It wasn’t the tsunami Democrats had been hoping for, but the top state-wide offices in Michigan went to female Democratic candidates Tuesday.
Democrats, as predicted by the polls, won the Michigan governor’s race and the contest for U.S. Senator and all three state-wide ballot proposals were approved. Furthermore, Democratic women won the attorney general and secretary of state battles.
Perhaps the most surprising election of the night was an astonishingly close fight between 16-term incumbent Fred Upton for Sixth District Congress. Matt Longjohn actually was leading Upton by a very small margin with 43 percent of the tallies reporting. By midnight, Upton had regained the lead and was up 49 to 47 percent. No opponent of Upton before had ever received more than 35 percent of the vote.
Gretchen Whitmer, former minority leader in the Michigan Senate, defeated Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette by about 55% to 42%. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow picked up her fourth victory for a six-year term by turning back a bid by former soldier and businessman John James. The margin was 52% to 45%
State-wide races for secretary of state showed Democrat Jocelyn Benson was clinging to a slim lead over GOP candidate Mary Lange and Dana Nessel was slightly ahead of former Republican state legislator Tom Leonard in the race to succeed Schuette for attorney general.
Proposal 1, which will legalize recreational use of marijuana and regulate it in the same way as alcohol, was enjoying a comfortable lead, 58% to 42%. Proposal 2, to set up a 13-member panel to end gerrymandering by politicians and draw up legislative districts, was being approved by about 62% to 38%. A third proposal, to enable voters easily to register to vote when they get driver’s licenses and end the ban on straight-party voting, was up by about 68% to 32%.
Closer to home, former, it appeared to be business as usual with Republican victories, but the margins were much smaller this time than in past years.
Former State Rep. Aric Nesbitt appeared to be on his way to taking the 26th District Senate seat with about 53% of the vote, besting an unusually strong challenge from Democrat Garnet Lewis, who had 43%.
Republican Mary Whiteford seemed to be well on her way to election to her second full term in the 80th District State House over Democratic challenger Mark Ludwig.
State Rep. Steven Johnson, in his bid for a second two-year term in Lansing, received shocks in early returns and was trailing, but he rallied to overtake Ron Draayer in the 72nd District.
In the contest for Michigan Supreme Court, incumbent Elizabeth Clement was leading the way with 30.6% of the vote. The other incumbent, Kurtis Wilder was locked in a tight struggle with Megan Cavanuagh in a six-way race for two open seats.
