The 2022 Michigan elections were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, throughout Michigan. The Democratic Party made historic gains, taking full control of state government for the first time since 1983 and marking a point where Democrats held all four elected statewide offices, both U.S. Senate seats, and both chambers of the Michigan Legislature.[1] Democrats won control of the Michigan House of Representatives for the first time since 2008, and the Michigan Senate for the first time since 1984. Additionally, incumbent Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer won reelection by a comfortable margin, with Democrats sweeping every statewide office. Furthermore, the Democrats maintained control of seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, while the Republican Party took a net loss of one seat (as the state lost one congressional seat due to reapportionment after the 2020 census). The elections in Michigan were widely characterized as a "blue wave".[2][3][4]
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Federal
editCongress
editHouse of Representatives
editDemocrats won seven House seats in the United States House of Representatives, winning a majority of the House delegation to the Republicans six.
State
editExecutive
editGovernor and lieutenant governor
editIncumbent Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist won re-election against Republicans Tudor Dixon and Shane Hernandez by a margin of 10.5%.
Secretary of state
editIncumbent Democratic secretary of state Jocelyn Benson won re-election against Republican Kristina Karamo by a margin of 14%.
Attorney general
editIncumbent Democratic attorney general Dana Nessel won re-election against Republican Matthew DePerno by a margin of 8.6%.
Legislature
editSenate
editAll 38 seats in the Michigan Senate were up for election in 2022. Democrats gained four seats, flipping the chamber for the first time since 1982.
House of Representatives
editAll 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives were up for election in 2022. Democrats gained three seats, flipping the chamber for the first time since 2008.
Judiciary
editSupreme Court
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2 seats of the Supreme Court of Michigan | ||||||||||||||||
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Two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court were up for election in 2022.
Candidates
edit- Richard H. Bernstein (Democratic), incumbent justice[5]
- Kyra Harris Bolden (Democratic), state representative (2019–2023)[6]
- Paul Hudson (Republican), attorney and chair of appeals group at Miller Canfield, P.L.C.[7]
- Kerry Lee Morgan (Libertarian), attorney and perennial candidate[5]
- Brian Zahra (Republican), incumbent justice[5]
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Richard H. Bernstein (incumbent) | 2,120,661 | 33.90% | |
| Nonpartisan | Brian Zahra (incumbent) | 1,493,317 | 23.87% | |
| Nonpartisan | Kyra Harris Bolden | 1,368,652 | 21.88% | |
| Nonpartisan | Paul Hudson | 834,436 | 13.34% | |
| Nonpartisan | Kerry Lee Morgan | 438,595 | 7.01% | |
| Total votes | 6,255,661 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
Just weeks after the election, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Kyra Harris Bolden to the Supreme Court to replace Bridget Mary McCormack, who stepped down.[9]
Ballot initiatives
editProposal 1
editProposal 1, the Legislative Term Limits and Financial Disclosure Amendment, was a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment which modified term limits in the Michigan state legislature. Previously, legislators were limited to serving three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives and two terms in the Michigan Senate. This proposal modified the limit to be a lifetime twelve-year limit for service across both chambers. The proposal also increased financial disclosure requirements for various elected officials.[10] The proposal passed 66–34.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes
|
2,838,540 | 66.45 |
| No | 1,433,154 | 33.55 |
| Total votes | 4,271,694 | 100.00 |
Proposal 2
editProposal 2, the Right to Voting Policies Amendment, was a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment which changed voting procedures in the state with the intent of making it easier for citizens to vote.[11] The proposal passed 60–40.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes
|
2,586,255 | 59.99 |
| No | 1,725,110 | 40.01 |
| Total votes | 4,311,365 | 100.00 |
Proposal 3
editProposal 3, the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative, was a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment to protect the right to abortion and contraceptives in the state constitution.[12] The proposal passed 57–43.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes
|
2,482,382 | 56.66 |
| No | 1,898,906 | 43.34 |
| Total votes | 4,381,288 | 100.00 |
Issues
editIssues occurred in a few locations with part of the Ottawa County Clerk's office losing power and requiring a backup generator,[13] due to an error involving a construction crew that was working on nearby power lines,[14] precincts in Ada Township temporarily running out of ballots,[15] tabulator jams in Kent County due to ballots being marked in pen that had not dried,[16][17] and long lines as polls were closing at City Hall in Grand Rapids.[18] High turnout by college students led to long lines at polling places with polls on the campuses of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Michigan State University in East Lansing staying open long after the polls closed at other places.[19]
References
edit- ^ Brownstein, Ronald (September 16, 2024). "Why these three states are the most consistent tipping point in American politics". CNN. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "Michigan blue wave foils GOP plans to enact voter ID, school choice this year | Bridge Michigan". www.bridgemi.com. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ Donahue, Allison R. (November 11, 2022). "In Michigan, 'red wave' spin gives way to a blue 'blowout' ⋆ Michigan Advance". Michigan Advance. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ "Let It Rip: Michigan's blue wave; Trump's announcement for 2024". www.youtube.com. FOX 2 Detroit. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ a b c Rich, Samantha; Wang, Caroline (November 3, 2022). "The Michigan Daily sits down with MI Supreme Court candidates ahead of elections". The Michigan Daily.
- ^ Panetta, Grace (October 18, 2022). "'The stakes couldn't be higher': Abortion, democracy and the woman who could be Michigan's first Black woman justice". 19th News.
- ^ Tribou, Doug (October 28, 2022). "Meet the MI Supreme Court Candidates: Paul Hudson". Michigan Radio.
- ^ a b c d "2022 Michigan Election Results - General". Michigan Secretary of State. November 28, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ Yu, Stella (November 22, 2022). "Kyra Harris Bolden makes history with appointment to Michigan Supreme Court". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ "Michigan Proposal 1, Legislative Term Limits and Financial Disclosure Amendment (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ "Michigan Proposal 2, Right to Voting Policies Amendment (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ "Michigan Proposal 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ Fillmore Complex in Ottawa County without power, not impacting Election Day operations WZZM
- ^ Fillmore Complex loses power after construction crews hit power line WWMT
- ^ Ada Township precinct ran out of ballots, using small supply of delivered ballots WZZM
- ^ Ballpoint pens slow ballot tabulation at Grand Rapids Township precinct WOODTV
- ^ Issues with Kent County voting tabulators will not affect results, Benson says WWMT
- ^ 3 hour long line to vote at Grand Rapids City Hall after polls close in Michigan WZZM
- ^ "Michigan's youngest voters made biggest gains in midterm voter turnout".