Republican Gains Mark Michigan Election: Key Victories and Implications for the Future
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11.06.24
It was an election largely dominated by the Republicans in Michigan and nationally as former President Donald Trump will return to the White House.
Trump was declared the victor in the race for Michigan’s 15 Electoral College votes. With almost 99% of votes in Michigan counted, Trump wins Michigan by roughly 81,000 votes. Trump’s strong performance in the state provided the necessary coattails in several competitive districts to flip seats into the Republican’s favor. This includes GOP victories in the Michigan House of Representatives, where Republicans regained the majority (58-52), defeating four Democratic incumbent legislators:
- Jenn Hill in the Upper Peninsula’s 109th district by Karl Bohnak
- Nate Shannon in Macomb County’s 58th district by Ron Robinson
- Jaime Churches in Wayne County’s 27th district by Rylee Linting
- Jim Haadsma in Calhoun County’s 44th district by Steve Frisbie
Trump’s success in the state also helped propel Tom Barrett over Curtis Hertel to flip the 7th U.S. House district to the Republicans.
There were a few positive notes for Michigan Democrats in the elections, one being the Michigan Supreme Court victories for Justice Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Thomas, who expanded the liberal majority on the high court to 5-2.
Additionally, Democratic Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet was successful in replacing Cong. Dan Kildee in the 8th U.S. House district, defeating Republican challenger Paul Junge. However, McDonald Rivet’s win creates a vacancy in her Republican-leaning state Senate seat where Democrats only have a one-seat majority. A special election in that highly competitive district presents an opportunity for Republicans to also flip the upper state chamber.
Although it went down to the wire with the race not called until well into the afternoon on November 6, Democrat Elissa Slotkin did squeak out a victory over Mike Rogers in Michigan’s open U.S. Senate contest. Still, that chamber had already flipped to a Republican majority for the next Congress.
These election outcomes will undoubtedly have an impact on the Michigan Legislature’s lame-duck session, with the stark reality that the Democrats’ trifecta is ending. Democrats will caucus later this week to discuss their agenda for these final four weeks of session. Meanwhile Representatives-elect are scheduled to be in session on Thursday, November 7, for their 2025-2026 leadership elections. It is almost a certainty, with the Republicans’ success, that current House Minority Leader Matt Hall will be selected as the next Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Click the headings below to see the election results:
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