The 2014 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Michigan were held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, to elect the 14 members of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Michigan, one from each of the state's 14 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including the election of Michigan's governor, as well as the Class 2 U.S. Senate Seat.
Primary elections to determine major party nominees for the general election were held Tuesday, August 5, 2014, and the partisan filing deadline was Tuesday, April 22, 2014. The members of Congress elected at this election served in the 114th Congress. According to the Rothenberg Political Report, all of Michigan's congressional seats except for the 1st, 7th, 8th, and 11th districts were considered "safe" for the party of the incumbent.
Michigan was the only state where the party that won the most seats did not win the popular vote in the state in 2014.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2014PartyVotesPercentageSeats beforeSeats after+/– Democratic 1,519,030 49.17% 5 5 - Republican 1,466,749 47.48% 9 9 - Libertarian 53,711 1.74% 0 0 - Green 23,088 0.75% 0 0 - Independents 14,315 0.46% 0 0 - U.S. Taxpayers 10,904 0.35% 0 0 - Natural Law 1,680 0.05% 0 0 - Total 3,089,477 100.00% 14 14 0
District Results of the 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan by district:
DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 113,263 45.28% 130,414 52.14% 6,454 2.58% 250,131 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 2 70,851 33.25% 135,568 63.63% 6,653 3.12% 213,072 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 3 84,720 39.01% 125,754 57.91% 6,691 3.08% 217,165 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 4 85,777 39.09% 123,962 56.50% 9,684 4.41% 219,423 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 5 148,182 66.71% 69,222 31.16% 4,734 2.13% 222,138 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 6 84,391 40.38% 116,801 55.89% 7,784 3.73% 208,976 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 7 92,083 41.17% 119,564 53.45% 12,038 5.38% 223,685 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 8 102,269 42.06% 132,739 54.60% 8,117 3.34% 243,125 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 9 136,342 60.39% 81,470 36.09% 7,945 3.52% 225,757 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 10 67,143 29.36% 157,069 68.68% 4,480 1.96% 228,692 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 11 101,681 40.47% 140,435 55.90% 9,122 3.63% 251,238 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 12 134,346 65.01% 64,716 31.32% 7,598 3.68% 206,660 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 13 132,710 79.49% 27,234 16.31% 7,003 4.20% 166,947 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 14 165,272 77.79% 41,801 19.67% 5,395 2.54% 212,468 100.00% Democratic holdTotal 1,519,030 49.17% 1,466,749 47.47% 103,698 3.36% 3,089,477 100.00%
District 1
The 1st district includes the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan and part of the Lower Peninsula. The district, which makes up about 44% of the land area of the state of Michigan, is the second-largest congressional district east of the Mississippi River by land area. The incumbent was Republican Dan Benishek, who had represented the district since 2011. He was re-elected with 48% of the vote in 2012 and the district has a PVI of R+5.
Benishek was re-elected in 2012 with 48.14% of the total votes cast, defeating Democratic former State Representative Gary McDowell by less than 2,000 votes in a field where two third-party candidates received a combined 4.3 percent of the vote. As of September 30, 2013, Benishek had raised $676,545.98, and had $500,163.86 cash on-hand toward a presumed re-election bid.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dan Benishek, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Alan Arcand, businessman, United States Air Force veteran and delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention
Results
Democratic primary Former Kalkaska County Sheriff Jerry Cannon was recruited by Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Lon Johnson to challenge Benishek.
Candidates Nominee Jerry Cannon, retired Michigan Army National Guard Major General and former Kalkaska County Sheriff
Failed to qualify Kevin Glover
Declined Gary McDowell, former state representative and nominee for this seat in 2010 & 2012
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014
Results
District 2
The 2nd district is located in West Michigan. The incumbent was Republican Bill Huizenga, who had represented the district since 2011. He was re-elected with 61% of the vote in 2012 and the district has a PVI of R+7.
As of September 30, 2013, Huizenga had raised $537,109.30 for the 2014 election cycle, and had $402,388.39 cash on-hand available toward a presumed re-election bid.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Bill Huizenga, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dean Vanderstelt, retired business executive
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014
Results
District 3
The 3rd district is located in West Michigan. The incumbent was Republican Justin Amash, who had represented the district since 2011. He was re-elected with 53% of the vote in 2012 and the district has a PVI of R+4.
As of September 30, 2013, Amash had raised $555,863.56 for the 2014 election cycle, and had $313,844.71 cash on-hand available toward a presumed re-election bid. In September 2013, Amash ended months of speculation regarding whether he would run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Carl Levin, choosing instead to run for re-election to his House seat. Amash faced a primary challenge from investment manager Brian Ellis. Amash defeated Ellis in the Republican primary.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Justin Amash, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Brian Ellis, investment manager
Declined Mark Jansen, state senator
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JustinAmash BrianEllis UndecidedStrategic NationalStrategic National July 29, 2014 532 ± 4.2% 51% 31% 18%Strategic NationalStrategic National July 14, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 47% 24% 29%EPIC-MRAEPIC-MRA June 10–11, 2014 814 ± 3.5% 55% 35% 10%Practical Political ConsultingPractical Political Consulting May 27–29, 2014 472 ± 4.5% 42% 23% 35%The Polling CompanyThe Polling Company May 2014 – – 53% 23% 22%Basswood ResearchBasswood Research February 6, 2014 300 ± 5.6% 60% 12% 28%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bob Goodrich, president and CEO of Goodrich Quality Theaters
Failed to qualify Richard A. Abbott
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014
Results
District 4
The 4th district is located in Northern and Central Michigan. The incumbent was Republican Dave Camp, who had represented the district since 1993 and previously represented the 10th district from 1991 to 1993. He was re-elected with 63% of the vote in 2012 and the district has a PVI of R+5.
As of September 30, 2013, Camp had raised $1,607,226.02 for the 2014 election cycle, and had $3,198,099.13 cash on-hand available for a presumed re-election bid. In July 2013, Camp announced he was considering running for the U.S. Senate to replace the retiring incumbent Carl Levin, but then the following month announced that he would not do so. In March 2014, he announced that he would not run for re-election. State senator John Moolenaar was the winner of the Republican primary.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Moolenaar, state senator
Eliminated in primary Peter Konetchy, software business owner Paul Mitchell, businessman and Finance Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
Declined Darwin L. Booher, state senator Brian Calley, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (running for re-election) Dave Camp, incumbent U.S. Representative Gary Glenn, conservative activist and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012 Roger Kahn, state senator Bill Schuette, Michigan Attorney General (running for re-election) Jim Stamas, Majority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives (running for the state senate)
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror PeterKonetchy PaulMitchell JohnMoolenaar UndecidedMitchell ResearchMitchell Research July 29–30, 2014 492 ± 4.42% 9% 38% 38% 15%Strategic NationalStrategic National July 29, 2014 540 ± 4.2% 10.63% 35% 34% 20%EPIC-MRAEPIC-MRA July 12–13, 2014 802 ± 3.5% 7% 50% 27% 16%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jeff Holmes, physician
Withdrawn John Barker, former Union Township Supervisor
Declined James A. Barcia, former U.S. Representative Bill Federspiel, Saginaw County Sheriff Tom Hickner, Bay County Executive Dale Sheltrown, former state representative Joel Sheltrown, former state representative
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014
Results
District 5
The 5th district is located in Central Michigan. The incumbent was Democrat Dan Kildee, who had represented the district since 2013. He was elected with 65% of the vote in 2012, succeeding his uncle, Democrat Dale Kildee. The district has a PVI of D+10.
As of September 30, 2013, Kildee had raised $243,246.99 for the 2014 election cycle, and had $210,492.27 cash on-hand available for his re-election bid. He was unopposed in the August primary and would face Republican nominee Allen Hardwick in November.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dan Kildee, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Allen Hardwick, computer repairmanRepublican making Flint Congressional run 60 miles away from his home | MLive.com
Eliminated in primary Tom Whitmire, health consultant
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 3, 2014 Rothenberg October 24, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 30, 2014RCP November 2, 2014Daily Kos Elections November 4, 2014
Results
District 6
The 6th district is located in Southwest Michigan. The incumbent was Republican Fred Upton, who had represented the district since 1993 and previously represented the 4th district from 1987 to 1993. He was re-elected with 55% of the vote in 2012 and the district has a PVI of R+1.
As of September 30, 2013, Upton had raised $1,205,296.00 for the 2014 election cycle, and had $893,110.90 cash on-hand available for a presumed re-election bid. Upton was challenged for the Republican primary nomination by registered nurse Jim Bussler.
Paul Clements, a professor at Western Michigan University, ran for the Democratic nomination. Upton won the Republican nomination.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Fred Upton, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Jim Bussler, registered nurse
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Paul Clements, political science professor
Results
General election Campaign