Friday, June 10, 2022

2022 Michigan State House Races

Last updated June 10, 2022.

All 110 seats in the Michigan Senate are up for election in 2022.  Republicans won a 58-52 majority in 2020, unchanged from 2018.  Rs have controlled the house since 2010.  

Michigan has a new state house map, thanks to the Michigan's Independent Redistricting Commission.  The commission drew lines that split many counties and split Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and the Lansing area to benefit Ds.  Other districts have strange shapes for no clear reason.

The existing map has ten black-majority districts based in Detroit, plus one in Southfield and one in Flint.  This map has only six black-majority districts based in Detroit/Southfield (4, 5, 6, 9, 16, 18), and one in Flint (70).  There are nine districts between 40% and 50% black (1, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17).  There are 15 districts that are partly but not wholly contained in Detroit, up from 7 in the existing map.  No district is completely in Detroit.

Michigan Redistricting: State House Map Approved



Interactive versions of the map are available at Dave's Redistricting and MICRC.

Michigan State House Map-Dave's Redistricting
Michigan State House Map-MICRC


Several incumbents had to move to avoid unfriendly districts or primaries with other incumbents.  There are 53 open seats; 36 state reps are term-limited.  A bunch of state reps are running for state senate or other offices, and two just retired.  There will be one incumbent-v-incumbent primary.  There will also be many interesting general election races. 

President Trump endorsed eight candidates for Michigan state house.  One (Maddock) is an incumbent, one (Rocha) was disqualified, and one (Bricker) is challenging an incumbent.  In addition, several candidates are tying themselves closely to Trump (a MAGA platform) and others are promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election (a Stop the Steal platform).  Michigan Right to Life has made endorsements that may have an impact in some races.  Some incumbents are running in substantially different districts (39, 67, 88, 97, 105) and may be vulnerable to primary challengers.

Consider the districts in detail.  The election data for each district is the R candidates for President 2016 (P16), Attorney General 2018 (AG18), Governor 2018 (G18), and President 2020 (P20).  (There was 1-5% of the vote for third party candidates in these races.)  Additional information on the races comes from Gongwer and RepublicanMichigander.


1. [S Detroit] Safe D
P16: 7 G18: 7 AG18: 8 P20: 11
This district has a strong claim to be the most diverse in Michigan, and has successively had black, Hispanic, Jewish, Muslim, Chinese, and black representatives.  Tyrone Carter (D) was elected in 2018.  Jermaine Tobey is also seeking the D nomination.  Incumbent rep. (18-22) Cynthia Johnson (D) filed here, but was disqualified due to campaign finance problems.  Paula Campbell will be the R nominee.

2. [Southgate, Allen Park] Safe D
P16: 43 G18: 37 AG18: 38 P20: 43
The downriver area has moved right under Trump, but is more D downballot.  Tullio Liberati (D), younger brother of rep (14-20) Frank Liberati, was elected in 2020.  Michael D'Onofrio and Ronald Kokinda are seeking the R nomination.

3. [central Dearborn, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 21 G18: 20 AG18: 20 P20: 21
Rep. (16-21) Abdullah Hammoud (D) was elected mayor of Dearborn in 2021.  Attorney Jeffrey Pepper (D) won a 2022 special election to replace him, but will not seek a full term.  Community organizer Alabas Farhat lost the 2022 special election primary to Pepper.  Federal bureaucrat Sam Luqman and Khalil Othman are also seeking the D nomination.  Ginger Shearer will be the R nominee.

4. [E Dearborn, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 6 G18: 5 AG18: 5 P20: 8
Community organizer Karen Whitsett (D) was first elected in 2018.  She made headlines in 2020 after calling the house D leader racist and praising President Trump after recovering from coronavirus.  She won renomination in 2020 with 45% against a split field.  She has not attracted much attention in her second term.  She is being challenged for the D nomination by Gus Tarraf and Lori Lynn Turner.  Tonya Renay Wells will be the R nominee.

5. [Birmingham, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 20 G18: 20 AG18: 21 P20: 21
This particularly absurd district is one of four that are thin strips from Detroit to Oakland County.  It has a chunk of Detroit, slices through Oak Park to the mostly white suburb of Birmingham (with precincts from Southfield, Royal Oak, and Berkley).
Radio braodcaster Reggie Reg Davis lost a 2020 D state house primary. Steele Hughes lost a 2020 D state house primary. Ksenia Milstein, Berkley City Councilmember Natalie Price, and GVSU professor Michelle Wooddell are also seeking the D nomination.  Keith Albertie and Paul Taros are seeking the R nomination.

6. [Oak Park, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 16 G18: 16 AG18: 16 P20: 16
This is one of four districts that are thin strips from Detroit to Oakland County.  Oak Park City Council Member Regina Weiss (D) was elected in 2020.  Account manager Myya Jones lost a race for mayor of Detroit in 2021.  Mark Murphy lost D primaries for state house in 2012 and 2018.  Danielle Hall is also seeking the D nomination.  Charles Villerot will be the R nominee.

7. [Royal Oak, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 16 G18: 16 AG18: 16 P20: 17
This is one of four districts that are thin strips from Detroit to Oakland County, gerrymandered to reduce the number of black-majority districts.  Helena Scott (D), a legislative staffer, was elected in 2020.  Royal Oak City Commissioner Melanie Macey and Grant Rivet are also seeking the D nomination.  There is no R candidate.

8. [Madison Heights, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 21 G18: 19 AG18: 20 P20: 23
This is one of four districts that are thin strips from Detroit to Oakland County, gerrymandered to reduce the number of black-majority districts.  Ernest Little lost a 2012 D primary for state house.  Hazel Park City Councilmember Mike McFall has some D establishment support.  Ryan Nelson lost a 2020 D state house primary.  Madison Heights councilman David Soltis and community organizer Durrel Douglas are also seeking the D nomination.  Robert Noble and Attie Pollard are seeking the R nomination.

9. [E Detroit] Safe D
P16: 5 G18: 6 AG18: 5 P20: 7
Hamtramck city commissioner Abraham Aiyash (D), a pro-Bernie Sanders progressive, was elected in 2020.  Auto mechanic Abraham Shaw finished ninth in the 2020 D primary for this seat, and seventh in the 2016 D primary.  Darnell Gardner, William Phillips, and Paul Smith are also seeking the D nomination.  Michele Lundgren will be the R nominee.

10. [Grosse Pointes, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 32 G18: 32 AG18: 34 P20: 31
This district reunites the Grosse Pointes (a clear community of interest), but combines them with part of Detroit, making it unlikely that they can elect a candidate of their choice.  Joe Tate (D) was elected in 2018, and is expected to be the next house D leader.  Toni Mua is also seeking the D nomination.  Mark Corcoran will be the R nominee.

11. [St. Clair Shores, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 33 G18: 30 AG18: 31 P20: 33
This is one of five districts containing part of Detroit and Macomb County, gerrymandered to reduce the number of black-majority districts.  There are nine D candidates.  Patrick Biange lost a 2020 D primary for state house.  Businessman Paul Francis lost a 2016 D primary for state house, and lost a 2018 senate race as the D nominee.  Harper Woods Council Member Regina Williams lost a 2018 D state senate primary.  Motivational speaker Marvin Cotton Jr, engineer Alex Manwell, David Maynard, Harper Woods Council Member Veronica Paiz, court clerk Athena Lynn Thornton, and government staffer Ricardo White are also seeking the D nomination.  Mark Foster and Christopher Jeffery are seeking the R nomination.

12. [Eastpointe, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 31 G18: 26 AG18: 27 P20: 31
This is one of five districts containing part of Detroit and Macomb County, gerrymandered to reduce the number of black-majority districts.  Roseville City Clerk Rich Steenland (D) was elected in 2020.  Kimberly Edwards is also seeking the D nomination.  Diane Saber will be the R nominee.

13. [E Warren, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 34 G18: 31 AG18: 32 P20: 35
This is one of five districts containing part of Detroit and Macomb County, gerrymandered to reduce the number of black-majority districts.  Lori Stone (D) was elected in 2018 to a district covering most of Warren.  Detroit resident Myles Miller, former staffer for rep LaTanya Garrett, is also seeking the D nomination.  Ronald Singer will be the R nominee.

14. [W Warren, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 27 G18: 24 AG18: 25 P20: 29
This is one of five districts containing part of Detroit and Macomb County, gerrymandered to reduce the number of black-majority districts.  It combines territory from the districts of Shri Thanedar (D), who is leaving to run for congress, and Lori Stone, who is running in an adjacent district.  Activist Donavan McKinney has significant D establishment support.  He finished second in a 2020 D state house primary to Thanedar, and also lost a primary in 2016.  Center Line city councilman Aaron Delikta and veteran Kristina Lodovisi are also seeking the D nomination.  Wendy Jo Watters will be the R nominee.

15. [Dearborn Heights, W Dearborn] Safe D
P16: 39 G18: 34 AG18: 36 P20: 37
This district has a significant Middle Eastern population.  Journalist Afaf Ahmad, Dearborn City Councilmember Erin Byrnes, and activist Bilal Hammoud are seeking the D nomination.  Steven Mackie will be the R nominee.

16. [SE Livonia, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 23 G18: 20 AG18: 21 P20: 23
This district is gerrymandered to include part of Detroit and some swing areas in Livonia.  Stephanie Young (D) was elected to a district entirely within Detroit in 2020.  Ishmail Terry, a staffer for Rep. Karen Whitsett, is also seeking the D nomination.  He previously lost a state house primary in 2014.  Keith Jones and Gabriel Rees are seeking the R nomination.

17. [NE Livonia, Detroit] Safe D
P16: 31 G18: 29 AG18: 30 P20: 31
This district is gerrymandered to include part of Detroit and some swing areas in Livonia.  Laurie Pohutsky (D) is a progressive who was first elected to a swing district based in Livonia in 2018.  Penny Crider, who lost a state house primary in 2020, will be the R nominee.  Her husband will be the R nominee for state senate district 6.

18. [Southfield, Farmington] Safe D
P16: 19 G18: 18 AG18: 19 P20: 20
Kyra Bolden (D), who was elected in 2018, is running for Michigan Supreme Court.  Southfield City Councilman Jason Hoskins has most D establishment support.  Congressional staffer Caprice Jackson is also seeking the D nomination.  Wendy Webster Jackson will be the R nominee.

19. [N Farmington Hills, S Bloomfield Twp] Safe D
P16: 33 G18: 32 AG18: 34 P20: 31
Farmington Hills City Council member Samantha Steckloff (D) was elected in 2020.  This district changed shape significantly, but the partisan numbers didn't change much.  Anthony Paesano will be the R nominee.

20. [W Bloomfield Twp.] Lean D
P16: 43 G18: 39 AG18: 41 P20: 43
Ryan Berman (R), first elected in 2018, did not seek reelection.  He unsuccessfully sought the R endorsement for AG.  This district added some of the current district of retiring rep. Mari Manoogian (D), moving significantly left.  Political activist Noah Arbit, West Bloomfield School Board Trustee Ken Ferguson, and lawyer and political staffer James Sklar are seeking the D nomination.  Realtor Albert Mansour and lawyer Diana Mohyi are seeking the R nomination.

21. [Novi] Lean D
P16: 45.3 G18: 43.4 AG18: 45.9 P20: 42.4
Novi city councilmember Kelly Breen (D) flipped this historically conservative seat D in 2020.  The new district moved several points left.  Novi Mayor Pro Tem David Staudt and businessman Daniel Lawless are seeking the R nomination.

22. [W Livonia, Plymouth, Northville] Tossup
P16: 50 G18: 46.8 AG18: 49.7 P20: 47.2
Matt Koleszar (D) was first elected in 2018, flipping a historically R seat that moved left under Trump.  This district moved several points right compared to Koleszar's old district.  Businesswoman Cathryn Neracher will be the R nominee.  Livonia Councilman Rob Donovic filed here, but was disqualified due to residency issues. 

23. [E Ann Arbor, South Lyon] Safe D
P16: 35 G18: 35 AG18: 37 P20: 34
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Washtenaw County area, Ann Arbor was split into four pieces.  This particularly absurd district has a slice of Ann Arbor, R-leaning Salem Township, South Lyon from Oakland County, and parts of Plymouth and Northville Townships in Wayne County.  Washtenaw County Commissioner Jason Morgan will be the D nominee.  Richard Sharland will be the R nominee.

24. [Canton Twp] Safe D
P16: 41 G18: 37 AG18: 40 P20: 38
Ranjeev Puri (D) was elected in 2020.  John Anthony will be the R nominee.

25. [Westland, Wayne] Safe D
P16: 40 G18: 34 AG18: 36 P20: 40
Kevin Coleman (D) was first elected in 2018.  Scott Barlow will be the R nominee.

26. [Garden City, Inkster, N Romulus] Safe D
P16: 32 G18: 27 AG18: 28 P20: 34
Scandal-plagued rep. Jewell Jones (D) is term limited.  Inkster City Councilmember Steven Chisholm, Stephen Patterson, teacher Dylan Wegela, and UAW staffer Allen Wilson are seeking the D nomination.  James Townsend will be the R nominee.

27. [Trenton, Grosse Ile] Tossup
P16: 51.5 G18: 44.6 AG18: 46.7 P20: 51.3
The downriver area has many working class voters who have moved right under Trump.  Teacher Jaime Churches will be the D nominee.  Trenton City Councilmember Bob Howey lost a race for state house by less than 1% in 2016.  Police officer Kevin Counts, insurance agent Dave Kachinosky, Peter Rommel, and mortgage loan officer Lisa Werner are also seeking the R nomination.

28. [NE Monroe, Brownstown Twp] Tossup
P16: 51.5 G18: 43.4 AG18: 45.6 P20: 51.9
This is one of three districts that contain part of Wayne and Monroe Counties.  It is gerrymandered to stretch from Taylor (D) in Wayne to rural R areas of Monroe.  Veterans Affairs Director Robert Kull will be the D nominee.  Nonprofit executive Virgie Ammerman, Nicone Dragone, and nurse Jamie Thompson are seeking the R nomination.

29. [Taylor, Huron] Tossup
P16: 51.6 G18: 44.3 AG18: 46.3 P20: 53
This is one of three districts that contain part of Wayne and Monroe Counties.  It is gerrymandered to stretch from Taylor (D) in Wayne to rural R areas of Monroe.  Alex Garza (D) was first elected in 2018.  He lost an election for mayor of Taylor in 2021.  Sam Ditzhazy is running on a MAGA platform.  Sales manager James DeSana, Huron school board member Jack Richert, and auto technician Brian Warzocha are also seeking the R nomination.

30. [S Monroe] Safe R
P16: 57 G18: 53 AG18: 55 P20: 60
Bedford Township trustee TC Clements, who was elected in 2020, is leaving to run for state senate.  Army veteran William Bruck and Bedford Township Supervisor Paul Pirrone are seeking the R nomination.  Suzanne Jennens will be the D nominee.

31. [N Monroe, Belleville] Lean D
P16: 47.4 G18: 42.1 AG18: 44.1 P20: 48.8
This is one of three districts that contain part of Wayne and Monroe Counties.  It combines heavily D parts of Wayne with rural R areas of Monroe.  Van Buren Township Trustee Reggie Miller has most D establishment support.  Glenn Morrison Jr is also seeking the D nomination.  Truck driver Dale Biniecki and Holli Vallade are seeking the R nomination.

32. [Ypsilanti] Safe D
P16: 22 G18: 20 AG18: 21 P20: 22
Ronnie Peterson (D) is term limited.  Ypsilanti Township Trustee Jimmie Wilson Jr. has much D establishment support.  Attorney Robyn Lynn McCoy has Peterson's endorsement.  Marshall Averill, Roderick Casey, Sr., Isaac London, and Carol Smith are also seeking the D nomination.  Martin Church will be the R nominee.

33. [S Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Twp] Safe D
P16: 25 G18: 24 AG18: 26 P20: 23
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Washtenaw County area, this district combines part of Ann Arbor with rural townships.  County Commissioner Felicia Brabec (D) was elected in 2020.  The R nominee will be Robert Borer III.

34. [Lenawee] Safe R
P16: 57 G18: 53 AG18: 54 P20: 58
Bronna Khale (R) is term limited.  State senator (14-22) Dale Zorn was previously a state rep (10-14).  He is termed out of the state senate, but can still serve one more term in the state house.  He is running in Lenawee County rather than in Monroe County, which he previously represented.  Nurse Julie Moore and retired fire chief Ryan Rank are also seeking the R nomination.  John Dahlgren will be the D nominee.

35. [Hillsdale, Branch] Safe R
P16: 69 G18: 64 AG18: 66 P20: 71
This district was almost unchanged, adding only the city of Hudson.  Attorney Andrew Fink (R) was elected in 2020.  He launched a leadership bid, but later dropped it.  He has a MAGA challenger, farmer Steve Meckley.  The D nominee will be Andrew Watkins.

36. [St. Joseph, Cass] Safe R
P16: 63 G18: 59 AG18: 62 P20: 65
Steve Carra (R) was first elected in 2020.  After congressman Fred Upton voted for impeachment, Carra announced a run against him, and was endorsed by President Trump.  Redistricting took Carra out of the new district, and added the base of Congressman Bill Huizenga, who ran for the seat.  President Trump then offered a "complete and total" endorsement of Huizenga.  While not explicitly un-endorsing Carra, this served to push him out of the race, and he chose to run for reelection.  Upton decided not to seek reelection.
While Carra was running for Congress, several other candidates launched campaigns for this seat.  One is former Kalamazoo county commissioner and Kalamazoo GOP chairman Scott McGraw, who moved to the district shortly before announcing his campaign.  Navy veteran Jack Coleman finished second to Carra in the 2020 R primary, then lost a write-in campaign in the general.  Jerry Solis is a pastor with many endorsements from local political leaders.  All three are credible, but Carra will likely win renomination due to split opposition.

37. [S Berrien, W Cass] Safe R
P16: 59 G18: 57 AG18: 58 P20: 60
This district lost the lakeshore and added more of interior Berrien County.  Teacher Brad Paquette (R) was first elected in 2018.  JD Haughey is also seeking the R nomination.  Naomi Ludman will be the D nominee.

38. [Berrien to Allegan lakeshore] Lean D
P16: 46.1 G18: 44.9 AG18: 46.5 P20: 44.6
This absurd district runs about 75 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline from New Buffalo to Saugatuck.  It is barely a mile wide at one point.  Apparently, people who live close to a lake form a community of interest.  This district promotes "partisan fairness" since it favors Ds.
One R candidate is accountant Kevin Whiteford, the husband of term-limited Allegan County state rep (16-22) Mary Whiteford.  The other R candidates are realtor George Steven Lucas and Troy Rolling, who lost state house bids in N Berrien in 2016 and 2018.  The D candidates are Joey Andrews, an AFL-CIO operative who lost a bid for state house in N Berrien in 2018, and former South Haven school board member Annie Brown, who lost bids for state house in Van Buren in 2014 and 2016.
39. [Van Buren] Safe R
P16: 58 G18: 54 AG18: 57 P20: 60
This district lost the lakeshore of Van Buren and added parts of Berrien and Allegan.  Pauline Wendzel (R), a businesswoman who was elected to a N Berrien district in 2018, is running here after her district was split into several pieces.  Matt Nilson, who lost a previous state house bid in the 2016 primary, is also running.  Jared Polonowski will be the D nominee.

40. [Portage, Oshtemo, Texas] Lean D
P16: 42 G18: 41 AG18: 44.6 P20: 40
This area was R-held until 2020, when county commissioner Christine Morse (D) won an open seat. It has a lot of upscale suburban areas that have moved left under Trump.  The new district loses R areas of Schoolcraft, Prairie Ronde, and Oshtemo precinct 1 and adds two precincts in Kalamazoo.  The R candidate is Kalamazoo GOP vice-chair Kelly Sackett, who protested school mask mandates.  This district is a long shot, but could be competitive if suburbs return to voting R.

41. [Kalamazoo city] Safe D
P16: 23 G18: 22 AG18: 24 P20: 23
County commissioner Julie Rogers (D) was elected in 2020 after losing earlier bids in 2006 and 2008.  The R candidates are Terry Haines and Ben Stanley.
42. [rural Kalamazoo, Plainwell] Safe R
P16: 52.9 G18: 49.4 AG18: 53.2 P20: 52.6
This district includes about half of the district currently represented by Matt Hall, along with parts of three other districts.  Hall was first elected in 2018, defeating a moderate incumbent, and is now in line to be the R leader next term.  He moved here from Calhoun County after being put in the same district as Sarah Lightner (R) of Jackson County.  She refused to move, but eventually agreed to drop her own leadership bid and support Hall.  Chemist Gary Mitchell, who lost in the Kalamazoo city-based district in 2020, is running on a Stop the Steal platform.  The D nominee will be Justin Mendoza.

43. [Allegan, S Barry] Safe R
P16: 67 G18: 64 AG18: 67 P20: 69
This absurd district includes the majority of Allegan County, southern Barry County, one township from Eaton County, and part of a township in Ottawa County.  Allegan incumbent reps Mary Whiteford and Steve Johnson are both term-limited.
Martin Township Clerk Rachelle Smit has the Trump endorsement.  Unlike many other Trump endorsees, she has excellent fundraising.  Also seeking the R nomination are Nevin Cooper-Keel, wrestling coach Phillip Joseph, and commercial risk advisor Lindsay Kronemeyer.  Given Allegan County's history of voting for anti-establishment reps (Fulton Sheen, Cindy Gamrat, Steve Johnson), Smit is likely the favorite here.  Mark Ludwig will be the D nominee.

44. [Battle Creek, Albion] Tossup
P16: 48.1 G18: 44.4 AG18: 47.3 P20: 49.4
This district was drawn as a gerrymander to put the most D areas of Calhoun in one district to protect then-speaker Jase Bolger (R) in a neighboring district.  Incredibly, the redistricting commission maintained this gerrymander.  County commissioner Jim Haadsma (D) was elected to this open seat in 2018.  For the third straight election, the R candidate will be Dave Morgan, who lost with 48.2% in 2018 and 48.7% in 2020.  Morgan was the Calhoun dem chairman and lost state house races in 2010 and 2014 as a D, before serving as Pennfield Township supervisor as an R 2016-20.
45. [S Calhoun, W Jackson] Safe R
P16: 64 G18: 59 AG18: 63 P20: 65
Sarah Lightner (R) was first elected in 2018 in a rural Jackson County district.  The new district includes the majority of the current district represented by Matt Hall (R).  Lightner refused to move, but eventually agreed to drop her own leadership bid and support Hall.  The D nominee will be Ron Hawkins, who has lost previous bids for state house in 2018 and 2020.

46. [Jackson city] Tossup
P16: 48 G18: 44.4 AG18: 46.8 P20: 49.1
This district was gerrymandered by adding Chelsea in Washtenaw County and removing rural R townships.  Julie Alexander (R) is term limited.  Former Au Sable Township (in Iosco County) Treasurer Kimberly Sheppard Hugle and broadcaster Kathy Schmaltz are seeking the R nomination.  AFL-CIO staffer Maurice Imhoff, who is age 20, will be the D nominee.

47. [W Ann Arbor, SW Jackson] Safe D
P16: 37 G18: 34 AG18: 36 P20: 37
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Washtenaw County area, this absurdly gerrymandered district combines part of Ann Arbor with rural townships in Jackson County.  Rep. Donna Lasinski (D) lives here, but is term limited.  Social work lecturer Carrie Rheingans has most establishment support.  Union organizer James Johnson Jr. is also seeking the D nomination.  Tina Bednarski-Lynch and Teresa Spiegelberg are seeking the R nomination.
48. [N Ann Arbor, SC Livingston] Tossup
P16: 48.1 G18: 44.6 AG18: 46.5 P20: 46.6
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Washtenaw County area, this absurdly gerrymandered district combines part of Ann Arbor with rural townships in Jackson and Livingston Counties.  Journalist Jennifer Conlin will be the D nominee.  Attorney and Hamburg Township Treasurer Jason Negri and Marine veteran and pastor Jason Woolford are seeking the R nomination.

49. [SE Livington, Wixom] Safe R
P16: 54.9 G18: 51.2 AG18: 53.7 P20: 53.2
Ann Bollin was first elected in 2018.  Chase Turner, who lost bids for state house in Oakland County in 2018 and 2020, attempted to run here, but was disqualified due to campaign finance issues.  The D nominee will be Christina Kafkakis.

50. [N, W Livingston] Safe R
P16: 65 G18: 59 AG18: 62 P20: 64
Former Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte (R) was elected in 2020.  Glen Miller will be the D nominee.

51. [White Lake, Milford] Safe R
P16: 61 G18: 56 AG18: 58 P20: 59
Matt Maddock, an antiestablishment leader who has the Trump endorsement, was first elected in 2018.  He has floated running for R leader.  Sarah May-Seward is the D candidate.

52. [Waterford, Independence] Safe R
P16: 59 G18: 53 AG18: 56 P20: 57
Police officer Mike Harris (R) was elected in a 2022 special election, following the death of Andrea Schroeder.  Robin McGregor will be the D nominee.

53. [Pontiac, S Waterford] Safe D
P16: 30 G18: 28 AG18: 29 P20: 32
Brenda Carter (D) was first elected in 2018.  Waterford Township Trustee Anthony Bartolotta is a surprisingly credible candidate for this seat.  He previously lost the 2018 R primary for a state house seat to Andrea Schroeder.

54. [N Bloomfield, Auburn Hills, Orion] Lean R
P16: 51.2 G18: 48.4 AG18: 50.8 P20: 48.3
This is a rare example of a good draw for Rs (though not very compact), which puts shaky territory in Bloomfield Township with more R Orion Township to the north.  Orion Township Treasurer and realtor Donni Steele has most R establishment support.  Businesswoman Sandy Kiesel is running on a Stop the Steal platform.  Defense attorney and Bloomfield Township Trustee Stephanie Fakih, teacher Gary Gerson, and businesswoman Shadia Martini are seeking the D nomination.

55. [Rochester Hills] Lean R
P16: 50.9 G18: 48.2 AG18: 51.1 P20: 48.1
This historically conservative wealthy suburban seat has trended left under Trump.  Rochester Hills City Council member Mark Tisdell (R) won a highly competitive general election in 2020.  Community organizer Neil Oza seems to have most D establishment support.  Businesswoman Patricia Bernard is also seeking the D nomination.
56. [Troy] Lean D
P16: 45.1 G18: 42 AG18: 44.6 P20: 41.3
This wealthy suburban seat has trended left under Trump.  Padma Kuppa (D), first elected in 2018, is running for state senate.  The D candidates are marketing manager Sharon MacDonell and Cyndi Peltonen, who lost previous bids for state senate in 2014 and this seat in 2016.  Businessman Mark Gunn will be the R nominee.

57. [W Sterling Heights] Lean R
P16: 52 G18: 46.4 AG18: 48.4 P20: 53.1
Diana Farrington (R) is term limited.  Valet trainer Marcia Squier was the Green Party nominee for US Senate in 2018 and 2020.  Aisha Farooqi is also seeking the D nomination.  Oakland County Commissioner and attorney Thomas Kuhn will be the R nominee.

58. [E Sterling Heights] Tossup
P16: 52.5 G18: 45.4 AG18: 48 P20: 52.1
This district is very oddly shaped for no clear reason.  Nate Shannon (D) was first elected in 2018.  He defeated a deeply flawed R opponent 53-47 in 2020.  Businesswoman Michelle Smith and Giovanni Ndrea are seeking the R nomination.

59. [Shelby Twp] Safe R
P16: 64 G18: 58 AG18: 61 P20: 63
State rep (18-21) Doug Wozniak won a 2021 special election for a Macomb-based state senate seat.  Terence Mekoski, a retired police officer who finished third in the R primary won by Wozniak, then won the special election to replace him.  Redistricting put Wozniak in the same district as Senator Ruth Johnson, and he chose to run for state house against Mekoski.  Wozniak is an establishment R, while Mekoski has run on a Stop the Steal platform.
Frank Cusumano, who lost the 2010 R primary for state house, is running on an anti-tax platform.  James Diez will be the D nominee.

60. [Macomb Twp] Safe R
P16: 59 G18: 51.4 AG18: 55 P20: 58
Jeff Yaroch (R) is term limited.  Former Clinton Townshp Trustee Joseph Aragona will be the R nominee.  Stop the Steal activist Mellissa Carone moved to this district from Wayne County intending to run for state house, but she was disqualified from the ballot due to failure to file campaign finance reports.  Linda Clor and Carol Diehl are seeking the D nomination.

61. [Clinton Twp] Lean D
P16: 50.3 G18: 43.6 AG18: 45.8 P20: 49.5
This district moved slightly right, losing SW Clinton Township.  William Sowerby (D) is term limited.
Mount Clemens City Commissioner Denise Mentzer will be the D nominee.  Chiropractor Mike Aiello is seeking the R nomination after being disqualified when he ran for state house in 2016.  Austin Negipe lost R primaries for this seat in 2016 and 2020.

62. [Harrison Twp] Lean R
P16: 52.8 G18: 46.1 AG18: 48.2 P20: 52.7
Compared to the old district containing Harrison Township, this district moved left a few points.  Steve Marino (R) is term limited.  His reputation was badly damaged by revelations that he had an affair with Rep. Mari Manoogian (D) and had made bizarre threats against her.  He was removed from his committees, but was not charged with a crime.
Steve's father Joe Marino is seeking the R nomination, along with L’Anse Creuse school board president Hilary Dubay, Alicia St. Germaine, and financial advisor Rola Zarife.  Michael Brooks will be the D nominee.

63. [Chesterfield Twp, S St. Clair] Safe R
P16: 64 G18: 56 AG18: 59 P20: 65
Pamela Hornberger is term limited and running for state senate.  Jacky Eubanks, a staffer for Lisa McClain, has the Trump endorsement and is running on a Stop the Steal platform.  She has also endorsed banning birth control.  St. Clair County Clerk Jay DeBoyer and Algonac City Councilman Jake Skarbek are also seeking the R nomination.  Democrat Kelly Noland and Jamie Murray will be the D nominee.

64. [E St. Clair] Safe R
P16: 58 G18: 49.5 AG18: 52.6 P20: 59
R incumbents Andrew Beeler (20-P) and Gary Eisen (18-P) both live here and are running here, even though there are several neighboring seats that are open, and either could have moved.  Beeler was previously a Navy reservist, while Eisen was a firearms instructor.  John Mahaney, who lost R state house primaries in 2018 and 2020, is also seeking the R nomination.  Charles Howell will be the D nominee.

65. [W St. Clair, E Lapeer] Safe R
P16: 70 G18: 62 AG18: 65 P20: 71
This district has pieces of the old districts of Gary Howell, Pamela Hornberger, and Jeff Yaroch, who are all term limited, and Gary Eisen, who is running in a Port Huron area district.  Navy veteran and Richmond City Councilmember Jaime Greene, farmer Michael Pratt, who finished fifth in a 2018 R state house primary, and businessman Frank Wasung are all seeking the R nomination.  Mark Lingeman and Robert Majchrzak are seeking the D nomination.

66. [NE Oakland] Safe R
P16: 66 G18: 61 AG18: 63 P20: 65
Rep. John Reilly (R) is term limited.  Engineer Mary Berlingieri finished fourth in a special state senate R primary in 2021.  Addison Township Trustee and businessman Jacob Newby and teacher Josh Schriver are both running on libertarian-leaning platforms.  Andrew Arendoski and Charles Shelton are also running.  Emily Busch will be the D nominee.

67. [W Lapeer, NE Genesee] Safe R
P16: 58 G18: 50.2 AG18: 54 P20: 60
This district includes about half of the districts of Gary Howell (R), who is term limited, and David Martin (R), who lives in a neighboring district.  In one of the few good draws for Rs, this district absorbs some D-leaning areas near Flint while remaining safe R.  It also includes one township from Tuscola County, which happens to be where state rep (18-P) Phil Green (R) lives.  Green, the son of senator (10-18) Mike Green, will run in this district, which is almost entirely new to him.
Incredibly, he is one of eight seeking the R nomination.  Former radio host Sherri Cross previously lost R primaries for state house in 2018 and 2020.  Retired truck driver Kurt Hausauer ran for state house in 2020 as a D. Chad Moore is running on a Stop the Steal platform.  Engineer and firefighter Chris Tuski lost the R primary for a 2015 special election.  Teacher and legislative aide Linda Glisman, Eric Gunnels, and Army veteran and farmer Gabriel Lossing are also seeking the R nomination.  Brian LaJoie will be the D nominee.

68. [Burton, Davison] Lean R
P16: 52.5 G18: 45.5 AG18: 49.9 P20: 52.3
This district contains the residences of Tim Sneller (D), who is term limited, and David Martin (R).  Martin, a county commissioner from Davison who upset an incumbent D in 2020 in a NW Genesee district, will run here.  This district is slightly to the right of Martin's old district, and the area has moved significantly right under Trump.  Also seeking the R nomination are teacher Vern Miller and businesswoman Kristen Swanson, who are both running on a MAGA/Stop the Steal platform.  Activist Amie Carter and journalist Cheri Hardmon are both seeking the D nomination.  There is also married couple Raymond Freiberger (D) and Lynne Freiberger (R), who are both running for the same district under opposite parties for reasons known only to them.

69. [W Genesee] Safe D
P16: 41 G18: 36 AG18: 40 P20: 42
State rep (18-22) John D. Cherry is running for state senate.  The D candidates are Flushing Township Trustee and teacher Jenifer Almassy, former Flint school board member and Flint Township Trustee Kenyetta Dotson, and legislative staffer Jasper Martus.  Jesse Couch will be the R nominee.
70. [Flint] Safe D
P16: 17 G18: 14 AG18: 16 P20: 19
Due to population loss in Flint, this district expanded from being contained within Flint to containing Flint and some suburban areas.  It has a black majority.  Cynthia Neeley (D) won a 2020 special election to replace her husband Sheldon Neeley after he was elected mayor of Flint.  Thomas Harris Jr., Rich Jones, and DeWaun Robinson are also seeking the D nomination.  Trevor Berryhill and Tim Butler are seeking the R nomination.

71. [Shiawassee] Safe R
P16: 57 G18: 50.4 AG18: 56 P20: 60
Ben Frederick (R) is term limited.  Army veteran Kevin Rathbun has the Trump endorsement, and has decent fundraising.  Shiawassee County Sheriff Brian BeGole, farmer Bob Carlin, and Ali Williston are also seeking the R nomination.  Mark Zacharda will be the D nominee.

72. [Fenton, Grand Blanc] Safe R
P16: 55 G18: 49.6 AG18: 53 P20: 55
This district added some competitive areas near Flint.  It shifted slightly left, but is still safe.  Former police officer Mike Mueller (R) was first elected in 2018.  Brandy Bush and recent college graduate Dylan Pescarolo are also seeking the R nomination.  Jacob William Crevier and Stacy Taylor are seeking the D nomination.

73. [rural Ingham] Lean D
P16: 43 G18: 39 AG18: 43 P20: 44
This rural Ingham district loses Delhi Township and adds part of East Lansing.  It is usually close, but never close enough for Rs to win.  Julie Brixie (D) was elected in 2018 to a district based in East Lansing and Meridian Township.  Norm Shinkle (R) was state senator (1982-90) from Monroe County.  After relocating to the Lansing area, he served in many leadership positions in the local and state GOP, and is currently on the state board of canvassers.  He surprisingly filed to run for this seat at the last minute, which is enough to move it out of the Safe D category.

74. [S Lansing, Delhi Twp] Safe D
P16: 31 G18: 28 AG18: 31 P20: 31
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Lansing area, this district splits Lansing.  Kara Hope (D) was elected to a largely rural and suburban district in 2018 but lives here.  Albert Kelley Jr. and politcal staffer Carlee Knott are also seeking the D nomination.  Jennifer Sokol will be the R nominee.
75. [Meridian Twp, SE Clinton] Safe D
P16: 39 G18: 35 AG18: 40 P20: 38
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Lansing area, this district splits East Lansing and absorbs rural R areas.  Former Ingham County Commissioner Penelope Tsernoglou lost to Julie Brixie in the 2018 D primary for state house.  Ingham County Commissioner Emily Stivers was recruited by Brixie.  Attorney Don Keskey is also seeking the D nomination.  Chris Stewart will be the R nominee.

76. [Eaton] Tossup
P16: 47.9 G18: 42.9 AG18: 46.9 P20: 47.9
This district flipped several times over the past decade, and usually has close races.  Angela Witwer (D) was first elected with 50.8% in 2018 and was reelected with 51.2% in 2020.  Eaton County Commissioner Jeremy Whittum will be the R nominee.

77. [N Lansing, SW Clinton] Safe D
P16: 37 G18: 33 AG18: 38 P20: 37
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Lansing area, this district splits Lansing and absorbs rural R areas of Clinton County.  Sarah Anthony (D) lives here but is running for state senate, and Graham Filler (R) lived here, but moved north to a safe district.  Recent MSU graduate Logan Byrne, leftist activist Emily Dievendorf, and former pro basketball player Jon Horford are seeking the D nomination.  John Magoola will be the R nominee.

78. [Ionia, NE Barry] Safe R
P16: 62 G18: 56 AG18: 61 P20: 63
This is essentially the Ionia/Barry County seat of term-limited rep Julie Calley, but it includes small parts of Eaton and Kent Counties.  Former Eaton County commissioner Christine Barnes and businesswoman Gina Johnsen faced off in the 2020 R primary for an Eaton County seat (Johnsen won the primary but lost the general). Now both are running here.  Barry County Commissioner Ben Geiger is the third R candidate.  Trump endorsee Jon Rocha was disqualified from the ballot due to campaign finance problems.  Leah Groves will be the D nominee.

79. [S Kent] Safe R
P16: 65 G18: 64 AG18: 67 P20: 63
This district has most of the southern tier of Kent, plus three townships from Barry and one from Allegan.  Angela Rigas has the Trump endorsement, but has mediocre fundraising.  She unsuccessfully challenged rep Lisa Lyons in the 2014 R primary, and was on the capital grounds on January 6.  Ryan Gallogly is a teacher who finished third in a state house primary in 2016.  Jeremiah Keeler is the son-in-law of former rep Tom Hooker.  The D nominee will be Kimberly Kennedy-Barrington.

80. [Kentwood, East Grand Rapids] Lean D
P16: 42.7 G18: 43 AG18: 46.1 P20: 39.8
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Grand Rapids area, this district lost several rural townships and added part of Grand Rapids.  Kent County Commissioner Phil Skaggs is the legislative director for Rep. Dave LaGrand and seems to have most establishment support.  Lily Cheng-Schulting, a pro-Bernie Sanders activist who lost a race for this seat in 2020, is running again.  Attorney Jeffrey Johnson will be the R nominee.

81. [NE Grand Rapids, Ada Twp] Lean D
P16: 45.5 G18: 43.3 AG18: 46.6 P20: 41.8
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Grand Rapids area, this district lost several rural townships and added part of Grand Rapids.  Rachel Hood (D), who was first elected to a peripheral Grand Rapids district, now lives here.  Rep. Lynn Afendoulis (18-20), who lost a race for Congress in 2020, will be the R nominee.

82. [SE Grand Rapids] Safe D
P16: 24 G18: 25 AG18: 27 P20: 23
Rep. Dave LaGrand (D) is term limited and running for state senate.  Small business owner Salim Mohammed Al-Shatel, Grand Rapids school board member Kristian Grant, and Kent County commissioner Robert Womack are seeking the D nomination.  William Alexander and Ryan Malinoski are seeking the R nomination.
83. [Wyoming, SW Grand Rapids] Lean D
P16: 46.2 G18: 43.6 AG18: 45.9 P20: 44
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Grand Rapids area, this district lost heavily R Byron Township and added part of Grand Rapids.  Rep Tommy Brann (R) is term limited and running for state senate.  Former Kent County Commissioner Keith Courtade, who lost a race for state senate in 2021, is running.  Former teacher and Grand Rapids school board member Jose Flores and Wyoming City Councilmember John Fitzgerald are also running.  Businesswoman Lisa DeKryger will be the R nominee.

84. [W Grand Rapids, Walker, Grandville] Tossup
P16: 47.5 G18: 43.8 AG18: 47.1 P20: 43.7
As part of an effort by the commission to elect more Ds in the Grand Rapids area, this district lost several rural townships and added part of Grand Rapids.  Walker City Commissioner Carol Glanville (D) was elected 52-40 in a normally safe R district in a May 2022 special election after the election of Mark Huizenga to the state senate.  The R nominee in that election was Robert Regan, who had made many controversial comments on rape, feminism, and Putin's war that came to light after the primary.  Regan, who previously lost house races in 2014, 2018, and 2020, is running again this year.  Grandville City Council member Justin Noordhoek is a teacher who also ran in the special primary.  Loan officer Mike Milanowski ran as a write-in in the special, receiving about 8% of the vote.  John Wetzel is also running.  Hopefully Regan won't benefit from another split field, but if he does, this district goes to safe D.

85. [Jenison, Zeeland] Safe R
P16: 71 G18: 69 AG18: 72 P20: 67
Bradley Slagh was first elected in 2018.  Todd Avery will be the D nominee.

86. [Holland] Safe R
P16: 51.7 G18: 51.4 AG18: 54.4 P20: 49.3
This Holland-area district has trended left, but is more R downballot.  Former Holland Mayor Nancy De Boer has substantial establishment support.  Business consultant Seth Getz is also seeking the R nomination.   Larry Jackson will be the D nominee.

87. [Muskegon city] Safe D
P16: 37 G18: 34 AG18: 37 P20: 39
This district is open, as Terry Sabo is term limited and running for state senate.  The D candidates are attorney Brennen Gorman, Muskegon Heights City councilman Eddie Jenkins III, Will Snyder, district director for Terry Sabo, and former Muskegon city commissioner Debra Warren.  The R nominee will be Michael Haueisen.

88. [Grand Haven, Norton Shores] Safe R
P16: 54.5 G18: 51.7 AG18: 55.3 P20: 53.7
Greg VanWoerkom, son of state senator (02-10) Jerry VanWoerkom, was elected to the rural Muskegon district in 2018.  That district was chopped into three pieces, and his home is in this district that contains much of the district of term-limited rep Jim Lilly.  Former missionary Mick Bricker got the Trump endorsement when he was intending to run for Lilly's open seat, but has mediocre fundraising.  Bricker's son is married to the daughter of rep Matt Maddock, who likely helped get Trump's endorsement here.  Ottawa County isn't Trump country, so VanWoerkom is favored here.  Christine Baker and Jeffrey Noel are seeking the D nomination.

89. [E Ottawa, SE Muskegon] Safe R
P16: 65 G18: 61 AG18: 64 P20: 66
This district adds a chunk of Muskegon County.  Luke Meerman (R) was first elected in 2018.  The D nominee is Sharon McConnon.

90. [NC Kent] Safe R
P16: 60 G18: 57 AG18: 60 P20: 59
Bryan Posthumus (R) was first elected in 2020.  He is the son of LG (1998-2002) Dick Posthumus and brother of Kent County Clerk Lisa Lyons.  Kathy Clark is also seeking the R nomination.  Meagan Hintz will be the D nominee.

91. [Montcalm] Safe R
P16: 64 G18: 58 AG18: 62 P20: 67
Pat Outman, the son of senator (18-P) Rick Outman, was first elected in 2020.  Tammy DeVries and Frank LaFata are seeking the D nomination.

92. [Isabella, N Gratiot] Lean R
P16: 50.8 G18: 46.4 AG18: 50.2 P20: 53
This district is drawn in the way most beneficial to Ds.  While it keeps Isabella County whole, it includes northern Gratiot County, which is the most pro-D area in any of the five neighboring counties.  Roger Hauck (R) is term limited and running for state senate.  Pastor Gene Haymaker is running on a Stop the Steal platform.  Thomas Anderman, farmer Jerry Neyer, construction project manager Todd Schorle, and family therapist Erin Zimmer are also seeking the R nomination.  CMU professor Anthony Feig will be the D nominee.  He previously lost the D primary for MI-4 in 2020.
93. [W Saginaw, S Gratiot, N Clinton] Safe R
P16: 62 G18: 57 AG18: 62 P20: 64
Graham Filler (R) was first elected in 2018.  He moved into this new district after his house was put into a D-heavy district as part of the gerrymander of the Lansing area.  Veteran Alan Hoover, who finished fourth in the 2020 R primary for MI-8, is also running.  Jeffrey Lockwood will be the D nominee.

94. [Saginaw city] Safe D
P16: 31 G18: 29 AG18: 32 P20: 32
Saginaw County commissioner Amos O'Neal (D) was elected in 2020.  James Shepler will be the R nominee.

95. [Midland] Safe R
P16: 57 G18: 55 AG18: 57 P20: 57
State rep Annette Glenn (18-22) is running for state senate.  Former DIA officer Bill G. Schuette is the son of former AG (10-18) Bill Schuette.  He has most establishment support.  Midland County Clerk Ann Manary was first elected as a D after someone else was appointed clerk, but soon switched parties.  Charles McGinnis Jr. is also seeking the R nomination.  Matthew Dawson and Larry Grell are seeking the D nomination.

96. [Bay County] Lean R
P16: 52.3 G18: 45.9 AG18: 48.8 P20: 53.7
Bay County was long a D stronghold, but it has been moving right.  Bangor Township School Board member Timothy Beson (R) defeated a D incumbent in an upset in 2020.  Bay County Commissioner Kim Coonan will be the D nominee.

97. [E Saginaw, W Tuscola] Safe R
P16: 63 G18: 57 AG18: 60 P20: 64
This strange district neighbors four urban areas, and has an arm to take in rural areas between the tri-cities (Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City).  Rodney Wakeman (R) was first elected to a suburban Saginaw district in 2018.  Former Tuscola County Commissioner Matthew Bierlein is the district director for Senator Kevin Daley.  He lost a close race for the 2018 R nomination for a state house seat in the Thumb to Phil Green.  Dean Riley is also seeking the R nomination.  Paul Whitney will be the D nominee.

98. [the Thumb] Safe R
P16: 69 G18: 63 AG18: 66 P20: 71
This district is mostly represented by incumbents Phil Green and Andrew Beeler, but they both live in (and are seeking reelection in) neighboring districts.  Former Sanilac County drain commissioner and farmer Gregory Alexander finished a close second to Beeler for the R nomination for a state house seat in 2020.  State rep Kurt Damrow (10-12) was defeated for renomination due to multiple ethical controversies, and lost another bid in 2014.  Former Sanilac County commissioner and CPA Joe O'Mara finished fourth the R nomination for a state house seat in 2020.  Westley Tahash is also seeking the R nomination.  Robert Mroczek will be the D nominee.

99. [Iosco, Arenac, Ogemaw, Gladwin] Safe R
P16: 65 G18: 58 AG18: 59 P20: 67
This district has the majority of the current district of Speaker Jason Wentworth, who is term limited.  Au Gres Mayor and hunting store owner Mike Hoadley has the Trump endorsement, but has mediocre fundraising.  Earl Lackie previously lost the R primary for MI-5 in 2020, and was the Constitution Party candidate for LG in 2018.  Alan Hover and school superintendent Shawn Petri are also running.  Kenneth Kish will be the D nominee.

100. [Mecosta, Osceola, Clare] Safe R
P16: 64 G18: 59 AG18: 62 P20: 67
This district combines parts of the districts of Michelle Hoitenga and Jason Wentworth, who are both term limited.  Grant Township Board member Tom Kunse is unopposed for the R nomination.  Reed City councilman Nate Bailey will be the D nominee.

101. [Newaygo, Lake] Safe R
P16: 65 G18: 60 AG18: 63 P20: 67
Scott VanSingel (R) is term limited.  Former MI GOP Administrative Vice Chair Diane Schindlbeck, district representative for senator Jon Bumstead, is running on a MAGA platform.  Newaygo County Road Commission manager Kelly Smith has the support of rep VanSingel and other local officials.  Former director of the Newaygo County Commission on Aging Joseph Fox and Chad Pierce are also running.  Amanda Siggins will be the D nominee.

102. [Muskegon to Manistee lakeshore] Safe R
P16: 56 G18: 53 AG18: 55 P20: 58
This district was assembled from pieces of three existing districts.  Senator (18-22) Curt VanderWall was previously a state rep (16-18) representing one of them.  Redistricting put him in a district largely represented by senator Jon Bumstead.  VanderWall decided to run for state house rather than challenge Bumstead or move to a different district.
Oceana County Commissioner and Oceana GOP chairman Andrew Sebolt is running on an antiestablishment conservative platform.  He previously challenged Rep. Scott VanSingel in the 2020 R primary.  Ryan E. Roberts is also seeking the R nomination. Assistant prosecutor Brian Hosticka will be the D nominee.  He previously lost to Rep. Greg VanWoerkom in a rural Muskegon district in 2020.

103. [Leelanau, Traverse City] Tossup
P16: 49.9 G18: 46.6 AG18: 49.5 P20: 46.9
This district is gerrymandered to combine Leelanau County with the Traverse City area in a way that is the best for Ds.  Grand Traverse County is split, even though it has the right population for a single district.  District 103 contained the residences of two R incumbents, Jack O'Malley and John Roth.  
O'Malley was first elected to a lakeshore district in 2018.  Roth moved to a neighboring district to avoid a primary.
Activist Heather Cerone, who lost the 2020 R primary to Roth, is also seeking the R nomination.  Grand Traverse County Commissioner Betsy Coffia, who previously lost races for state house in 2012, 2014, and 2016, has most D establishment support.  Activist Michael Brodsky is also seeking the D nomination.
104. [S Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Antrim] Safe R
P16: 62 G18: 57 AG18: 60 P20: 62
The oddly shaped district contains parts of six counties but all of none.  John Roth (R) was first elected in 2020.  He moved to this district to avoid a primary with fellow incumbent Jack O'Malley.  Businesswoman Katie Kniss is also seeking the R nomination.  Cathy Albro will be the D nominee.  She lost MI-3 against Justin Amash in 2018.

105. [Roscommon, Crawford, Otsego, Missaukee] Safe R
P16: 66 G18: 61 AG18: 65 P20: 68
This district has parts of the current districts of Ken Borton and Daire Rendon.  Rendon, who has embraced Stop the Steal and flirted with QAnon, is term limited.  Otsego County Commissioner Ken Borton was first elected in 2020 and is running here. There are three other R candidates.  Private investigator Mark McFarlin has run for office 8 times before, including being the US Taxpayers (Constitution) party nominee for governor in 2014. Businesswoman Kim Morley and Roscommon Township Supervisor Diane Randall were previously running for Rendon's district, and are now running here.  Adam Wojdan will be the D nominee.

106. [NE Lower Peninsula] Safe R
P16: 64 G18: 58 AG18: 62 P20: 66
Sue Allor (R) is term limited.  Montmorency County Commissioner Geyer Balog and Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Cam Cavitt are both seeking the R nomination.  Navy veteran Larry Hull is running on a Stop the Steal platform.  Marie Fielder will be the D nominee.  

107. [Mackinac Bridge area] Safe R
P16: 58 G18: 54 AG18: 57 P20: 57
Documentary producer John Damoose, who easily won the R nomination in 2020, is running for state senate.  There are five R candidates.  Political staffer Bob Carr (not the D congressman) previously ran for US Senate as a write-in candidate.  David Laughbaum finished fifth in the 2020 R primary.
The other candidates are university student Parker Fairbairn, property manager Neil Friske, and former Emmet County commissioner and zoning administrator Jonathan Scheel.  Jodi Decker will be the D nominee.

108. [Menominee to Chippewa] Safe R
P16: 62 G18: 57 AG18: 58 P20: 64
Beau LaFave is term limited, and unsuccessfully sought the R endorsement for secretary of state.  The R candidates include attorney Casey Hoffman, Menominee County Commissioner and paramedic David Prestin, and car salesman Mark Simon.  Kurt Perron, who was previously a D candidate for state rep in 2018 and 2020, is running as an R.  Chris Lopez will be the D nominee.

109. [Marquette] Lean D
P16: 48.6 G18: 43.6 AG18: 45.1 P20: 48
Trump won this district, but it is more D downballot.  Sara Cambensy (D) is term limited.  Forsyth Township Supervisor Joe Boogren has most D establishment support.  Marquette City Commissioner Jenn Hill is also seeking the D nomination. Former farmer and police officer Melody Wagner is seeking the R nomination, after losing races for this district in 2016, 2018, and 2020, the latter two to Cambensy.  Businessman Ron Gray is also running.

110. [W Upper Peninsula] Safe R
P16: 59 G18: 54 AG18: 55 P20: 59
Gregory Markkanen (R) won this historically D district in an upset in in 2018.  Casey VerBerkmoes will be the D nominee.

Summary of Ratings:
Safe D: 36 (1-19, 23-26, 32, 33, 41, 47, 53, 69, 70, 74-75, 77, 82, 87, 94)
Lean D: 12 (20, 21, 31, 38, 40, 56, 61, 73, 80, 81, 83, 109)
Tossup: 11 (22, 27, 28, 29, 44, 46, 48, 58, 76, 84, 103)
Lean R: 7 (54, 55, 57, 62, 68, 92, 96)
Safe R: 44 (30, 34-37, 39, 42, 43, 45, 49-52, 59, 60, 63-67, 71, 72, 78, 79, 85, 86, 88-91, 93, 95, 97-102, 104-108, 110)

Monday, June 06, 2022

Michigan Right to Life Endorsements

Michigan Right to Life has just issued its endorsements for the 2022 primary.  RTL swings a significant number of Michigan primary voters, so its endorsements will decide some races.

RTL will recommend all candidates if they are all pro-life, but if there is a serious non-pro-life candidate, they will pick one pro-life candidate to endorse.  Their noteworthy endorsements are listed below.

https://rtl.org/legislation/endorsement-generator/

Governor:  Tudor Dixon solely endorsed.  The other top candidate, Kevin Rinke, supports rape and incest exceptions.

Congress: All Republican incumbents are endorsed.
7. Tom Barrett
8. Paul Junge
10. John James

State senate: All Republican incumbents are endorsed except for Ruth Johnson.
4. Houston James solely endorsed.
9. Michael Webber
12. Pamela Hornberger solely endorsed.
13. Jason Rhines solely endorsed.
14. Tim Golding
16. TC Clements and Joseph Bellino Jr. both endorsed
18. Thomas Albert solely endorsed.
28. Daylen Howard and Madhu Anderson
29. Tommy Brann
34. Roger Hauck
35. All R candidates endorsed
36. Michele Hoitenga
37. George Ranville, John Damoose, Triston Cole all endorsed

State house: All Republican incumbents are endorsed except Steve Carra and Brad Paquette.  For the open seats, we have the following. 

21. both endorsed
27. Kevin Counts solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
28. Jamie Thompson solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
29. James DeSana solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
30. Paul Pirrone
31. Dale Biniecki
34. Dale Zorn solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
38. Troy Rolling solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
43. all four endorsed
46. Kathy Schmaltz
48. both endorsed
54. Donni Steele
58. Michelle Smith
59. Wozniak and Mekoski both endorsed
61. no endorsement
62. Zarife and Dubay endorsed
63. Jay DeBoyer solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
64. Beeler and Eisen both endorsed
65. Jaime Greene solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
66. four endorsed (all but Berlingieri)
71. all four endorsed
78. all three endorsed
79. all three endorsed
84. Mike Milanowski Jr. solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
86. Nancy DeBoer
92. all five endorsed
95. Bill G. Schuette solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
98. Gregory Alexander solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
99. Hoadley and Petri both endorsed
101. three endorsed (all but Pierce)
102. Curt VanderWall solely endorsed.  Who is not pro-life here?
106. all three endorsed
107. four endorsed (all but Carr)
108. all four endorsed
109. both endorsed

Wednesday, June 01, 2022

June 2022 Judiciary News

Did anything happen this month?

Abortion:  

On May 2, Politico published a leak of a draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization written by Justice Alito that would overturn Roe v Wade.  Ed Whelan summarizes the excellent opinion.

The left has responded to the draft ruling by claiming that it will lead to ending interracial marriage, contraception, etc.  This despite the fact that it doesn't, amd there is no serious support for this.  See 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

The left offered many absurd takes on the draft decision, accusing opponents of all manner of perfidy, including support for segregation, making women second class citizens, and ending democracy.  The worst takes from somewhat mainstream sources are here: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

The best conservative responses to the left's takes are here: 1 2 3 4 5

Roberts:  Legal commentators are concern-trolling Justice Roberts over his lack of 'control' of the court.  The implication seems to be that the chief justice should decide the outcomes of every case, even though his vote counts the same as those of all the other justices.  Examples include 1 2

Protests:  Leftists held protests outside the homes of several justices in an attempt to intimidate and harass them.  This is actually illegal, yet some leftists endorsed this: 1 2

Leak:  The court launched an investigation of the leak.  Speculation about the identity of the leaker has centered around liberal law clerks.  Curiously, none of the liberal justices have condemned the leak.

Decision:  Some commentators called for the decision to be released immediately after the leak, but the court has yet to do so.  Further leaks indicate that no justices have changed their minds.

States:  Some state supreme courts have declared abortion to be a right under their state constitutions.  If Roe is overturned, states including Alaska, Iowa, Florida, Kansas, and Montana may be forced to revisit the issue.  Abortion supporters in Michigan filed a suit to declare abortion a right, and a lower court judge who is a regular Planned Parenthood donor did so.

Nominations, Hearings, Confirmations:

Hispanics:  MALDEF attacked President Biden for "ongoing shabby treatment of the Latino community" for not nominating enough Hispanics to judgeships.  They also attacked the timing of recent nominations as insulting victims of a recent school shooting.

7th Circuit:  Judge John Lee (ND-IL) was grilled by R senators during his nomination hearing.  He had issued a ruling early in the pandemic that upheld an order by Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker that limited religious services.

ED-NY:  Biden nominee Natasha Merle claimed in 2017 that "it’s inconsistent to denounce White supremacy but not repudiate voter ID laws, to not repudiate the Muslim ban, to not repudiate ‘the wall,’ ... These are all things that support and are grounded in White supremacy."  She is the deputy director of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

ED-NY:  R senators are asking for a new hearing on Nusrat Choudhury.  She appeared to confirm that she stated in 2015 that "the killing of unarmed black men by police happens every day in America".  However, she later wrote a letter to the committee denying she made the statement.

Nominations:
TBD

The Federal Judiciary:

Thomas:  Mark Paoletta writes about the racist attacks that Justice Thomas has been subjected to for over 30 years.  These include being called an Uncle Tom and being attacked for his interracial marriage.  Paoletta was criticized by Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in a recent congressional hearing for pointing this out.

Ethics:  Senior Judge Reggie Walton (D-DC) endorsed the creation of an ethics code for the Supreme Court.

Vacancy Declarations:  There are now 115 current and future judicial vacancies.  New vacancies over the past month are listed below.
ED-MO: Audrey Fleissig (Obama) 4/14/23 (elevated)
ED-MI: Gershwin Drain (Obama) 8/13 (senior)
WD-TN: John Fowlkes (Obama) 9/1 (senior)
MD-FL: Roy Dalton (Obama) 7/9 (senior)
SD-FL: Robert Scola (Obama) 10/31/23 (senior)

State Supreme Courts:

Florida:  There are 17 applicants for the opening on the Florida Supreme Court caused by the retirement of Justice Alan Lawson.  One of the applicants is Judge Renatha Francis, who Governor Ron DeSantis tried to appoint to an earlier vacancy, but was rejected due to insufficient experience.  Sources indicate that DeSantis is planning to appoint Francis this time.

Illinois:  Justice Rita Garman (R) will retire on July 7.  She is 78, and has been on the court since 2001.  She represents the 4th district, which includes Springfield, Bloomington, Urbana, and surrounding rural areas.  She would have faced a retention election in 2022, but due to her retirement, a replacement was appointed by the court who will hold office until 2024.  The new appointee is Fourth District Appellate Court Justice Lisa Holder White (R), who is black.

Illinois:  Garman seems to have timed her retirement to ensure that her chosen successor would replace her.  Illinois' system of allowing the court to (temporarily) pick its own members is unusual.

Oklahoma:  The Oklahoma senate passed a constitutional amendment to eliminate the state judicial nominating commission, replacing it with gubernatorial appointment and state senate confirmation.  However, the amendment did not pass the state house.  The Oklahoma Supreme Court is well to the left of the state, typically breaking down as 5 liberal, 4 conservative.

Utah:  The judicial nominating commission has nominated seven candidates to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Utah Supreme Court.  Justice Thomas Lee will retire on July 31.  Four of the seven candidates were nominated for an earlier vacancy this year.  Governor Spencer Cox will make his second appointment to the court.

Virginia:  The standoff continues over two vacancies on the Virginia Supreme Court due to the retirements of Justices Donald Lemons and William Mims.  The Virginia legislature is supposed to pick their replacements, but the R-controlled house and D-controlled senate are deadlocked.  The Ds are trying to get one of the two seats for themselves.  If they cannot agree, Governor Glenn Youngkin will appoint temporary replacements.

Wisconsin:  Justice Patience Roggensack (R) will not seek re-election in 2023, when she will be 83.  Leftist circuit judge Janet Protasiewicz will seek the seat.  Conservative former justice Dan Kelly, who lost election in 2020, is also considering running.

Elections:

Overview:  The AP has an overview of state supreme court races this year.  National committees of both parties are promising to get involved in races in key states like Michigan, North Carolina, Illinois and Ohio.

May election results in contested races:

Alabama:  On May 24, Alabama GOP counsel Greg Cook won the R nomination for place 5 with 55% over Anniston Circuit Judge Debra Jones. Judge Anita L. Kelly will be the D nominee.

Arkansas:  On May 24, there were two contested elections.
Position 2: Justice Robin Wynne got 49% to 30% for District Judge Chris Carnahan and 21% for attorney David Sterling.  Wynne will face Carnahan in a November runoff.  While officially nonpartisan, Wynne is considered a D and Carnahan an R.
Position 6: Justice Karen Baker won reelection with 64% against Judge Gunner DeLay.  While officially nonpartisan, Baker is considered a D and DeLay an R.

Georgia:  On May 24, Justice Verda Colvin (R-appointed) won a full term with 68% over Veronica Brinson.  Justices Shawn LaGrua and Carla McMillian were unopposed for reelection.

North Carolina: On May 17, Trey Allen, general counsel for the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Court, won the R nomination for Seat 5 with 55%.  Court of Appeals judge April C. Wood got 36%.  Allen will face Justice Sam Ervin IV (D) in the general election.  A new poll shows Allen leading 
Ervin 46-42, while Richard Dietz (R) leads Lucy Inman (D) 45-39 for the other seat up in 2022.

June primary elections:

Illinois:  On June 28, there are partisan primaries for two seats on the Illinois Supreme Court.  The elections will be held using the new district map passed by the legislature.
District 2 (Lake, McHenry, Kane, DeKalb, Kendall):  This district is open.  The D candidates are 16th Circuit Court judge René Cruz and 19th Circuit Court judge Elizabeth M. Rochford, and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering. The R candidates are former Lake County sheriff Mark Curran, 2nd Appellate District judge Susan Hutchinson, 16th Circuit Court judge John A. Noverini and 19th Circuit Court judge Daniel Shanes.
District 3 (DuPage, Will, etc.):  This district is being vacated by Justice Robert L. Carter (D), who was appointed as a placeholder after Thomas Kilbride (D) lost a retention election in 2020.  Justice Michael J. Burke (R), who was appointed to replace Robert Thomas in District 2, is running here after his home was moved to this district.  The D candidate is 3rd District Appellate Court Judge Mary O'Brien.

Montana:   On June 7, there are nonpartisan primaries for two seats on the Montana Supreme Court.  Montana has recently seen clashes between the left-leaning judiciary and R-controlled legislature.
Justice Ingrid Gustafson is being challenged by Judge Mike McMahon and former MT GOP counsel and PSC President James Brown.  Brown has been endorsed by the top Republicans in the state.  Justice James Rice is being challenged by Bill D'Alton, so both will continue on to the November election.

New Mexico:  On June 7, there are partisan primaries for two seats on the New Mexico Supreme Court.  Justices Julie Vargas and Briana Zamora, both D, who were appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, will seek election.  They are unopposed for election in the D primary.  The R candidates will be Thomas Montoya and Kerry Morris, respectively.

Resources: