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. 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.
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. 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, 2012PartyVotesPercentageSeats beforeSeats 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. 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, was passed by the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate later that month. The plan was signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder on August 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. Roll Call had rated the race as "Leans Republican," but changed the rating first to "Tossup" and then "Leans Democratic." Republican Dan Benishek, who was first elected to represent the 1st district in 2010, ran for re-election.
The third-party candidates were Emily Salvette as the Libertarian Party nominee and Ellis Boal as the Green Party nominee.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dan Benishek, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gary McDowell, former state representative and nominee for this seat in 2010
Withdrawn Derek Bailey, tribal chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (running for the 101st State House district)
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Debate + 2012 Michigan's 1st congressional district debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Dan Benishek Gary McDowell1 Oct. 16, 2012 League of Women Votersof the Grand Traverse Area Jennifer BerryC-SPANC-SPAN
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror DanBenishek (R) GaryMcDowell (D) UndecidedBenenson Strategy GroupBenenson Strategy Group September 29 – October 1, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 40% 43% 17%Garin-Hart-YangGarin-Hart-Yang September 18–20, 2012 402 ± 4.9% 40% 49% 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 18–19, 2012 866 ± 3.3% 42% 44% 14%Garin-Hart-YangGarin-Hart-Yang June 19–20, 2012 402 ± 4.9% 40% 38% 22%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 18–23, 2012 867 ± 3.3% 41% 46% 13%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 2 Republican Bill Huizenga, who was first elected to represent the 2nd district in 2010, sought re-election. 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", and Huizenga easily won re-election with 61.2% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Bill Huizenga, incumbent U.S. representative
Declined David Agema, state representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Muskegon city commissioner Willie German, Jr. ran in the August primary as a write-in candidate 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. Commissioner German was therefore on the ballot on the Democratic side.
Candidates Nominee Willie German Jr, Muskegon city commissioner
Withdrawn David Takitaki, political science professor at Adrian College and Muskegon Community College
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
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. Libertarian Party candidate Bill Gelineau was also on the ballot.
In redistricting, the 3rd district was made more favorable to Democrats. Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican."
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Justin Amash, incumbent U.S. representative
Declined Terri Lynn Land, former Michigan Secretary of State
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Steve Pestka, former state representative, former judge, former Kent County Commissioner and small business owner
Eliminated in primary Trevor Thomas, former employee in the executive office of Jennifer Granholm
Declined Pat Miles, lawyer and nominee for this seat in 2010 Mark Schauer, former U.S. representative
Endorsements
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JustinAmash (R) StevePestka (D) UndecidedGlengariff GroupGlengariff Group October 17–18, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 34% 35% 29%Greenberg Quinlan Rosner ResearchGreenberg Quinlan Rosner Research October 8–9, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 48% 44% 8%Greenberg Quinlan Rosner ResearchGreenberg Quinlan Rosner Research August 18–21, 2012 501 ± 4.4% 50% 42% 8%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
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. Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican".
Republican primary Candidates Nominee David Lee Camp, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Debra Friedell Wirth, attorney
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
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.
Flint school board member David Davenport ran as an independent. Also running was Gregory Creswell of the Libertarian Party.
Roll Call rated the race as "Safe Democratic".
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dan Kildee, former Genesee County treasurer and nephew of Dale Kildee
Declined Jim Barcia, former U.S. representative Deborah Cherry, Genesee County treasurer John Cherry, former lieutenant governor David Crim, union organizer John Gleason, state senator Dale Kildee, incumbent U.S. representative Woodrow Stanley, state representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jim Slezak, former Democratic state representative
Eliminated in primary Tom Wassa, Tuscola County public safety officer
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
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.
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".
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
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JackHoogendyk FredUpton UndecidedEPIC-MRA July 28–29, 2012 800 ± 3.5% 31% 61% 8%
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mike O'Brien, project leader at Herman Miller and former organic farmer
Withdrawn John Waltz, Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, nominee for Kentucky's 4th congressional district in 2010; dropped out in February 2012 due to illness
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
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.
Republican Tim Walberg, who had represented the 7th district since January 2011 and previously served from 2007 until 2009, ran for re-election. Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican".
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tim Walberg, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Dan Davis, businessman and former police officer Mike Stahly, former member of Potterville City Council and candidate for this seat in 2010
Primary results
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.
Candidates Nominee Kurt Haskell, attorney
Eliminated in primary Ruben Marquez, chair of the Jackson County Democratic Party
Declined Mark Schauer, former U.S. representative Joe Schwarz, former Republican U.S. representative
Endorsements
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions