The 2014 United States Senate election in Michigan was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Michigan, concurrently with the election of the governor of Michigan, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Democratic Senator Carl Levin decided to retire instead of running for a seventh term. Primary contests took place on August 5, 2014, with U.S. Representative Gary Peters and former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land unopposed on the Democratic and Republican primary ballots, respectively. Peters defeated Land in the general election, becoming the only freshman Democratic senator in the 114th Congress.
This was the first open seat election in Michigan since 1994 and the first on this seat since 1918. As Republican Governor Rick Snyder concurrently won a second term, 2014 was also the first time since 1990 that the winner of the Michigan U.S. Senate race was of a different political party than that of the concurrent gubernatorial election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gary Peters, U.S. Representative from
Failed to qualify Terry Whitney, technology executive
Declined Shane Battier, National Basketball Association player Jocelyn Benson, Dean of Wayne State University Law School and nominee for Michigan Secretary of State in 2010 Virgil Bernero, Mayor of Lansing and nominee for Governor in 2010 Mark Bernstein, attorney and Regent of the University of Michigan James Blanchard, former governor of Michigan Debbie Dingell, chairman of the Wayne State University board of governors and wife of U.S. Representative John Dingell (ran successfully for U.S. House) Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan Dan Kildee, U.S. Representative Carl Levin, incumbent U.S. Senator Sander Levin, U.S. Representative from and brother of Carl Levin Gretchen Whitmer, Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source DeborahDingell JenniferGranholm DanKildee GaryPeters Other Undecided—Harper PollingHarper Polling March 9–10, 2013 — ± 23.29% 57.50% 6.40% 12.81% 45% 25%—Mitchell ResearchMitchell Research March 19 & 21, 2013 387 ±4.98% 30% —
Results
Republican primary After Terri Lynn Land declared her candidacy in June 2013, Republicans attempted to recruit U.S. Representative Dave Camp and Oakland County District Court Judge Kimberly Small to run instead. Camp, after earlier having said that he was not interested in running, reconsidered it, and Land indicated that she would consider dropping out if Camp decided to run. Republicans were initially reluctant to rally around Land, but after Camp and Small declined to run, other Republicans like U.S. Representative Justin Amash and Holland Mayor Kurt Dykstra also said no, and a late attempt to convince cardiologist Rob Steele to run failed, Land emerged as the de facto nominee.
Candidates Declared Terri Lynn Land, former member of the Republican National Committee and former Michigan Secretary of State
Withdrew Matthew Wiedenhoeft, businessman and former minor league hockey player and coach (ran for state house)
Declined Justin Amash, U.S. Representative Saul Anuzis, former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party Dave Brandon, University of Michigan Athletic Director Brian Calley, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan Dave Camp, U.S. Representative Mike Cox, former Michigan Attorney General Betsy DeVos, former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party Dick DeVos, businessman and nominee for Governor in 2006 Clark Durant, charter school advocate and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1990 and 2012 Kurt Dykstra, Mayor of Holland John Engler, former governor of Michigan Pete Hoekstra, former U.S. Representative and 2012 Senate nominee Ruth Johnson, Michigan Secretary of State Roger Kahn, state senator Pete Lund, Majority Whip of the Michigan House of Representatives Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committeewoman and member of the Romney family Candice Miller, U.S. Representative Jim Murray, president of AT&T Michigan Andrea Fischer Newman, Regent of the University of Michigan John Rakolta, businessman Randy Richardville, Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate Mike Rogers, U.S. Representative Scott Romney, former member of the Michigan State University board of trustees, candidate for Attorney General of Michigan in 1998 and member of the Romney family Bill Schuette, Michigan Attorney General Kimberly Small, judge on Michigan's 48th District Court Rob Steele, cardiologist
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source Harper PollingHarper Polling March 9–10, 2013 1,744 ±2.35% 10.57% — — — — 8.94% — — 17.07% 25.85% — — — 37.56%Mitchell Research March 19 & 21, 2013 438 ±4.68% 18% — — — — 11% — — 21% — 19% — — 31%Murray Comm'sMurray Comm's May 20, 2013 1,158 ±4.68% 10.28% 1.38% — 9.93% 5.18% 28.84% 4.66% 1.21% 35.66% — — — 2.85% —PPPPPP May 30 – June 2, 2013 334 ±5.4% 16% 7% 21% — 1% 15% — — 18% — — 2% 1% 20%Harper PollingHarper Polling September 4, 2013 958 ±3.17% — — — 16% — 45% — — — — — 2% 4% 33% — — — — — 50% — — — — — — 13% 37%
Results
Minor parties Libertarian Party Robert James "Jim" Fulner
U.S. Taxpayers Party Richard A. Matkin
Green Party Chris Wahmhoff
Independents Candidates Declared Jeff Jones, retired financial services industry worker and pastor Paul Marineau, attorney and former mayor pro tem of Douglas
General election Campaign Early on, the open seat was considered to be competitive. However, various missteps by the Land campaign as well as Land's reluctance to appear in public after suffering a meltdown in front of the media in May, weighed down the Land campaign, allowing Peters to open up a consistent lead in the polls beginning in September. The Republican establishment effectively gave up on Land's campaign the following month.
Debates Peters agreed to four debates; Land did not respond to invitations. Negotiations between the Land and Peters campaigns broke down over the format of proposed debates between the two candidates.
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014
Polling