2014 Election Recap – GOP Sweeps

In April of 2014, political observers believed a Republican breeze was blowing through Michigan. By August, the breeze had calmed and it appeared it might have been heading for a switch in direction. Tuesday, that breeze turned into a powerful gust of GOP victory.

Republican victory parties all over the state of Michigan were cheering loudly late into the night as results came pouring in. With the exception of the U.S. Senate race, GOP wins from the top to the bottom capped off an election season that had observers making predictions all over the map, however, hardly a pollster or prognosticator predicted these results.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, November 7, 2014 10:36 AM
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Governor Snyder Wins 2nd Term

Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Snyder cruised to victory over Democratic challenger Mark Schauer, ultimately winning a second four-year term by a margin of 51 percent to 47 percent with alternative party candidates taking the other 2 percent. Although nowhere near the 58 percent to 39 percent trouncing of 2010, the 4-point margin was higher than anticipated. The results indicated that Governor Snyder lost some of the crossover Democratic vote he enjoyed in 2010; however, the combination of Republicans, independents, and a low turnout was enough. Democratic challenger Mark Schauer and the Democratic Party insisted that their message would motivate Democratic voters to turnout in higher numbers than previous non-Presidential election years; however, that was not the case. Tuesday night’s final numbers were just under 3.2 million voters – 2010 had almost 3.3 million.

The Governor’s late push on issue-oriented messaging and decisive action on the City of Detroit’s financial woes and bankruptcy appear to be key reasons he carried Oakland County by 13 percentage points and Macomb County by 10 points.

posted by PAA Online , 10:35 AM
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Peters Stands Alone as Democratic High Point

As expected, U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) handedly defeated Republican nominee and former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land in the U.S. Senate race. Ms. Land’s campaign struggled throughout the year to gain traction and now U.S. Senator-elect Peters won with 55 percent of the vote to Ms. Land’s 41 percent. The race was one of the first to be called Tuesday night. The joy of victory was dulled a bit as Republicans took control of the U.S. Senate with victories in many other states throughout the country.

posted by PAA Online , 10:35 AM
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Schuette, Johnson Win Big

Both Attorney General Bill Schuette and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson won easily Tuesday over Democratic challengers. Secretary of State Johnson won with 54 percent of the vote compared to Democratic nominee Godfrey Dillard’s 43 percent. Attorney General Bill Schuette took 52 percent to Democratic challenger Mark Totten’s 44 percent.

Of note, in his victory speech Mr. Schuette noted that this election would not be his last, foreshadowing his expected run for the Governor’s office in 2018.

posted by PAA Online , 10:34 AM
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State Senate Republican Majority Grows

Heading into the General Election, the Republican Party had spent four years with a supermajority of 26 members in the State Senate compared to the Democrat’s 12. Most political observers predicted the Republicans would hold onto a significant majority heading into January, however, would lose a seat or two to the Democrats. In one of the night’s surprises, the Republican majority in the State Senate will grow to 27-11 when the new Legislature takes office. Keys to this result were:

Margaret O’Brien wins in Kalamazoo

Although the race has not yet been conceded and a recount is potentially coming, Republican State Representative Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage) defeated Democratic State Representative Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) in the race for the newly drawn 20^th Senate District. The margin of victory appears to be roughly 60 votes. The race was the most closely watched through the summer and fall, with Representative McCann leading the financial battle until the Senate Republican Campaign Committee made a late push and dedicated nearly $500,000 to the race.

Zorn Holds-off Spade in 17^th

Representative Dale Zorn (R-Ida) was able to win Monroe County by a margin significant enough to overcome Democratic candidate Doug Spade’s margin of victory in his home Lenawee County and take the race. Observers had pointed to former State Representative Doug Spade’s work ethic knocking on doors as enough to potentially take him over the top; however, Representative Zorn ultimately won the race on a 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent total.

Horn Handedly Defeats Oakes

In the 32^nd Senate seat, held for the last eight years by Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) despite its Democratic base, former State Representative Ken Horn of Frankenmuth had a significant victory over Representative Stacy Erwin Oakes (D-Saginaw) taking 54 percent to Ms. Oake’s 46 percent. The margin of victory for Mr. Horn, compared to the Democratic-leaning base of the district, is worthy of further analysis.

Colbeck Retains 7^th District Seat

Incumbent Republican State Senator Patrick Colbeck of Canton Township was able to hold off a stiff challenge from State Representative Dian Slavens (D-Canton Township) and will remain in his 7^th State Senate District seat for another four years. The Senate Republican Campaign Committee allocated significant resources to retaining this seat despite the well-publicized struggles between the Caucus and Senator Colbeck, who was ultimately victorious by roughly 52 percent to Ms. Slaven’s 48 percent.

posted by PAA Online , 10:34 AM
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Other GOP Senate Victories

Other State Senate races of note include former State Representative Marty Knollenberg’s victory in the 13^th Senate District over Democratic challenger Cyndi Peltonen. Mr. Kollenberg of Troy was seen as the likely winner in the race to replace term-limited Senator John Pappageorge (R-Troy) when Ms. Peltonen scored an upset in the Democratic Primary over the popular Ryan Fishman – seen early as a threat to continued Republican control of the seat.

In another somewhat marginal district, Senator Goeff Hansen (R-Hart) won a big victory over Oceana County Road Commissioner Cathy Forbes, whom Democrats had touted as a top-tier candidate. Senator Hansen won another four years in the Senate by a 12-point margin.

Incumbent Senators Dave Robertson (R-Grand Blanc), Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge), Mike Green (R-Mayville), and Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair) all won their races in districts thought to be in play.

posted by PAA Online , 10:33 AM
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House GOP Grows Majority

Although the Republican Majority in the House of Representatives was not as significant as it was in the Senate heading into Tuesday night, most political observers viewed the likely results similarly. They thought Republicans would retain their majority, and Democrats would pick up a seat or two and narrow the margin a bit. This was not the case as the Republicans not only successfully defended all of their returning seats, but defeated two incumbent Democratic members and flipped two open seats previously held by Democrats – all on their way to growing their majority from 59-51 to a new margin in January of 63-47.

Two incumbent Democratic State Representatives were defeated by Republican challengers in swing seats Tuesday night.

First, State Representative Theresa Abed (D-Grand Ledge), the first Democrat to hold the 71^st House District seat in 50 years, was defeated by Republican challenger Tom Barrett of Potterville, by some 310 votes. In the 91^st House District, former State Representative Holly Hughes was successful in taking her seat back from the woman who beat her, Representative Collene Lamonte (D-Montague) by an estimated 58 votes.

The two open seats formerly held by Democrats that went the GOP way were the 84^th and the 62^nd.

As expected the 84^th House seat was won by Republican Ed Canfield of Sebewaing by a large margin. Representative-elect Canfield took 59 percent of the vote to Democrat David Jaroch’s 41 percent in the race to replace term-limited Representative Terry Brown (D-Pigeon), whose popularity helped him hold the seat despite the strong Republican base.

In the 62^nd House seat where term-limited Representative Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) could not seek re-election, Republican John Bizon took 51 percent of the vote to defeat Democratic candidate Andy Helmboldt.

In other races where Democrats had hoped to chip away at the GOP majority:

Incumbent Representative Pat Somerville (R-New Boston) defeated Democrat David Haener in the 23^rd House District.

Incumbent Representative Klint Kesto (R-Commerce Township) narrowly defeated Democrat Sandy Colvin of West Bloomfield in the 39^th House District.

Incumbent Representative Martin Howrylak (R-Troy) held off Democratic challenger Mary Kerwin, also of Troy, to win another two years representing the 41^st House District.

Other Republican-held seats where incumbents were victorious, in what were thought to be competitive races, include Representative Ben Glardon (R-Owosso) in the 85^th District, Representative Nancy Jenkins (R-Clayton) in the 57^th District, Representative Ray Franz (R-Onekama) in the 101^st District, and Representative Peter Pettalia (R-Presque Isle) in the 106^th.

There were also several open seats previously held by now term-limited Republicans where Democrats were hoping to play – all of which went to the GOP candidates, adding to the 63-member total. These include:

Republican candidate Jim Tedder’s (Clarkston) victory over Democrat Dennis Ritter in the 43^rd House District held by term-limited Representative Gail Haines (R-Waterford)

Republican candidate Jason Sheppard’s (Temperance) victory over Democrat Tom Redmond in the 56^th House District held by term-limited Representative Dale Zorn (R-Ida)

Republican candidate Brandt Iden’s (Oshtemo) victory over Democrat John Fisher in the 61^st House District held by term-limited Representative Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage)

Republican candidate Larry Inman’s (Williamsburg) victory over Democrat Betsy Coffia in the 104^th District held by term-limited Representative Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City)

Republican candidate Gary Glenn’s (Midland) victory over Democrat Joan Brausch in the 98^th District held by term-limited Representative Jim Stamas (R-Midland)

Although it doesn’t speak for the final totals, Democrats were able to claim victory in some close races as well. Democrat Kristy Pagan of Canton was able to win in the 21^st House District, keeping that in the Democratic column, despite a tough race against what Republicans touted as a top-tier candidate in Carol Ann Fausone. Likewise, current State Representative Henry Yanez (D-Sterling Heights) was able to hold off a tough challenge from Republican Nick Hawatmeh in the 25^th House District and incumbent State Representative Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) claimed another two years by defeating Republican challenger Donijo DeJonge in the 76^th House seat.

posted by PAA Online , 10:31 AM
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Republicans Hold Congressional Seats Margin

There were no surprises in the United States House of Representatives, as Republicans maintained the current 9/5 majority in the Congressional delegation.

The closest race was U.S. Representative Dan Benishek’s (R-Crystal Falls) victory over Democratic challenger Jerry Cannon in the 1^st Michigan Congressional District, where the incumbent Congressman Benishek won with 52 percent to Mr. Cannon’s 45 percent.

In the three open and formerly GOP-held seats, the expected winner easily cruised to victory as well. Former State Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) was successful in his quest to replace outgoing Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Brighton), as was State Senator John Moolenaar (R-Midland) in his quest to replace outgoing Congressman Dave Camp (R-Midland) in Michigan’s 4^th Congressional District. Likewise, Republican David Trott defeated Democrat Bobby McKenzie in the 11^th U.S. Congressional District following his defeat of incumbent U.S. Representative Kerry Bentivolio (R-Milford) in the August Primary.

On the Democratic side, Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence was successful in her General Election bid to replace U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) and Democrat Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) will succeed her husband in the 12^th District.

Beyond that – all incumbents will be heading back to Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Justin Amash (R-Cascade Township), Dan Kildee (D-Flint), Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), Candice Miller (R-Shelby Township), Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland), John Conyers (D-Detroit), and Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph).

posted by PAA Online , 10:27 AM
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Dems Pull Other Statewide Wins

In a somewhat odd result in the context of the significant Republican victories throughout the state, Democratic candidates fared much better on other statewide ballot efforts, nearly sweeping. For the State Board of Education, Democratic Pamela Smith and Casandra Ulbrich were victorious over their two Republican opponents. Democratic candidates were also successful in all but one university board election. Democratic nominees Mike Behm and Kathy White (University of Michigan Board of Regents), Democratic nominees Marilyn Kelly and Dana Thompson (Wayne State University Board of Governors) were all winners over Republican candidates. Democratic nominee George Perles won a seat for the Michigan State Board of Trustees as did Republican Melanie Foster.

posted by PAA Online , 10:26 AM
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Senate Leadership Elections: Meekhof, Ananich

As expected, current Senate Majority Floor Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) was elected to replace term-limited Senator Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) as the next Senate Majority Leader by the 27 new members of the Senate Republican Caucus. Senator Meekhof’s current position, Majority Floor Leader, went to Senator Mike Kowall (R-White Lake Township). Senator Goeff Hansen (R-Hart) was elected Assistant Majority Floor Leader and Senator Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton) was elected President Pro Tem.

On the other side of the aisle, Senator Jim Ananich (D-Flint) was elected Minority Leader to replace term limited Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing). Senator Morris Hood (D-Detroit) was elected Minority Floor Leader.

posted by PAA Online , 10:26 AM
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House Leadership Elections: Cotter, Greimel

The race between Representative Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant) and Representative Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville) came to an end prior to the Republican Caucus elections this afternoon as Representative Pscholka withdrew from his effort, giving the nod to now Speaker-elect Cotter. Representative Pscholka, although not yet official, agreed to be Chair of the House Appropriations Committee during the new term.

Representative Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) was elected House Majority Floor Leader, Representative Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) was elected Speaker Pro Tem, and Representative Rob VerHeulen (R-Walker) will be caucus whip.

On the Democratic side of the aisle, Minority Floor Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) was re-elected to lead the Democratic Caucus; however, current House Minority Floor Leader David Rutledge (Ypsilanti) was defeated by Representative Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) for the number two post.

posted by PAA Online , 10:25 AM
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