Genesee County Commissioner Joe Graves was successful in his bid to win the special election for the 51st Michigan House of Representatives District, keeping the seat in Republican hands after the successful recall of former Republican Representative Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc).
Representative-elect Graves took 10,290 votes compared to the 8,173 votes cast for Steven Losey, a Redford Union High School special education teacher and Linden Community Schools Board member. Given the Republican base of the district and the expected high Republican turnout resulting from the Presidential primary, it was anticipated that Mr. Graves would win with relative ease; however, Democrats made a late and strong move for the seat.
In the 29th House seat, left vacant after the resignation of former State Representative Tim Melton (D-Auburn Hills), Oakland County Commissioner Tim Greimel coasted to victory over Republican Bob Gray. Representative-elect Greimel took 77 percent of the vote in the special election.