We haven’t gotten all the answers yet as to what the fall elections for US House seats in Michigan will look like, but here’s what we know as of 1 am Wednesday, along with a description of the 13 new districts.
1st District (Upper Peninsula, northern Lower Peninsula)
This one’s easy: Incumbent US Rep. Jack Bergman, who lists Watersmeet as his home address, was unopposed in the Republican primary, winning nomination to a fourth term in this predominantly Republican district. On the Democratic side, Bob Lorinsera doctor in Marquette, was also unapposed.
2nd District (Mid-Michigan, Mt. Pleasant west to Lake Michigan)
US Rep. John Moolenaar, R–Midland, decided to run in this newly drawn district even though his hometown has been placed in the new 8th Congressional District. I have still defeated Tom Norton, a veteran from Kent County making his second run for Congress, in the Republican primary. Moolenaar has the clear edge over Democratic educator Jerry Hillardwho was unopposed in his primary, in what is a predominantly rural Republican district.
3rd District (Grand Rapids and parts of Kent County, northern Ottawa County, Muskegon)
In what was the major upset of the election, US Rep. Peter MeijerR-Grand Rapids, granted the Republican primary in this west Michigan district to former Housing and Urban Development official John Gibbs around 2 a.m. Wednesday. It’s a big victory not just for Gibbs but for former President Donald Trump, who had endorsed Gibbs and targeted Meijer for defeat for voting to impeach Trump for his role in instigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. But that victory may be short-lived. When the state’s independent redistricting commission redrew this district, it made it slightly Democratic-leaning, meaning the better known and more independent Meijer might have a better chance in the fall against Democratic lawyer Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids, who was unopposed in her primary.
4th District (southern Ottawa to Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek)
US Rep. Bill HuizengaR-Holland Township, had no opponent in the primary (US Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, decided not to run for re-election some months ago after Trump endorsed Huizenga) and has no Democratic opposition in November to what will be his 7th two-year term.
5th District (southern Michigan along Indiana-Ohio line, Jackson, parts of Calhoun County)
US Rep. Tim Walberg, of Tipton, running for his eighth term, easily defeated Sherry O’Donnella Stevensville doctor, in the Republican primary and faces New Buffalo lawyer Bart Goldbergwho was unopposed in the Democratic primary, in this predominantly Republican district.
6th District (Washtenaw County, parts of western and southern Wayne County)
US Rep. Debbie Dingell, who has left her longtime home in Dearborn and moved to Ann Arbor to run in this newly drawn district, was unopposed in the Democratic primary in this predominantly Democratic district. She will face the winner of a Republican primary that, with about half the vote in at 1 am, showed Whitney Williams, of Canton, a Taiwanese immigrant who has worked as an auto show product specialist, leading Hima Kolanagireddyof Northville, who founded a staffing services company, 52%-48%.
7th District (Lansing, East Lansing and surrounding counties including Livingston)
The race in this expected-to-be-a-toss-up district is set, with US Rep. Elissa Slotkinwho has lived in Holly but says she is moving to Lansing, unopposed in the Democratic primary and state Sen. Tom Barrettof Charlotte, unopposed in the Republican primary.
8th District (Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, Midland)
US Rep. Dan Kildee, of Flint Township, was unopposed in the Democratic primary as he runs for his sixth two-year term. But his new district of him, with the addition of Midland, may be more competitive than it has been in the past. Paul Jungewho lost to Slotkin as the Republican nominee in a neighboring district in 2020, won the Republican primary, defeating Candice Miller, of Burton, (not former US Rep. Candice Miller, who lives in Harrison Township) and Matthew Seeley, of Davison, who runs a steel forging firm.
9th District (the Thumb, northern Macomb and Oakland counties)
US Rep. Lisa McClain, of Bruce Township, with one term under her belt and an endorsement from Trump, easily defeated her opponent, New Baltimore lawyer Michelle Donovan, in the Republican primary. she faces brian jaya Rochester lawyer, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary and has a large edge in what is a predominantly Republican district.
10th District (southern Macomb County, Rochester, Rochester Hills)
This district was drawn to be competitive, with it leaning Democratic in many recent elections but going for Trump (by about 1 percentage point) in 2020. No incumbent decided to run in it, however. Businessman (and two-time US Senate nominee) John James easily defeated software engineer Tony Marcinkewciz in the Republican primary. On the Democratic side, former Circuit Judge Carl Marlinga defeated a diverse field, which included former county official Rhonda Powell, activist Huwaida Arraf, Warren City Council member Angela Rogensues and Sterling Heights Council member Henry Yanez.
11th District (southeastern Oakland County)
What was once a reliably Republican district that covered parts of Oakland and western Wayne counties, was redrawn to be wholly contained in Oakland County and is now solidly Democratic leaning. Two Democrats living in the district faced off in one of the more brutal primaries we’ve seen in a congressional race in Michigan for some time, and when the dust settled US Rep. Haley Stevens, of Waterford, handily defeated US Rep. Andy Levin, of Bloomfield Township. She has the clear edge in November against Republican winner Mark Ambrosealso of Bloomfield Township, a veteran and financial analyst.
12th District (Detroit’s far west side, Southfield, Livonia, Dearborn, western Wayne)
US Rep. Rashida Tlaibof Detroit, won the Democratic nomination in this predominantly Democratic district, despite having drawn a primary field that included Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, Lathrup Village Mayor Kelly Garrett and former state Rep. Shanelle Jackson. In the Republican primary, Steven Elliotta tattoo artist and laser specialist, defeated James Hopperwho worked in the building trades and in overseas religious missions, and businessman Hassan Nehm.
13th District (Most of Detroit, Grosse Pointes, Downriver)
This open seat, in what is an overwhelmingly Democratic-leaning district, drew a large crowd in the Democratic primary. Unfortunately, changes in the way votes were being transmitted to the Wayne County clerk led to delays in reporting unofficial results. At 1 am, with about 14% of the vote in, state Rep. Shri Thanedar, ofDetroit; state Sen. Adam Hollier, ofDetroit; and Focus: HOPE CEO Portia Robertson were leading the rest of the pack. The other contenders included former state Rep. (and current Detroit school board member) Sherry Gay-Dagnogoformer Detroit City Council member Sharon McPhaillawyer and educator michael griffiepolitical consultant sam riddlebusinesswoman Lorrie Rutledge and John Conyers IIIthe son of the late congressman. Martell Livingwho worked with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, was unopposed in the Republican primary.
Contact Todd Spangler at[email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler. Read more onmichigan politics and sign up for ourelection newsletter.
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism