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2022 Michigan elections

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2022 Michigan elections

← 2021 November 8, 2022 (2022-11-08) 2024 →

The 2022 Michigan elections were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, throughout Michigan. The Democratic Party made historic gains, taking full control of state government for the first time since 1983 and marking a point where Democrats held all four elected statewide offices, both U.S. Senate seats, and both chambers of the Michigan Legislature.[1] Democrats won control of the Michigan House of Representatives for the first time since 2008, and the Michigan Senate for the first time since 1984. Additionally, incumbent Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer won reelection by a comfortable margin, with Democrats sweeping every statewide office. Furthermore, the Democrats maintained control of seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, while the Republican Party took a net loss of one seat (as the state lost one congressional seat due to reapportionment after the 2020 census). The elections in Michigan were widely characterized as a "blue wave".[2][3][4]

Federal

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Congress

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House of Representatives

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Democrats won seven House seats in the United States House of Representatives, winning a majority of the House delegation to the Republicans six.

State

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Executive

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Governor and lieutenant governor

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Incumbent Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist won re-election against Republicans Tudor Dixon and Shane Hernandez by a margin of 10.5%.

Secretary of state

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Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Jocelyn Benson won re-election against Republican Kristina Karamo by a margin of 14%.

Attorney general

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Incumbent Democratic attorney general Dana Nessel won re-election against Republican Matthew DePerno by a margin of 8.6%.

Legislature

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Senate

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All 38 seats in the Michigan Senate were up for election in 2022. Democrats gained four seats, flipping the chamber for the first time since 1982.

House of Representatives

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All 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives were up for election in 2022. Democrats gained three seats, flipping the chamber for the first time since 2008.

Judiciary

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Supreme Court

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2022 Michigan Supreme Court election

← 2020 November 8, 2022 (2022-11-08) 2024 →

2 seats of the Supreme Court of Michigan
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 4 3
Seat change Steady Steady

Two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court were up for election in 2022.

Candidates
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Results
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2022 Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats) election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Richard H. Bernstein (incumbent) 2,120,661 33.90%
Nonpartisan Brian Zahra (incumbent) 1,493,317 23.87%
Nonpartisan Kyra Harris Bolden 1,368,652 21.88%
Nonpartisan Paul Hudson 834,436 13.34%
Nonpartisan Kerry Lee Morgan 438,595 7.01%
Total votes 6,255,661 100.0%
Democratic hold
Republican hold

Just weeks after the election, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Kyra Harris Bolden to the Supreme Court to replace Bridget Mary McCormack, who stepped down.[9]

Ballot initiatives

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Proposal 1

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Proposal 1, the Legislative Term Limits and Financial Disclosure Amendment, was a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment which modified term limits in the Michigan state legislature. Previously, legislators were limited to serving three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives and two terms in the Michigan Senate. This proposal modified the limit to be a lifetime twelve-year limit for service across both chambers. The proposal also increased financial disclosure requirements for various elected officials.[10] The proposal passed 66–34.

Legislative Term Limits and Financial Disclosure Amendment[8]
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 2,838,540 66.45
No 1,433,154 33.55
Total votes 4,271,694 100.00

Proposal 2

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Proposal 2, the Right to Voting Policies Amendment, was a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment which changed voting procedures in the state with the intent of making it easier for citizens to vote.[11] The proposal passed 60–40.

Right to Voting Policies Amendment[8]
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 2,586,255 59.99
No 1,725,110 40.01
Total votes 4,311,365 100.00

Proposal 3

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Proposal 3, the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative, was a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment to protect the right to abortion and contraceptives in the state constitution.[12] The proposal passed 57–43.

Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative[8]
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 2,482,382 56.66
No 1,898,906 43.34
Total votes 4,381,288 100.00

Issues

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Issues occurred in a few locations with part of the Ottawa County Clerk's office losing power and requiring a backup generator,[13] due to an error involving a construction crew that was working on nearby power lines,[14] precincts in Ada Township temporarily running out of ballots,[15] tabulator jams in Kent County due to ballots being marked in pen that had not dried,[16][17] and long lines as polls were closing at City Hall in Grand Rapids.[18] High turnout by college students led to long lines at polling places with polls on the campuses of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Michigan State University in East Lansing staying open long after the polls closed at other places.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Brownstein, Ronald (September 16, 2024). "Why these three states are the most consistent tipping point in American politics". CNN. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "Michigan blue wave foils GOP plans to enact voter ID, school choice this year | Bridge Michigan". www.bridgemi.com. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  3. ^ Donahue, Allison R. (November 11, 2022). "In Michigan, 'red wave' spin gives way to a blue 'blowout' ⋆ Michigan Advance". Michigan Advance. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  4. ^ "Let It Rip: Michigan's blue wave; Trump's announcement for 2024". www.youtube.com. FOX 2 Detroit. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Rich, Samantha; Wang, Caroline (November 3, 2022). "The Michigan Daily sits down with MI Supreme Court candidates ahead of elections". The Michigan Daily.
  6. ^ Panetta, Grace (October 18, 2022). "'The stakes couldn't be higher': Abortion, democracy and the woman who could be Michigan's first Black woman justice". 19th News.
  7. ^ Tribou, Doug (October 28, 2022). "Meet the MI Supreme Court Candidates: Paul Hudson". Michigan Radio.
  8. ^ a b c d "2022 Michigan Election Results - General". Michigan Secretary of State. November 28, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  9. ^ Yu, Stella (November 22, 2022). "Kyra Harris Bolden makes history with appointment to Michigan Supreme Court". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "Michigan Proposal 1, Legislative Term Limits and Financial Disclosure Amendment (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  11. ^ "Michigan Proposal 2, Right to Voting Policies Amendment (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  12. ^ "Michigan Proposal 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  13. ^ Fillmore Complex in Ottawa County without power, not impacting Election Day operations WZZM
  14. ^ Fillmore Complex loses power after construction crews hit power line WWMT
  15. ^ Ada Township precinct ran out of ballots, using small supply of delivered ballots WZZM
  16. ^ Ballpoint pens slow ballot tabulation at Grand Rapids Township precinct WOODTV
  17. ^ Issues with Kent County voting tabulators will not affect results, Benson says WWMT
  18. ^ 3 hour long line to vote at Grand Rapids City Hall after polls close in Michigan WZZM
  19. ^ "Michigan's youngest voters made biggest gains in midterm voter turnout".
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