2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan

The 2008 congressional elections in Michigan were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent the state of Michigan in the United States House of Representatives. Michigan had fifteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan

November 4, 2008
All 15 Michigan seats to the United States House of Representatives
Party Democratic Republican Last election 6 9 Seats won 8 7 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 2,516,640 2,114,293 Percentage 52.31% 43.95% Swing 0.44% 0.61%

The 7th and 9th district seats were considered to be competitive. Both seats were occupied by Republicans[1] who lost to Democratic opponents.

The makeup of the Michigan congressional delegation in 2008 consisted of nine Republicans and six Democrats. As a result of the 2008 election, the delegation in 2009/2010 consists of eight Democrats and seven Republicans. The two Democratic Party gains came in the 7th and 9th districts. As of 2019, this is the last time that Democrats won a majority of congressional districts in Michigan, although the party currently has a plurality of seats thanks to Justin Amash leaving the Republican Party to become an Independent in July 2019.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2008[2]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Democratic	2,516,640	52.31%	8	+2
	Republican	2,114,293	43.95%	7	-2
	Libertarian	83,424	1.73%	0	-
	Green	66,162	1.38%	0	-
	U.S. Taxpayers	21,057	0.44%	0	-
	Independents	9,114	0.19%	0	—
Totals		4,810,690	100.00%	15	—

District 1

Popular incumbent Bart Stupak was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Conservative state Representative Tom Casperson, from Escanaba, won the Republican primary election over Linda Goldthorpe and Don Hooper.[3] The Libertarian Party nominated Daniel Grow; the U.S. Taxpayers Party nominated Joshua Warren and the Green Party nominated Socialist Jean Treacy.[4] The 1st District is generally socially conservative and strongly pro-union. It covers the entire Upper Peninsula and the northern part of the Lower Peninsula, and is the largest congressional district east of the Mississippi River. CQ Politics rating: Safe Democrat.

Michigan's 1st congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bart Stupak (inc.)	213,216	65.04
	Republican	Tom Casperson	107,340	32.74
	Green	Jean Treacy	2,669	0.81
	Libertarian	Daniel W. Grow	2,533	0.77
	Constitution	Joshua J. Warren	2,070	0.63
Total votes			327,836	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 2

Pete Hoekstra, a conservative incumbent and ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, was challenged by Democrat Fred Johnson,[5] Libertarian Dan Johnson (campaign website) and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Ronald Graeser. The district is centered on Michigan's West Shoreline and includes the cities of Muskegon and Holland. CQ Politics rating: Safe Republican.

Michigan's 2nd congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Pete Hoekstra (inc.)	214,100	62.36
	Democratic	Fred Johnson	119,506	34.81
	Libertarian	Dan Johnson	5,496	1.60
	Constitution	Ronald E. Graeser	4,200	1.22
Total votes			343,309	100.00
	Republican hold

District 3

Incumbent Vern Ehlers was re-elected. The district trends Republican and is centered on Grand Rapids. Ehlers was challenged by Democrat Henry Sanchez and Libertarian Erwin Haas. CQ Politics rating: Safe Republican.

Michigan's 3rd congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Vern Ehlers (inc.)	203,799	61.11
	Democratic	Henry Sanchez	117,961	35.37
	Libertarian	Erwin J. Haas	11,758	3.53
Total votes			333,518	100.00
	Republican hold

District 4

Republican David Lee Camp was reelected. He was by challenged by Democrat Andrew Concannon,[6] Libertarian Allitta Hren, and U.S. Taxpayer Party candidate John Emerick. This large district stretches from Owosso in the east central part of the state to Traverse City to the extreme northwest part of the Lower Peninsula. CQ Politics rating: Safe Republican.

Michigan's 4th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dave Camp (inc.)	204,259	61.94
	Democratic	Andrew D. Concannon	117,665	35.68
	Constitution	John Emerick	4,055	1.23
	Libertarian	Allitta Hren	3,785	1.15
Total votes			329,764	100.00
	Republican hold

District 5

Democrat Dale Kildee ran for re-election in 2008. The Flint area congressman has served for over 30 years. His district (covering Flint, Saginaw, Bay City and part of the western part of The Thumb) is strongly Democratic. Petitions were circulated for Democratic state senator John Gleason to challenge Kildee, but Gleason decided not to run.[7] Kildee is challenged on by Republican candidate by Matt Sawicki of Bay City, Libertarian candidate Leonard Schwartz and Green Party candidate Ken Mathenia of Grand Blanc.[8] CQ Politics rating: Safe Democrat.

Michigan's 5th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dale Kildee (inc.)	221,841	70.36
	Republican	Matt Sawicki	85,017	26.96
	Libertarian	Leonard Schwartz	4,293	1.36
	Green	Ken Mathenia	4,144	1.31
Total votes			315,295	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 6

Republican Fred Upton had three opponents, Democrat Don Cooney, Green Edward Pinkney and Libertarian Greg Merle. This race had an unusual twist: Pinkney was in prison.[9] The sixth district covers the southwest corner of lower Michigan. CQ Politics rating: Safe Republican.

Michigan's 6th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Fred Upton (inc.)	188,157	58.86
	Democratic	Don Cooney	123,257	38.56
	Libertarian	Greg Merle	4,720	1.48
	Green	Edward Pinkney	3,512	1.10
Total votes			319,646	100.00
	Republican hold

District 7

The seventh district covers the middle part of southern lower Michigan. Republican incumbent Tim Walberg faced State Senate Minority Leader and Democratic nominee Mark Schauer, Libertarian Ken Proctor, Green Lynn Meadows and independent Sharon Reiner. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.

Walberg was elected in 2006 with a surprisingly thin 49.9% of the vote, despite outspending Democratic opponent Sharon Reiner 20:1. This made Walberg a top target for defeat in 2008 by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Schauer defeated Renier in the August 5 primary,[10] after which Renier ran in the general election as a write-in candidate with no party affiliation.[11]

Michigan's 7th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark Schauer	157,213	48.78
	Republican	Tim Walberg (inc.)	149,781	46.47
	Green	Lynn Meadows	9,528	2.96
	Libertarian	Ken Proctor	5,675	1.76
	Write-ins		89	0.03
Total votes			322,286	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 8

Incumbent Republican Mike Rogers was re-elected in 2006 with 55.3% of the vote compared to 42.9% for his Democratic opponent. East Lansing Democratic activist Bob Alexander (who lost in 2004 to Rogers) announced that he is running again.[12] Aaron Stuttman is running for the Green Party,[13] Will Tyler White for the Libertarian Party.[14] and George Zimmer for the U.S. Taxpayer Party.[15] This district stretches from the western Detroit suburbs to the Lansing area. CQ Politics rating: Safe Republican.

Michigan's 8th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (inc.)	204,408	56.53
	Democratic	Robert D. Alexander	145,491	40.23
	Libertarian	Will Tyler White	4,373	1.21
	Green	Aaron Stuttman	3,836	1.06
	Constitution	George M. Zimmer	3,499	0.97
Total votes			361,607	100.00
	Republican hold

District 9

This district covers parts of Oakland County. Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg was challenged by former Michigan Lottery commissioner and military veteran, Democratic nominee Gary Peters. Libertarian Adam Goodman, Green Party Douglas Campbell and Independent Dr. Jack Kevorkian were also running. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.

Knollenberg was targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee after his surprisingly narrow margin of victory in the 2006 election, receiving 51.5% of the vote compared with 46.2% for his Democratic opponent.

Michigan's 9th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gary Peters	183,311	52.08
	Republican	Joe Knollenberg (inc.)	150,035	42.63
	Independent	Jack Kevorkian	8,987	2.55
	Libertarian	Adam Goodman	4,893	1.39
	Green	Douglas Campbell	4,737	1.19
Total votes			351,963	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 10

Republican incumbent Candice Miller was challenged by Democratic nominee Robert Denison, Libertarian Neil Kiernan Stephenson, and Green Candace Caveny. This district stretches from the northeast Detroit suburbs up to most of The Thumb. CQ Politics rating: Safe Republican.

Michigan's 10th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Candice Miller (inc.)	230,471	66.30
	Democratic	Robert Denison	108,354	31.17
	Libertarian	Neil Stephenson	4,632	1.33
	Green	Candace R. Caveny	4,146	1.19
Total votes			347,603	100.00
	Republican hold

District 11

Incumbent Republican Thad McCotter was challenged by Democrat Joseph Larkin who defeated Edward Kriewall in the August 5 party primary.[16] Also running were Libertarian John Tatar and Green Erik Shelley. This district covers part of Detroit's western suburbs. CQ Politics rating: Lean Republican.

Michigan's 11th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thaddeus McCotter (inc.)	177,461	51.41
	Democratic	Joseph Larkin	156,624	45.37
	Libertarian	John J. Tatar	6,001	1.74
	Green	Erik Shelley	5,072	1.47
	Write-ins		23	0.01
Total votes			345,182	100.00
	Republican hold

District 12

12-term Democrat Sander M. Levin was challenged by Republican Bert Copple, Libertarian John Vico, Green William J. O'Palicky and U.S. Taxpayers' Lester Townsend. This district covers part of Detroit's northern suburbs. CQ Politics rating: Safe Democrat.

Michigan's 12th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sander Levin (inc.)	225,094	72.07
	Republican	Bert Copple	74,565	23.87
	Libertarian	John Vico	4,767	1.53
	Constitution	Les Townsend	4,076	1.30
	Green	William J. Opalicky	3,842	1.23
Total votes			312,344	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 13

Incumbent Democrat Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick narrowly survived the August 5 party primary. She faced complications due to the legal troubles facing her son Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.[17][18] Cheeks Kilpatrick won with 39.1% of the vote over former state representative Mary Waters with 36% of the vote and state senator Martha Scott with 24.9% of the vote.[19] A televised debate between the three candidates developed into a shouting match.[20] Cheeks Kilpatrick faced Republican candidate Edward Gubics, Libertarian candidate Greg Creswell and Green Party candidate George Cosetti in the general election.[21] This district covers the east side of Detroit and its eastern and Downriver suburbs. CQ Politics rating: Safe Democrat.

Michigan's 13th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (inc.)	167,481	74.13
	Republican	Edward J. Gubics	43,098	19.08
	Green	George L. Corsetti	9,579	4.24
	Libertarian	Gregory Creswell	5,764	2.55
Total votes			225,922	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 14

Powerful incumbent Democrat John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, had one Democratic opponent in the primary, Detroit pastor Rev. Horace Sheffield,[22] but Sheffield's campaign was short lived[23] because he withdrew his name and announced his support for Conyers.[24] Conyers faced Libertarian Rick Secula and Green Party Clyde Shabazz in the general election. This district covers the west side of Detroit and some inner western and downriver suburbs. CQ Politics rating: Safe Democrat.

Michigan's 13th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Conyers (inc.)	227,841	92.40
	Libertarian	Richard J. Secula	10,732	4.35
	Green	Clyde K. Shabazz	8,015	3.25
Total votes			246,588	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 15

55-year Congressional veteran Democrat John Dingell is the Dean of the House[25] and chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He was challenged by Republican Jack Lynch, Libertarian Gregory Scott Stempfle, Green Aimee Smith and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate James Wagner. The 15th district includes Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Monroe, the downriver suburbs of Detroit and the semi-rural southeastern corner of Michigan. CQ Politics rating: Safe Democrat.

Michigan's 15th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Dingell (inc.)	231,784	70.70
	Republican	John J. Lynch	81,802	24.95
	Green	Aimee Smith	7,082	2.16
	Libertarian	Gregory Stempfle	4,002	1.22
	Constitution	James H. Wagner	3,157	0.96
Total votes			327,827	100.00
	Democratic hold

References

1. "CQ Politics | Primaries Set in Michigan, Dems Hope for Takeovers". Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
2. 2008 Election Statistics
3. "Michigan - chicagotribune.com". Chicago Tribune.
4. "Jean Treacy for Congress (1st District - Michigan) - Home". Archived from the original on 2008-04-22. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
5. 2008 Official Michigan Primary Candidate Listing
6. Campbell, Dick (March 22, 2008). "Saginaw Democrat enters House race". Argus-Press. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
7. Sen. John Gleason bows out; Congressman Dale Kildee so far unchallenged - The Flint Journal Online News - Michigan Newspaper - MLive.com
8. http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/10/three_green_party_member_ken_m.html
9. B A N C O
10. Schauer advances to general election Battle Creek Enquirer, August 6, 2008
11. Renier re-enters race for Mich. seat in U.S. House, Associated Press LSJ.com, September 17, 2008, accessed September 18, 2008
12. http://www.dailypressandargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080314/NEWS01/803140314%5B%5D
13. "MIGREENS.ORG - Candidates2007". Archived from the original on 2008-06-28. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
14. candidates Archived August 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2008-07-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
16. "Topic Galleries - chicagotribune.com". Chicago Tribune.
17. Mayor's scandal looms over mom's congressional re-election campaign | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
18. Cheeks Kilpatrick in a fight for survival in Democratic primary | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
19. Cheeks Kilpatrick triumphs over Waters in close primary race | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
20. Little decorum during congressional debate | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
21. Cheeks Kilpatrick's slim win pokes holes in armor | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
22. Michigan news | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
23. City of Detroit | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
24. Michigan news | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
25. Locally, he is also referred to as the Dean of Downriver

External links

• Elections in Michigan from the Michigan Secretary of State
• U.S. Congress candidates for Michigan at Project Vote Smart
• Michigan U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker
• Campaign contributions for Michigan congressional races from OpenSecrets.org