght[111] May 9–11, 2021 800 (RV) ± 3.5% 48% 42% 10%
Close

Gretchen Whitmer vs. John James

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 John
James (R)		 Undecided
Competitive Edge Research & Communication (R)[209][H] May 26 – June 4, 2021 809 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 45% 5%
Target Insyght[111] May 9–11, 2021 800 (RV) ± 3.5% 49% 39% 12%
Close

Gretchen Whitmer vs. Candice Miller

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 Candice
Miller (R)		 Other Undecided
EPIC-MRA[210] February 19–25, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 46% 45% – 9%
Denno Research[211] December 14–15, 2020 600 (V) ± 4.0% 46% 42% 13%[ao] –
Close

Gretchen Whitmer vs. generic Republican

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 Generic
Republican		 Undecided
EPIC-MRA[212] May 11–17, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 46% 9%
ARW Strategies (R)[213][I] April 18–20, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 46% 8%
Cygnal (R)[214] June 2–6, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 41% 52% 7%
Close

Gretchen Whitmer vs. generic opponent

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Gretchen
Whitmer (D)		 Generic
Opponent		 Undecided
The Glengariff Group, Inc.[215] February 3–6, 2021 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 39% 41%[ap] 20%[aq]
Close

Debates

More information No., Date ...
2022 Michigan gubernatorial general election debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Republican
Key:

 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee  W  Withdrawn
Whitmer Dixon
1 Oct. 13, 2022 WOOD-TV Rick Albin WOOD-TV[216] P P
2 Oct. 25, 2022 WXYZ-TV[217] P P
Close

The first debate was held on Thursday, October 13 in Grand Rapids hosted by local TV station WOOD-TV. The two clashed on various issues such as abortion, the economy and COVID-19.[218] Analysts determined this debate to be a draw.[219]

The second debate was held on Tuesday, October 25 on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester. The debate was co-sponsored by Oakland University's Center for Civic Engagement and E.W. Scripps owned TV stations WXYZ-TV in Detroit, WXMI-TV in Grand Rapids and WSYM-TV in Lansing.[220] News stories about the debate specifically noted a question Whitmer gave Dixon when they argued on school safety and library books: "Do you really think books are more dangerous than guns?"[221]

Fundraising

More information Campaign finance reports as of October 23, 2022, Candidate ...
Campaign finance reports as of October 23, 2022
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Gretchen Whitmer (D) $36,375,114 $30,507,077 $4,017,640
Tudor Dixon (R) $6,764,321 $3,799,440 $2,964,881
Source: Michigan Department of State[222]
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
2022 Michigan gubernatorial election[223]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic
2,430,505 54.47% +1.16%
Republican
1,960,635 43.94% +0.19%
Libertarian
  • Mary Buzuma
  • Brian Ellison
 38,800 0.87% −0.46%
Constitution
  • Donna Brandenburg
  • Mellissa Carone
 16,246 0.36% −0.33%
Green
  • Kevin Hogan
  • Destiny Clayton
 10,766 0.24% −0.44%
Natural Law
  • Daryl M. Simpson
  • Doug Dern
 4,973 0.11% −0.13%
Write-in 47 0.00% ±0.0%
Total votes 4,461,972 100.0%
Turnout 4,500,400 55.19%
Registered electors 8,154,832
Democratic hold
Close

By county

More information County, Gretchen Whitmer Democratic ...
County[224]Gretchen Whitmer
Democratic		Tudor Dixon
Republican		Other VotesMarginTotal
votes
% # % # % # % #
Alcona 34.71% 2,076 63.57% 3,802 1.72% 103 −28.86% −1,726 5,981
Alger 45.86% 1,984 52.20% 2,258 1.94% 84 −6.34% −274 4,326
Allegan 39.76% 22,802 58.58% 33,590 1.66% 950 −18.82% −10,788 57,342
Alpena 41.34% 5,779 56.65% 7,920 2.01% 281 −15.31% −2,141 13,980
Antrim 42.36% 5,937 55.85% 7,827 1.78% 250 −13.49% −1,890 14,014
Arenac 37.78% 2,709 60.17% 4,314 2.05% 147 −22.39% −1,605 7,170
Baraga 38.59% 1,329 59.70% 2,056 1.71% 59 −21.11% −727 3,444
Barry 37.63% 11,552 60.42% 18,547 1.95% 598 −22.79% −6,995 30,697
Bay 50.36% 24,783 47.65% 23,448 1.99% 978 2.71% 1,335 49,209
Benzie 50.95% 5,446 47.38% 5,064 1.67% 179 3.57% 382 10,689
Berrien 46.55% 29,803 51.79% 33,157 1.66% 1064 −5.24% −3,354 64,024
Branch 35.19% 5,676 62.81% 10,132 2.00% 322 −27.62% −4,456 16,130
Calhoun 48.31% 24,916 49.82% 25,694 1.87% 966 −1.51% −778 51,576
Cass 36.11% 7,350 62.23% 12,666 1.66% 337 −26.12% −5,316 20,353
Charlevoix 45.87% 6,728 52.27% 7,667 1.87% 274 −6.40% −939 14,669
Cheboygan 40.18% 5,357 57.80% 7,707 2.02% 270 −17.62% −2,350 13,334
Chippewa 43.36% 6,303 54.36% 7,902 2.28% 332 −11.00% −1,599 14,537
Clare 38.32% 5,057 59.48% 7,850 2.20% 291 −21.16% −2,793 13,198
Clinton 50.15% 20,664 48.31% 19,904 1.54% 636 1.84% 760 41,204
Crawford 40.65% 2,655 57.08% 3,728 2.27% 148 −16.43% −1,073 6,531
Delta 39.73% 6,890 58.23% 10,097 2.04% 354 −18.50% −3,207 17,341
Dickinson 35.96% 4,310 62.12% 7,446 1.92% 230 −26.16% −3,136 11,986
Eaton 53.78% 28,806 44.49% 23,828 1.73% 924 9.29% 4,978 53,558
Emmet 48.37% 9,285 49.96% 9,590 1.67% 320 −1.59% −305 19,195
Genesee 58.47% 100,325 39.79% 68,282 1.74% 2,987 18.68% 32,043 171,594
Gladwin 36.77% 4,422 61.18% 7,357 2.05% 246 −24.41% −2,935 12,025
Gogebic 45.47% 2,940 52.78% 3,413 1.75% 113 −7.31% −473 6,466
Grand Traverse 52.38% 27,396 45.90% 24,005 1.72% 901 6.48% 3,391 52,302
Gratiot 41.01% 6,285 56.51% 8,659 2.48% 380 −15.50% −2,374 15,324
Hillsdale 29.89% 5,575 67.80% 12,644 2.31% 431 −37.91% −7,069 18,650
Houghton 45.41% 7,030 52.51% 8,128 2.08% 322 −7.10% −1,098 15,480
Huron 35.39% 5,310 62.61% 9,395 2.01% 301 −27.22% −4,085 15,006
Ingham 69.23% 82,408 29.29% 34,869 1.48% 1,765 39.94% 47,539 119,042
Ionia 39.86% 10,845 58.02% 15,786 2.12% 577 −18.16% −4,941 27,208
Iosco 41.69% 5,266 56.30% 7,111 2.01% 254 −14.61% −1,845 12,631
Iron 39.79% 2,236 58.40% 3,282 1.81% 102 −18.61% −1,046 5,620
Isabella 52.51% 12,581 45.61% 10,927 1.87% 449 6.90% 1,654 23,957
Jackson 44.84% 29,011 53.22% 34,439 1.94% 1,255 −8.38% −5,428 64,705
Kalamazoo 62.10% 72,516 36.34% 42,436 1.56% 1,824 25.76% 30,080 116,776
Kalkaska 33.98% 3,009 63.43% 5,616 2.59% 229 −29.45% −2,607 8,854
Kent 54.32% 162,899 44.08% 132,172 1.60% 4,801 10.24% 30,727 299,872
Keweenaw 47.91% 666 50.43% 701 1.65% 23 −2.52% −35 1,390
Lake 39.56% 2,081 58.08% 3,055 2.36% 124 −18.52% −974 5,260
Lapeer 36.49% 15,983 61.50% 26,940 2.01% 879 −25.01% −10,957 43,802
Leelanau 55.19% 8,540 43.63% 6,752 1.18% 182 11.56% 1,788 15,474
Lenawee 42.58% 18,248 55.52% 23,796 1.90% 813 −12.94% −5,548 42,857
Livingston 42.75% 46,524 55.58% 60,494 1.67% 1,821 −12.83% −13,970 108,839
Luce 33.22% 786 64.24% 1,520 2.54% 60 −31.02% −734 2,366
Mackinac 42.79% 2,567 55.43% 3,325 1.78% 107 −12.64% −758 5,999
Macomb 51.82% 199,277 46.62% 179,258 1.56% 6,009 5.20% 20,019 384,544
Manistee 47.65% 6,026 50.32% 6,364 2.02% 256 −2.67% −338 12,646
Marquette 60.19% 18,880 38.15% 11,967 1.66% 522 22.04% 6,913 31,369
Mason 43.49% 6,419 54.32% 8,018 2.19% 324 −10.83% −1,599 14,761
Mecosta 39.22% 6,867 58.61% 10,262 2.18% 381 −19.39% −3,395 17,510
Menominee 34.59% 3,347 63.34% 6,129 2.07% 200 −28.75% −2,782 9,676
Midland 47.30% 19,497 50.85% 20,964 1.85% 763 −3.55% −1,467 41,224
Missaukee 26.79% 1,995 71.24% 5,306 1.97% 147 −44.45% −3,311 7,448
Monroe 42.73% 29,482 55.53% 38,312 1.74% 1,203 −12.80% −8,830 68,997
Montcalm 36.45% 9,622 61.24% 16,165 2.30% 608 −24.79% −6,543 26,395
Montmorency 33.23% 1,701 64.49% 3,301 2.29% 117 −31.26% −1,600 5,119
Muskegon 53.19% 39,269 44.86% 33,121 1.95% 1,443 8.33% 6,148 73,833
Newaygo 32.59% 7,417 65.37% 14,879 2.04% 465 −32.78% −7,462 22,761
Oakland 60.92% 383,895 37.84% 238,448 1.25% 7,862 23.08% 145,447 630,205
Oceana 39.88% 4,820 58.02% 7,012 2.10% 254 −18.14% −2,192 12,086
Ogemaw 35.71% 3,532 62.18% 6,151 2.11% 209 −26.47% −2,619 9,892
Ontonagon 40.47% 1,319 57.13% 1,862 2.39% 78 −16.66% −543 3,259
Osceola 30.58% 3,174 67.00% 6,954 2.43% 251 −36.42% −3,780 10,379
Oscoda 33.77% 1,355 63.63% 2,553 2.59% 104 −29.86% −1,198 4,012
Otsego 38.53% 4,818 59.35% 7,422 2.12% 265 −20.82% −2,604 12,505
Ottawa 40.26% 58,952 58.29% 85,361 1.45% 2,119 −18.03% −26,409 146,432
Presque Isle 40.85% 2,981 57.07% 4,165 2.08% 152 −16.22% −1,184 7,298
Roscommon 40.80% 5,284 57.07% 7,391 2.13% 276 −16.27% −2,107 12,951
Saginaw 53.00% 43,219 45.37% 37,002 1.63% 1,329 7.63% 6,217 81,550
Sanilac 31.73% 5,967 66.33% 12,473 1.94% 364 −34.60% −6,506 18,804
Schoolcraft 39.27% 1,527 58.23% 2,264 2.49% 97 −18.96% −737 3,888
Shiawassee 45.46% 14,730 52.37% 16,969 2.17% 703 −6.91% −2,239 32,402
St. Clair 40.49% 30,170 57.35% 42,731 2.15% 1,604 −16.86% −12,561 74,505
St. Joseph 38.35% 8,402 59.60% 13,059 2.05% 449 −21.25% −4,657 21,910
Tuscola 35.06% 8,418 62.81% 15,078 2.13% 511 −27.75% −6,660 24,007
Van Buren 48.08% 15,347 50.04% 15,974 1.88% 601 −1.96% −627 31,922
Washtenaw 75.15% 135,904 23.67% 42,804 1.18% 2,140 51.48% 93,100 180,848
Wayne 70.86% 457,601 27.95% 180,487 1.18% 7,651 42.91% 277,114 645,739
Wexford 37.37% 5,645 60.45% 9,131 2.18% 329 −23.08% −3,486 15,105
Totals54.47%2,430,50543.94%1,960,6351.59%70,83210.53%469,8704,461,972
Close

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Whitmer won nine of 13 congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.[225]

More information District, Whitmer ...
District Whitmer Dixon Representative
1st 44% 54% Jack Bergman
2nd 40% 58% John Moolenaar
3rd 55% 43% Peter Meijer (117th Congress)
Hillary Scholten (118th Congress)
4th 50% 49% Bill Huizenga
5th 41% 57% Tim Walberg
6th 66% 32% Debbie Dingell
7th 54% 44% Elissa Slotkin
8th 55% 43% Dan Kildee
9th 41% 57% Lisa McClain
10th 55% 43% John James
11th 64% 35% Haley Stevens
12th 76% 23% Rashida Tlaib
13th 77% 22% Shri Thanedar
Close

Analysis

Whitmer led Dixon in most of the polls. Most Republican donors chose not to fund campaign ads for Dixon, causing the TV airwaves to be dominated by ads for Whitmer, which included negative ads against Dixon.[160][226] Whitmer also spent a lot more in digital advertising compared to Dixon.[227] Abortion rights, which were on the ballot in the same election, were the subject of negative ads against Dixon, who opposed abortion rights.[228] Although aggregate polling had Whitmer up by about 3%, and a last-minute poll by Trafalgar Group had Dixon ahead by 1%, the election was not close. Whitmer defeated Dixon at the same time Michigan voters approved a ballot measure that would guarantee abortion rights in the Michigan constitution.[229] Democrats swept the other statewide partisan races and won control of both the state House and state Senate.[230] This marked the first time Democrats took control of both houses of the Michigan legislature since 1984.[231]

Exit polls found that Whitmer won nearly 70% of college-educated White women and 94% of Black voters.[232] This was the first election since 1990 in which the winner was from the same party as the incumbent president, and the first time that the incumbent was a Democrat since 1950.[233]

Despite Dixon's loss, she managed to flip Gogebic County in the Upper Peninsula (which last voted for a Republican in 1998), making this the first election since 1932 where a Democrat won the Michigan governor's mansion without carrying Gogebic County.[234] Conversely, Whitmer flipped the counties of Benzie and Grand Traverse; the last time the Democratic candidate won these counties were 2006 and 1986, respectively.[235]

Exit poll

More information Demographic subgroup, Whitmer ...
2022 Michigan gubernatorial election voter demographics (CNN)[236]
Demographic subgroup Whitmer Dixon % of
total vote
Ideology
Liberals 97 2 27
Moderates 67 31 39
Conservatives 9 90 34
Party
Democrats 98 2 35
Republicans 7 92 32
Independents 55 42 33
Gender
Men 48 51 50
Women 62 36 50
Marital status
Married 49 51 63
Unmarried 64 34 37
Gender by marital status
Married men 43 57 32
Married women 55 44 31
Unmarried men 50 47 15
Unmarried women 74 24 21
Race/ethnicity
White 49 50 80
Black 94 6 12
Latino 72 25 4
White voters by gender
White men 43 56 41
White women 55 43 39
Age
18–29 years old 65 33 10
30–44 years old 62 36 21
45–64 years old 50 48 39
65 and older 52 47 30
2020 presidential vote
Biden 98 2 50
Trump 7 91 43
First time midterm election voter
Yes 58 39 11
No 56 43 89
Education
Never attended college 43 56 16
Some college education 56 42 30
Associate degree 54 44 14
Bachelor's degree 59 40 16
Advanced degree 65 34 18
Education by race
White college graduates 60 39 32
White no college degree 42 57 48
Non-white college graduates 74 26 6
Non-white no college degree 82 17 14
Education by gender/race
White women with college degrees 69 30 16
White women without college degrees 46 52 23
White men with college degrees 51 47 17
White men without college degrees 38 61 25
Non-white 80 20 20
Issue regarded as most important
Crime 55 42 6
Abortion 77 22 45
Inflation 29 69 28
Feelings about Roe v. Wade being overturned
Enthusiastic/satisfied 16 84 41
Dissatisfied/angry 83 16 56
Abortion should be
Legal 81 17 63
Illegal 10 89 34
Close

Notes

  1. [a]
    Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  2. [b]
    Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. [c]
    Rebandt with 2%
  4. [d]
    "Someone else" with 7%, Rebandt with 3%
  5. [e]
    Rebandt with 3%
  6. [f]
    Rebandt with 1%
  7. [g]
    Write-ins (volunteered response) with 7%, Rebandt with 1%
  8. [h]
    Brandenburg with 2%, Rebandt with 1%, Markey with 0%
  9. [i]
    Chenge with 2%
  10. [j]
    Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  11. [k]
    Buzuma (L) with 1%; "Other" with 1%
  12. [l]
    "Third party candidate" with 2%
  13. [m]
    "Another candidate" with 1%
  14. [n]
    "Third party candidate" with 2%
  15. [o]
    Buzuma (L) with 1%
  16. [p]
    Buzuma (L) with 2%; Hogan (G) with 1%; Brandenburg (UTP) with <1%; Simpson (NL) with <1%
  17. [q]
    Buzuma (L) with 2%; Hogan (G) with 1%; Brandenburg (UTP) with <1%
  18. [r]
    "Third party candidate" with 2%
  19. [s]
    Buzuma (L) with 2%; Hogan (G) with 2%; "Another candidate" with 1%
  20. [t]
    "Someone else" with 2%
  21. [u]
    "Other/Refused" with 5%
  22. [v]
    "Third party candidate" with 2%
  23. [w]
    "Third party candidate" with 3%
  24. [x]
    "Third party candidate" with 3%
  25. [y]
    "Third party candidate" with 3%
  26. [z]
    Buzuma (L) with 2%; "Other" with <1%
  27. [aa]
    "Third party candidate" with 3%
  28. [ab]
    "Another candidate" with 1%
  29. [ac]
    "Third party candidate" with 3%
  30. [ad]
    "Neither" with 3%; "Other with 1%
  31. [ae]
    "Neither" with 2%
  32. [af]
    Brandenburg (UTP) with 2%; Buzuma (L) with 1%; Hogan (G) with 0%
  33. [ag]
    "Third party candidate" with 4%
  34. [ah]
    "Someone else" with 2%
  35. [ai]
    Buzuma (L) with 3%; Hogan (G) with 2%; "Another candidate" with 1%
  36. [aj]
    Buzuma (L) with 3%; Hogan (G) with 1%; Brandenburg (UTP) with <1%; Simpson (NL) with <1%
  37. [ak]
    Buzuma with 4%; "Refused to answer" with 3%; Hogan, Brandenburg, and Simpson with 1%
  38. [al]
    Buzuma with 3%; "Other" with 1%
  39. [am]
    "Third party candidate" with 7%
  40. [an]
    Buzuma with 2%; "Other" with 1%
  41. [ao]
    Includes Undecided
  42. [ap]
    "Elect someone new" as opposed to "re-elect Whitmer" with 41%
  43. [aq]
    "It depends" with 14%; Undecided with 6%

Partisan clients

  1. [A]
    This poll was sponsored by Rinke's campaign.
  2. [B]
    Poll sponsored by Craig's campaign
  3. [C]
    This poll was sponsored by American Greatness, a conservative news outlet.
  4. [D]
    Poll conducted for Citizens United, a conservative non-profit organization.
  5. [E]
    This poll was sponsored by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.
  6. [F]
    Poll conducted for WJRT-TV and the Detroit Free Press.
  7. [G]
    Poll conducted for MIRS, Governmental Consultant Services Inc., and the Life Insurance Association of Michigan.
  8. [H]
    This poll was sponsored by the Michigan Republican Party.
  9. [I]
    Poll sponsored by DePerno's campaign for Attorney General

References

External links

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