2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan
← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 →
All 14 Michigan seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 9 6
Seats won 9 5
Seat change Steady Decrease 1
Popular vote 2,086,804 2,327,985
Percentage 45.62% 50.89%
Swing Decrease 6.70% Increase 6.59%
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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.

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 whilst 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

[edit]
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
Popular vote
Democratic
 
 50.89%
Republican
 
 45.62%
Libertarian Party
 
 2.23%
Other
 
 1.26%
House seats
Republican
 
 64.28%
Democratic
 
 35.71%

Redistricting

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Dan Benishek, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

[edit]
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Benishek (incumbent) 64,411 100.0
Total votes 64,411 100.0

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Withdrawn
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gary McDowell 36,339 100.0
Total votes 36,339 100.0

General election

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Dan Benishek (R)

Organizations

Newspapers

Gary McDowell (D)

Labor unions

Organizations

Newspapers

Debate

[edit]
2012 Michigan's 1st congressional district 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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
County Results Benishek:      40-50%      50-60% McDowell:      40-50%      50–60%
Michigan's 1st congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

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 rates the race as "Safe Republican",[43] and Huizenga easily won re-election with 61.2% of the vote.[44]

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Declined
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Huizenga (incumbent) 58,170 100.0
Total votes 58,170 100.0

Democratic primary

[edit]

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

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Willie German Jr, Muskegon city commissioner
Withdrawn
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Willie German Jr. (write-in) 1,813 100.0
Total votes 1,813 100.0

General election

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Bill Huizenga (R)

Organizations

Newspapers

Results

[edit]
County Results
Huizenga:      40-50%      60-70%      70-80%
German:      40-50%
Michigan's 2nd congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

Republican Justin Amash, who was first elected to represent the 3rd district in 2010, is seeking re-election and ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[13] Libertarian Party candidate Bill Gelineau is also on the ballot.[14]

In redistricting, the 3rd district was made more favorable to Democrats.[6] Roll Call rate the race as "Likely Republican."[11]

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Declined
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Republican 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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
Declined
[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Steve Pestka

U.S. Senators

State legislators

Labor unions

Local officials

Individuals

Trevor Thomas

U.S. Representative

Statewide officials

Organizations

Individuals

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic 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

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Justin Amash (R)

Organizations

Newspapers

Steve Pestka (D)

U.S. Senators

U.S. Representative

Statewide officials

State legislators

Labor unions

Organizations

Newspapers

Local officials

Individuals

Polling

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
County Results
Amash:      50-60%
Pestka:      50-60%
Michigan's 3rd congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

Republican David Lee Camp, who has represented the 4th district since 1993 and previously represented the 10th district from 1991 until 1993, will seek re-election.[13] Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Republican".[43]

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dave Camp (incumbent) 67,028 100.0
Total votes 67,028 100.0

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Debra Friedell Wirth, attorney[74]

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Friedell Wirth 20,519 100.0
Total votes 20,519 100.0

General election

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Dave Camp (R)

Organizations

Newspapers

Debra Freidell Wirth (D)

Labor unions

Organizations

Results

[edit]
County Results
Camp:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Michigan's 4th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

Democrat Dale Kildee, who has 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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Declined
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Kildee 51,840 100.0
Total votes 51,840 100.0

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Republican 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

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Dan Kildee (D)

Labor unions

Organizations

Newspapers

Results

[edit]
County Results
Kildee:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Michigan's 5th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

Republican Fred Upton, who has represented the 6th district since 1993 and previously represented the 4th district from 1987 until 1993, will seek 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 Saturday June 2, 2012. Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Republican".[43]

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]

Polling

[edit]
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

[edit]
Republican 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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Withdrawn
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike O'Brien 14,224 100.0
Total votes 14,224 100.0

General election

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Fred Upton (R)

Organizations

Mike O'Brien (D)

Labor unions

Organizations

Predictions

[edit]
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

[edit]
County Results
Upton:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%
Michigan's 6th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

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 has represented the 7th district since January 2011 and previously served from 2007 until 2009, is running for re-election.[13] Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Republican".[43]

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
  • 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

[edit]
Republican 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

[edit]

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, had been recruited by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[97]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Kurt Haskell, attorney[98]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
Declined
[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Ruben Marquez

Labor unions

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic 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

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Tim Walberg (R)

Organizations

Newspapers

Mike O'Brien (D)

Labor unions

Predictions

[edit]
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

[edit]
County Results
Walberg:      50-60%      60-70%
Haskell:      40-50%
Michigan's 7th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

Republican Mike Rogers, who has 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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
  • Brian Hetrick, mechanical engineer[2][52]
  • Vernon Molnar

Primary results

[edit]
Republican 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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Lance Enderle, former teacher and nominee for this seat in 2010[105]

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lance Enderle 29,322 100.0
Total votes 29,322 100.0

General election

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Mike Rogers (R)

Organizations

Newspapers

Lance Enderle (D)

Labor unions

Organizations

Results

[edit]
County Results
Rogers:      60-70%
Enderle:      50-60%
Michigan's 8th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

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 has represented the 12th district since 1993 and previously represented the 17th district from 1983 until 1993, will seek re-election here.[43] Peters, who has represented the 9th district since 2009, will seek re-election in the redrawn 14th district.[109]

Jim Fulner, an engineer from Berkley, earned the Libertarian Party nomination at their state convention 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, Saturday June 9, 2012, in Mount Pleasant.[111] Lester Townsend received the US Taxpayers Party of Michigan's nomination at their state convention Saturday June 16, 2012. This marks the fourth election cycle in a row Townsend has challenged Levin for his seat. Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Democratic".[43]

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Sander Levin, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 12th district
Withdrawn
[edit]
  • Allen James O'Neil, businessman[112]

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sander Levin (incumbent) 55,198 100.0
Total votes 55,198 100.0

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Don Volaric, businessman and nominee for the 12th district in 2010[113]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
  • Gregory Dildilian, woodworker

Primary results

[edit]
Republican 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

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Sander Levin (D)

Labor unions

Organizations

Results

[edit]
County Results
Levin:      50-60%      60-70%
Michigan's 9th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

Republican Candice Miller, who has represented the 10th district since 2003, will seek re-election.[13] Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Republican".

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Candice S. Miller (incumbent) 68,063 100.0
Total votes 68,063 100.0

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Chuck Stadler, practical nurse and accountant[52]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
  • Jerome Quinn, attorney

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic 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

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Candice Miller (R)

Labor unions

Organizations

Results

[edit]
County Results
Miller:      60-70%      70-80%
Michigan's 10th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]
Main articles: 2012 Michigan's 11th congressional district election and 2012 Michigan's 11th congressional district special election
See also: Michigan's 11th congressional district

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 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 has since changed back to "Likely Republican."

Republican primary

[edit]

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 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 wrote as write-in candidates.[131]

Bentivolio was endorsed by Gov. Rick Snyder, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Senator Rand Paul, and Congress members Candice Miller, Justin Amash, Dan Banishek and Ron Paul, and former officeholders Rick Santorum and Peter Hoekstra.[132]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
Declined
[edit]
  • 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
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Republican 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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
  • Bill Roberts, follower of Lyndon LaRouche.
Declined
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic 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

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Kerry Bentivolio (R)

Organizations

Newspapers

Syed Taj (D)

Labor unions

Organizations

Newspapers

Polling

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
County Results
Bentivolio:      40-50%      50-60%
Michigan's 11th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

Democrat John Dingell, who has represented the district since 2003 and previously from 1955 until 1965, and previously represented the 16th district from 1965 until 2003, will seek re-election here. Roll Call rates the race as "Safe Democratic".[43]

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • John Dingell, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 15th district
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
Declined
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Democratic 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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Cynthia Kallgren, former candidate for State Representative
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
  • Karen Jacobsen, businesswoman[140]

Primary results

[edit]
Republican 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

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
John Dingell (D)

Labor unions

Results

[edit]
County Results
Dingell:      60-70%      70-80%
Michigan's 12th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

Democrat John Conyers, who has 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 has nominated Chris Sharer of Westland as their candidate.[141] and Martin Gray is the U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate.[14]

Roll Call rates the race as "Safe Democratic".[43]

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
Disqualified
[edit]
  • Godfrey Dillard, attorney[147]
Declined
[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
John Conyers

Labor unions

Polling

[edit]
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

[edit]
Democratic 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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]

Primary results

[edit]
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harry Sawicki 8,462 100.0
Total votes 8,462 100.0

General election

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
John Conyers (D)

Labor unions

Organizations

Results

[edit]
Michigan's 13th congressional district, 2012
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

[edit]

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 out lying 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, is the Libertarian Nominee.[150] Douglas Campbell, an engineer from Ferndale, is the Green Party Candidate. Roll Call rates the race as "Safe Democratic".[43]

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • Gary Peters, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 9th district
Eliminated in primary
[edit]
Declined
[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Gary Peters

Labor unions

Polling

[edit]
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

[edit]
Democratic 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

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
Nominee
[edit]
  • John Hauler, government contractor for ACE electronics

Primary results

[edit]
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Hauler 17,691 100.0
Total votes 17,691 100.0

General election

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]
Gary Peters (D)

Labor unions

Organizations

Results

[edit]
County Results
Peters:      70-80%      80-90%
Michigan's 14th congressional district, 2012
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

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "August 7, 2012 Primary and November 6, 2012 General Election: Important Dates and Filing Deadlines" (PDF). Michigan Department of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "2012 Michigan Official Primary Candidate Listing - 08/07/2012". mielections.us. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020.
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  4. ^ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives". clerk.house.gov.
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  7. ^ Martin, Tim (June 22, 2011). "Michigan House approves new districts for Congress". The Advocate. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  8. ^ "Michigan Senate approves new congressional map". Grand Haven Tribune. June 30, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  9. ^ Miller, Joshua (August 9, 2011). "Snyder Signs New Michigan Map". Roll Call. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  10. ^ "Midwest Region Roundup : Roll Call Special Features Election Preview". Retrieved December 30, 2022.
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  25. ^ a b c d e f g h "NALC-ENDORSED CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES" (PDF). NALC. pp. 3–4. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
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  30. ^ C-SPAN
  31. ^ Benenson Strategy Group
  32. ^ Garin-Hart-Yang
  33. ^ Public Policy Polling
  34. ^ Garin-Hart-Yang
  35. ^ Public Policy Polling Archived January 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
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  37. ^ a b c d e "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com. November 2, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  38. ^ a b c d e [1], as of November 4, 2012
  39. ^ a b c d e Crystal Ball, as of November 5, 2012
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  41. ^ a b c d e [2], as of November 4, 2012
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