All 38 seats in the Michigan Senate are up for election in 2010. The majority of current senators are term-limited. Republicans currently have a 22-16 majority, and have controlled the senate for the past 25 years.
2010 Unofficial Primary Candidate Listing
Republican Michigander district profiles (see sidebar)
1. [eastern Detroit] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Hansen Clarke (term-limited, running for Congress against incumbent Carolyn Kilpatrick)
Candidates:
Democrats: Dobey Gavin, LaMar Lemmons, Lisa Nuszkowski, Mary Waters, Coleman Young
Republican: Dakeisha Harwick
Analysis: Lemmons, Waters, and Young are current or former state reps. Lemmons is a campaign finance scofflaw, Waters is under indictment, and Young is the young son of the late race-baiting mayor of Detroit.
2. [northern Detroit, Grosse Pointes] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Martha Scott (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Hans Barbe, Tracey Blair, Olivia Boykins, Ken Daniels, Bert Johnson, Bettie Scott, Kush Shaqiri, Rita Smith, Steve Smith
Republican: John Chouinard
Analysis: Johnson and Scott are current or former state reps. Johnson is a convicted criminal.
3. [central Detroit, Dearborn] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Irma Clark-Coleman (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Morris Hood, Mohamed Okdie, William Robinson
Republican: Doug Mitchell
Analysis: Hood is a state rep.
4. [central Detroit] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Buzz Thomas(term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: George Cushingberry, Michael Garrett, Carron Pinkins, Virgil Smith
Republican: Frederick Robinson
Analysis: Cushingberry and Smith are current or former state reps. Cushingberry is a campaign finance scofflaw.
5. [western Detroit] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Tupak Hunter (running for reelection)
Candidates:
Democrat: Tupak Hunter
Republican: Bonnie Patrick
Analysis: None
6. [Livonia, Westland, Redford] Toss-up.
Incumbent: Glenn Andersen (running for reelection)
Candidates:
Democrat: Glenn Andersen
Republican: John Pastor
Analysis: This district was drawn to lean Republican. Andersen defeated Republican senator Laura Toy in 2006. Toy dropped out of the race to defeat him this year. Pastor is a former state rep. from Livonia.
7. [western, southern Wayne County] Toss-up.
Incumbent: Bruce Patterson (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Kathleen Law
Republicans: Patrick Colbeck, Abe Munfakh, Dan Osterman, Deborah Wyman
Analysis: This Republican district is highly vulnerable. Law is a former state rep. Munfakh is a conservative businessman and township official, while Osterman is a libertarian.
8. [downriver Detroit suburbs] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Ray Basham (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Sherry Dragone, Hoon-Yung Hopgood, Mike Kell, Charles Paddock
Republicans: Ken Larkin, Douglas Reimel
Analysis: Hopgood is a former state rep.
9. [southern Macomb County] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Dennis Olshove (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Steven Bieda, Frank Accavitti
Republicans: Michael Ennis, John Vostoris
Analysis: Bieda and Accavitti are current or former state reps.
10. [central Macomb County] Toss-up.
Incumbent: Mickey Switalski (term-limited, running for Congress against incumbent Sander Levin)
Candidates:
Democrats: Paul Gieleghem, Carl Marlinga
Republican: Tory Rocca
Analysis: Rocca is a state rep. from Sterling Heights, Gielegham is a Macomb County commissioner, and Marlinga is a former Macomb County prosecutor who left under an ethical cloud. This race should be highly competitive.
11. [northern Macomb County] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Alan Sanborn (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Jim Ayers, Jonathan Garstka
Republicans: Jack Brandenburg, Leon Drolet, Kim Meltzer, Colleen Saputo
Analysis: Brandenburg, Drolet, and Meltzer are current or former state reps. Drolet is a libertarian and leader of Michigan taxpayers alliance. Brandenberg is a conservative who does not represent much of the district. Meltzer is a conservative who has proposed restrictions on illegal immigration similar to those passed in Arizona.
12. [northeastern Oakland County] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Mike Bishop (term-limited, running for Attorney General)
Candidates:
Democrats: Ted Golden, Cassandra Ulbrich
Republicans: John Garfield, Lois Golden, Jim Marleau, Copper Rizzo, Kim Russell, Gene Taliercio
Analysis: Garfield and Marleau are former state reps and are likely the favorites.
13. [Troy, Royal Oak, Bloomfield] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: John Pappageorge (running for reelection)
Candidates:
Democrats: Aaron Bailey
Republican: John Pappageorge, Roi Chinn, David Kniffen
Analysis: This district was hotly contested in 2006, with Pappageorge narrowly defeating Andy Levin. This year, democrats failed to find a strong candidate.
14. [southeastern Oakland County] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Gilda Jacobs (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: David Coulter, Vincent Gregory, Anthony McDonald, Derhun Sanders, Howard Worthy
Republicans: James Hardin, Michael Peters, Robert Vaughan
Analysis: Coulter and Gregory are current or former state reps.
15. [southwestern Oakland County] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Nancy Cassis (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Tom Crawford, Pam Jackson, Christopher Maloney
Republicans: Kerry Bentivolio, Paul Graves, Mike Kowall, John Mohyi, Alan Stephens, Steven Valentini
Analysis: Kowall is a state rep.
16. [Lenewaee, Hillsdale, Branch, St. Joseph Counties] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Cameron Brown (term-limited, running for Secretary of State)
Candidates:
Democrat: Doug Spade
Republican: Bruce Caswell
Analysis: Both are current or former state reps.
17. [Monroe, parts of Washtenaw and Jackson Counties] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Randy Richardville (running for reelection)
Candidates:
Democrats: Paul Hengy, John Spencer
Republicans: Randy Richardville, Al Bain
Analysis: This district is competitive in principle, but democrats failed to recruit a strong candidate.
18. [Washtenaw County] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Liz Brater (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Pam Byrnes, Thomas Partridge, Rebekah Warren
Republican: Gary Wellings, John Hochstetler
Analysis: Byrnes and Warren are state reps.
19. [Calhoun, Jackson Counties] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Mike Nofs (running for reelection)
Candidates:
Democrat: Brenda Abbey
Republican: Mike Nofs
Analysis: This seat was held by democrat Mark Schauer until he left for Congress. Nofs won a special election overwhelmingly of Martin Griffin in 2009. Democrats did not recruit a credible candidate this time.
20. [Kalamazoo County] Toss-up.
Incumbent: Tom George (term-limited, running for Governor)
Candidates:
Democrats: Robert Jones, Mark Totten
Republican: Larry Deshazor, Tonya Schuitmaker, Lorence Wenke
Analysis: George won a close reelection in 2006 over Alexander Lipsey. Jones is a popular state rep and former mayor of Kalamazoo. Totten is a law professor who has received much financial support from outside the district. Both are liberals.
DeShazor is a state rep. from western Kalamazoo County. Schuitmaker is a state rep. who represents a small part of VanBuren County. Wenke is a former state rep. from eastern Kalamazoo County. All three are moderate to conservative.
21. [Berrien, Cass, VanBuren Counties] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Ron Jelenek (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrat: Scott Elliott
Republicans: Todd Griffee, John Proos
Analysis: Proos is a state rep. and former staffer for Congressman Fred Upton. Griffee is a Tea Party candidate.
22. [Livingston, Shiawassee Counties] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Valde Garcia (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrat: Chuck Fellows
Republicans: Joe Hune, Paul Rogers
Analysis: Hune is a state rep.
23. [northeastern Oakland County] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: Gretchen Whitmer (running for reelection)
Candidates:
Democrat: Gretchen Whitmer
Republican: Kyle Haubrich
Analysis: Whitmer dropped out of the race for Attorney General.
24. [Allegan, Barry, Eaton Counties] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Patty Birkholz (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrat: Michelle DiSano
Republicans: Rick Jones, Randy Brink
Analysis: Jones is a state rep. from Eaton County and is the heavy favorite.
25. [St. Clair, Lapeer Counties] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Jud Gilbert (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Jason Blauet, John Nugent
Republicans: Todd Courser, Lauren Hager, Phil Pavlov
Analysis: Hager and Pavlov are current or former state reps.
26. [eastern Genessee, northwest Oakland Counties] Toss-up.
Incumbent: Deb Cherry (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Katherine Houston, Jim Slezak, Paula Zelenko
Republicans: Fran Amos, Michael Matheny, David Robertson, Tim Terpening
Analysis: Slezak, Amos, and Robertson are state reps. Robertson is a strong conservative.
27. [Flint, western Genessee County] Safe democrat.
Incumbent: John Gleason (running for reelection)
Candidates:
Democrat: John Gleason
Republican: Vernon Molnar
Analysis: Gleason is safe.
28. [Kent County outside Grand Rapids] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Mark Jansen (running for reelection)
Candidates:
Democrat: Robin Golden
Republican: Mark Jansen
Analysis: None.
29. [Grand Rapids, Kentwood] Toss-up.
Incumbent: Bill Hardiman (term-limited, running for Congress)
Candidates:
Democrats: Robert Dean, Dave LaGrand
Republicans: Dave Hildenbrand, Judith Kapteyn, Lori Wiersma
Analysis: Hildenbrand and Dean are state reps, while LaGrand was a Grand Rapids city commissioner.
30. [Ottowa County] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Wayne Kuipers (term-limited, running for Congress)
Candidates:
Democrat: John Chester
Republicans: Arlan Meekhof, Timothy O'Donnell, Brett VanderKamp
Analysis: Meekhof is a state rep and is the favorite.
31. [the Thumb] Leans democrat.
Incumbent: Jim Barcia (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrat: Jeff Mayes
Republicans: Mike Green, Gary Hadden, Paul Mezo, Robert Palmer
Analysis: Mayes is a state rep. from Bay County. Green lost to Barcia, a former congressman, in 2002.
32. [Saginaw, Gratiot Counties] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Roger Khan (running for reelection)
Candidates:
Democrat: Debasish Mridha
Republicans: Roger Khan, Gary Dunn
Analysis: Democrats failed to recruit a strong candidate against Khan, who won a nail-biter in 2006.
33. [Clinton, Ionia, Montcalm, Isabella Counties] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Alan Cropsey (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrat: James Hoisington
Republicans: Brian Calley, Michael Trebesh
Analysis:
34. [Muskegon County] Toss-up.
Incumbent: Gerald VanWoerkem (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrats: Mary Valentine
Republican: Geoff Hansen
Analysis: Both are state reps. This seat has been quite competitive in past elections.
35. [north-central lower peninsula] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Michelle McManus (term-limited, running for Secretary of State)
Candidates:
Democrats: Roger Dunigan, George Huffman
Republicans: Darwin Booher, Kevin Davis, Gary Finstrom
Analysis: Booher is a state rep.
36. [northeastern lower peninsula, Midland] Toss-up.
Incumbent: Tony Stamas (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrat: Andy Neumann
Republican: John Moolenaar
Analysis: Neumann narrowly lost a race to the incumbent in 2002. Both candidates are state reps.
37. [northern lower peninsula, eastern upper peninsula] Safe Republican.
Incumbent: Jason Allen (term-limited, running for Congress)
Candidates:
Democrat: Bob Carr
Republicans: Randy Bishop, Howard Walker
Analysis: Walker is a state rep.
38. [Upper Peninsula] Leans democrat.
Incumbent: Mike Prusi (term-limited)
Candidates:
Democrat: Michael Lahti
Republicans: Tom Casperson, Jeff Paulin
Analysis: Lahti is a state rep. Casperson is a former state rep. who lost to Congressman Bart Stupak in 2008.
Summary of Ratings:
Safe democrat: 11
Leans democrat: 2
Toss-up: 8
Safe Republican: 17
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