The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the 14 U.S. representatives from the state of Michigan, one from each of the state's 14 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate in 33 other states and various state and local elections. The deadline for candidates to file for the August 2 primary election was April 19.
Results summary Results of the 2016 House of Representatives elections in Michigan by district:
DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 144,334 40.1% 197,777 54.9% 13,386 3.7% 355,497 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 2 110,391 32.5% 212,508 62.6% 8,154 2.4% 331,053 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 3 128,400 37.5% 203,545 59.5% 10,420 3.0% 342,365 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 4 101,277 32.1% 194,572 61.6% 8,516 2.7% 304,365 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 5 195,279 61.2% 112,102 35.1% 7,006 2.2% 314,387 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 6 119,580 36.4% 193,259 58.7% 10,420 3.0% 323,259 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 7 134,010 40.0% 184,321 55.1% 16,476 4.9% 334,807 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 8 143,791 39.2% 205,629 56.0% 9,619 2.6% 359,039 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 9 199,661 57.9% 128,937 37.4% 9,563 2.8% 338,161 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 10 110,112 32.3% 215,132 63.1% 15,739 4.6% 340,983 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 11 152,461 40.2% 200,872 52.9% 16,610 4.4% 369,943 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 12 211,378 64.3% 96,104 29.3% 9,183 2.8% 316,665 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 13 198,771 77.1% 40,541 15.7% 9,648 3.7% 248,960 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 14 244,135 78.5% 58,103 18.7% 4,893 1.6% 307,131 100.00% Democratic holdTotal 2,193,980 47.8% 2,243,402 48.9% 149,633 3.3% 4,587,015 100.00%
District 1
When Republican Dan Benishek first ran to represent Michigan's 1st congressional district in the 2010 elections, he pledged to serve no more than three terms. In March 2015, he decided to run for a fourth term as the district's representative. However, he changed his mind in September and decided not to seek re-election.
On June 24, Michigan Democratic Party chairman Lon Johnson declared his run for the seat. Former Democratic nominee Jerry Cannon also announced his candidacy. Republican state senator Tom Casperson announced his run in November 2015. Casperson was challenged in the Republican primary by former state legislator Jason Allen, who announced he was running in January 2016, and retired U.S. Marine Jack Bergman, who declared in March. In January 2016, Benishek endorsed Casperson's candidacy.
In the August 2 primary, Jack Bergman won the GOP nomination and Lon Johnson won the Democratic nomination.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jack Bergman, retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general
Eliminated in primary Jason Allen, former state senator and candidate for this district in 2010 Tom Casperson, state senator
Declined Dan Benishek, incumbent U.S. Representative (endorsed Casperson)
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Lon Johnson, former Michigan Democratic Party chairman
Eliminated in primary Jerry Cannon, retired Michigan Army National Guard Major General, former Kalkaska County Sheriff and nominee for this seat in 2014
Declined Scott Dianda, state representative
Endorsements
Results
Libertarian convention Nominated Diane Bostow, Gwinn resident
General election Debate + 2016 Michigan's 1st congressional district debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic Libertarian GreenKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Jack Bergman Lon Johnson Diane Bostow Ellis Boal1 Oct. 18, 2016 The Mining JournalPeter White Public Library YouTube
Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 2
Republican incumbent Rep. Bill Huizenga ran for re-election. His Democratic opponent was Dennis Murphy, and his Libertarian opponent was Kentwood City Commissioner Erwin Haas.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Bill Huizenga, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dennis Murphy, engineer
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 3
Republican incumbent Rep. Justin Amash ran for re-election. His Democratic opponent was Douglas Smith.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Justin Amash, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Douglas Smith
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 4
Republican incumbent Rep. John Moolenaar ran for re-election. His Libertarian opponent was Leonard Schwartz. Keith Butkovich was the candidate for the Natural Law Party, George Zimmer for the U.S. Taxpayers Party and George Salvi for the Green Party. There was no Democratic opponent on the August primary ballot, but Debra Wirth launched a successful write-in campaign to be the Democratic nominee for the November election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Moolenaar, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Debra Friedell Wirth, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2012 (write-in)
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 5
Democratic incumbent Rep. Dan Kildee ran for re-election. His Republican opponent was Al Hardwick.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dan Kildee, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Allen Hardwick, computer repairman and nominee for this seat in 2014
Results
Libertarian convention Nominated Steve Sluka
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 6
Incumbent Fred Upton sought re-election to his House seat. His Democratic challenger in 2014, Paul Clements, ran again.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Fred Upton, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Paul Clements, political science professor and nominee for this seat in 2014
Results
Libertarian convention Nominated Lorence Wenke, former state representative
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 7
The 7th district is located in Southern Michigan. The incumbent was Republican Tim Walberg, who had represented the district since 2011 and previously represented the district from 2007 to 2009. He was re-elected with 53% of the vote in 2014, and the district has a PVI of R+3. Walberg was challenged by Doug North. Democratic state representative Gretchen Driskell, the former mayor of Saline, announced that she would run against Walberg in 2016, as would Libertarian Ken Proctor. Walberg won the Republican nomination.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tim Walberg, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Doug North
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gretchen Driskell, state representative
Declined Pam Byrnes, former state representative and nominee for this seat in 2014
Results
Libertarian convention Nominated Ken Proctor
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimWalberg (R) Gretchen Driskell (D) UndecidedHarper Polling (R)Harper Polling (R) September 12–13, 2015 404 ± 5.0% 49% 32% 20%IMP/Revsix/Change MediaIMP/Revsix/Change Media March 13–16, 2015 422 ± 5.0% 37% 42% 21%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Results
District 8
Freshman Republican incumbent Mike Bishop ran for re-election. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mike Bishop, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Two candidates were originally slated to face each other in the Democratic primary. They were former actress Melissa Gilbert (Little House on the Prairie) and a former president of the Screen Actors Guild, and Linda Keefe.
Gilbert withdrew from the race in May 2016 due to health issues, and at that time Keefe did not appear to have collected enough valid petition signatures to be placed on the ballot.
On July 6, 2016, Democrats introduced 29-year-old Suzanna Shkreli, an Assistant Macomb County Prosecutor to be the party's nominee. At the time of Shkreli's announcement, it was still unclear if Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson would allow Gilbert to be removed from the ballot. Johnson said that the Office of the Secretary of State would not make a ruling until after the state's August 2 primary. Gilbert's name remained on the ballot.
On August 2, Gilbert received the most votes in the Democratic primary, receiving 28,810 votes, despite previously announcing her withdrawal from the race. Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Brandon Dillon said the day after that the party would begin the process to remove Gilbert from the November ballot and replace her with Shkreli within 48 hours. Bishop's campaign described Gilbert's attempt to be removed from the ballot as unprecedented. A Democratic campaign spokesman said they had retained legal counsel for the process.
The Michigan state elections director said that Gilbert's name could be removed from the ballot in the general election.Spangler, Todd. ""Republicans challenge decision to let Melissa Gilbert off ballot", Detroit Free Press, August 19, 2016. On August 22, 2016, the state board of canvassers allowed Gilbert's name to be replaced on the November ballot with that of Shkreli.Gibbons, Laura. "Suzanna Shkreli to replace actress Melissa Gilbert on 8th Congressional ballot", MLive.com, August 22, 2016.
Nominee Suzanna Shkreli, Assistant Macomb County Prosecutor
Failed to qualify Linda Keefe, former Windsor Township Clerk (disqualified from primary ballot for lack of signatures)
Withdrawn Melissa Gilbert, actress and former president of the Screen Actors Guild
Results
Libertarian convention Nominated Jeff Wood
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 7, 2016Daily Kos ElectionsNovember 7, 2016 RothenbergNovember 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 7, 2016RCPOctober 31, 2016
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Sample>size Margin oferror MikeBishop (R) SuzannaShkreli (D) UndecidedPublic Opinion Strategies (R-Bishop)/NRCCPublic Opinion Strategies (R-Bishop/NRCC) September 10–12, 2016 400 ± 4.9% 53% 34% —
Results
District 9
Democratic incumbent Rep. Sander Levin ran for re-election. His Republican challenger was Christopher Morse, and his Libertarian opponent was Matt Orlando.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Sander Levin, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Christopher Morse
Results
Libertarian convention