The Associated Press called the election for Democratic gov. Gretchen Whitmer early Wednesday morning.
Courtesy | AP News

Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will spend four more years in the governor’s mansion after winning 54.5% of the vote in Tuesday’s midterm election. Voters approved three ballot proposals, adding new amendments to the state constitution. 

“We will protect the Great Lakes for generations and ensure that every Michigander can pursue their potential from preschool to post secondary,” Whitmer said in a speech to supporters in Detroit Wednesday morning. “And we’ll keep fighting like hell to protect fundamental rights, as they’ve continued to be under assault across the nation. We made huge strides yesterday, but that’s important to continue as well.”

Only 29.89% of Hillsdale County registered voters cast their ballot for the incumbent. 

Among the 13 U.S. House of Representatives seats on the ballot for Michigan, Democrats won seven seats and Republicans won six seats. Incumbent Tim Walberg, the Republican representative of the 5th district, which includes Hillsdale County, won a decisive victory over Democrat Bart Goldberg.  

A Republican majority is projected to control the House for the first time since 2018. 

“For the past couple months conservative voters have felt shut out of Washington, and this will go a long way to helping rein in an extremely unpopular administration,” senior and College Republicans president Dan Harmon said. “It is also amazing that Michigan congressional districts helped contribute to this victory.” 

The most controversial of the proposals, Proposal 3, enshrined legal abortion on demand in the state constitution in all stages of pregnancy.

The passage of Proposal 3 made Michigan the first state in the country to prohibit a statewide abortion ban, according to Reproductive Rights for All. The ballot proposal, called “confusing and extreme” by pro-life yard signs throughout the state, invalidated all of Michigan’s pro-life legislation. This includes parental consent requirements for minors to get abortions, laws that only a licensed physician can perform abortion, and the state’s ban against partial-birth and late-term abortion.

The text of Proposal 3 also allows a variety of health care professionals to determine if abortion is necessary and perform the procedure, including chiropractors, dentists, marriage therapists, optometrists, physical therapists, counselors, athletic trainers, and many others. 

Christen Pollo, executive director of Protect Life Michigan, said though the pro-life movement grieves today, it must get to work convincing the state to protect unborn lives tomorrow.

“We save lives by winning people to our side,” Pollo said in an email. “No secret abortions, no illegal abortions, no legal abortions. We have a responsibility to defend all human life, no matter the laws we are under.”

Proposal 2 adds a variety of election requirements to the state constitution. It allows nine days of early voting, expands absentee voting, and enables registered voters to vote without a state ID if they sign an affidavit stating their identity.

“I’m always glad to see an expansion in voting rights and voting accessibility,” junior and co-president of College Democrats Avery Noel said. “Democrats throughout the state were very glad this amendment passed, as it will ensure a more representative democracy statewide.”

Proposal 1 reduces the number of years lawmakers can serve in the state legislature. Previously, legislators could serve a maximum of six years in the House and eight years in the Senate, equaling a total of 14 years, but Proposal 1 changed the maximum to 12 years. It also required lawmakers and state executive leaders, like the governor, secretary of state and attorney general, to disclose their finances. 

“Michigan was one of the only two states in the nation that didn’t require statewide elected officials to file financial disclosures,” Alexis Wiley, senior adviser to the Proposal l campaign, told Michigan Radio on Wednesday.

Expanding abortion was central to Whitmer’s campaign. 

“It was a good night for democracy in Michigan,” senior co-president of College Democrats Emmie Gilchrest said. “The re-election of governor Whitmer and the passage of proposition 3 is great news for the protection of women’s rights in Michigan. Gov. Whitmer is extremely experienced and accomplished, and her passion for defending reproductive rights makes her an excellent choice.”

Michigan College Republicans say they believe Dixon will be a promising candidate in the future. 

“Dixon was able to make this a close race despite having significantly less money and name recognition than the governor,” Harmon said. “This election just goes to show that this state is not as blue as it used to be, and we may not have won the governorship, but we have proven that Michigan remains in play for Republicans. I guarantee this will not be the last we see of Dixon.”

After two failed senatorial bids, GOP rising star John James will represent Michigan in Congress, winning 48.8% of the 10th district’s vote. He beat Democrat Carl Marlinga, who serves as Macomb County Prosecutor, by fewer than 2,000 votes. The Trump-endorsed former army pilot campaigned on growing Michigan’s economy, creating jobs, and reducing inflation and gas prices. 

The new 10th Congressional District, created by Michigan’s independent redistricting commission last year, was a toss-up between Democrats and Republicans.

Democratic incumbent Elissa Slotkin narrowly beat Republican challenger Tom Barrett to represent the seventh district. On her campaign website, Slotkin said she ran for re-election to restore American car manufacturing, lower the cost of prescription drugs, secure abortion legalization, and keep corporations out of politics. Slotkin previously worked as a Middle East analyst in the CIA and in national security under former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. 

Barrett, a Michigan state senator who campaigned on reducing inflation, lost by 4%. Barrett cinched the endorsement of former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, while controversial Republican Rep. Liz Cheney crossed party lines to endorse Slotkin, the first time Cheney has endorsed a Democrat. 

Democratic incumbent attorney general Dana Nessel beat Trump-endorsed constitutional lawyer Matt DePerno. Nessel tweeted she believes “Michigan values” handed her the win. 

Democrat Jocelyn Benson will remain Michigan’s secretary of state after beating Kristina Karamo, a teacher and commentator who focused her campaign on election integrity. 

“In this election, democracy was on the ballot,” Benson said in a statement. “Our right to vote was on the ballot. And tonight, democracy won here in Michigan.”

Harmon said he is proud of the hard work done by the Michigan Federation of College Republicans from the local level to the federal level.

“After this midterm, it is even more important to be involved and fight for conservative ideals in Michigan,” he said. “College Republicans are the future of the party, and with the people I work with every day, I have no doubt that the future here in Michigan and nationally is very bright.”