The Green Papers: Michigan 2008 General Election
This page is for offices up for election in 2008. Find 2009 elections here.
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ Michigan
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 5 August 2008
General Election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Electoral Votes:17(3.16% of 538)
Governor:1 
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 1 and 2)
2002-2010 Representatives:15(3.45% of 435)
2000 Census:9,955,829 (3.53% of 281,998,273)
Estimated Voting age population (November 2000):7,358,000
Registered Voters (November 2000):6,861,342
Capital:Lansing
Tuesday 5 August 2008 polling hours 7:00a EDT (1100 UTC) / 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 8:00p EDT (0000 UTC) / 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC). Relatively small portions of this state are in CDT and so the vast majority of the polls are closed by the time indicated EDT, when the networks feel they can project.
Tuesday 4 November 2008 polling hours 7:00a EST (1200 UTC) / 7:00a CST (1300 UTC) to 8:00p EST (0100 UTC) / 8:00p CST (0200 UTC). Relatively small portions of this state are in CST and so the vast majority of the polls are closed by the time indicated EST, when the networks feel they can project.
 

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Michigan State and Local Government

Michigan 2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

12 January 2009: MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE - Election Results - November 04, 2008

01 October 2008: Synchronized with 2008 Official Michigan General Candidate Listing.

5 August 2008 MICHIGAN PRIMARY Returns from an official source.

 
           
President  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 17 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.
Up for election in 2008
  Elected Democratic 2,872,579 57.43% Senator Barack Hussein Obama
(17 Electoral Votes)
• Vice President: Senator Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.
• FEC P80003338: $778,642,047
  Candidate Republican 2,048,639 40.96% Senator John Sidney McCain, III
• Vice President: Governor Sarah H. Palin
• FEC P80002801: $399,826,076
  Candidate Natural Law 33,085 0.66% Ralph Nader
• Vice President: Mathew Gonzalez
• FEC P20000527: $4,520,160
  Candidate Libertarian 23,716 0.47% former Congressman Bob Barr
• Vice President: Wayne Allyn Root
• FEC P80005580: $1,405,899
  Candidate U.S. Taxpayers 14,685 0.29% Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin
• Vice President: Darrell L. Castle
• FEC P80005499: $262,010
  Candidate Green 8,892 0.18% former Congressman Cynthia A. McKinney
• Vice President: Rosa A. Clemente
• FEC P80004930: $240,360
  Candidate Write-in; (American Independent) 129 0.00% former Ambassador Alan L. Keyes
• FEC P60003076: $481,991
  Candidate Write-in; (Socialist Party USA) 41 0.00% Brian Patrick Moore
• Vice President: Stewart Alexander
• FEC P80005275: $9,516
Total 5,001,766 100.00%  
U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 110th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes
Class 1 Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow
• First elected: 2000; re-elected 2006
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1996, 1998]
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Class 2
Seat up for election		 Democratic Senator Carl Levin
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Senator Carl Levin
  Elected Democratic 3,038,386 62.66% Senator Carl Levin
• FEC S8MI00158: $8,276,479
  Candidate Republican 1,641,070 33.85% state Representative Jack Hoogendyk, Jr.
• FEC S8MI00299: $302,747
  Candidate Libertarian 76,347 1.57% Scott Avery "Scotty" Boman
• FEC S8MI00315: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 43,440 0.90% Harley G. Mikkelson
• FEC S8MI00331: Financial report not available
  Candidate U.S. Taxpayers 30,827 0.64% Michael N. Nikitin
• FEC S8MI00307: Financial report not available
  Candidate Natural Law 18,550 0.38% Doug Dern
• FEC S2MI00144: Financial report not available
Total 4,848,620 100.00%  
Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms, All Governors
  Democratic Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
• First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006
• Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
• The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
• Open Chair - At term limit
  Candidate Democratic     Flint Mayor Donald J. "Don" Williamson
  Candidate Republican     Attorney General Mike Cox
Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. Nominated by convention separately from the gubernatorial primary; elected on same ticket with Governor.
  Democratic Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry, Jr.
• First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
• The current Lieutenant Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
• Open Seat - At term limit
  
Candidates for Lieutenant Governor are nominated by political parties at their fall state convention (Michigan Election Law, Act 116 of 1954, Section 168.72).
110th U.S. House of Representatives  2 year term, Election Cycle 2006, 2008. No Term Limit. 110th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
6 Democratic (6 Renominated);
9 Republican (9 Renominated)
CD 1
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Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak
  Elected Democratic 213,216 65.04% Congressman Bart Stupak
• FEC H2MI01068: $1,326,898
  Candidate Republican 107,340 32.74% state Representative Thomas A. "Tom" Casperson
• FEC H8MI01107: $237,063
  Candidate Green; (Socialist Party USA) 2,669 0.81% Jean Marie Treacy
• FEC H8MI01123: Financial report not available
  Candidate Libertarian 2,533 0.77% Daniel W. Grow
• FEC H8MI01131: Financial report not available
  Candidate U.S. Taxpayers 2,070 0.63% Joshua J. Warren
• FEC H6MI01192: Financial report not available
  Candidate Write-in; (Republican) 8 0.00% Don Hooper
• FEC H2MI01092: Financial report not available
Total 327,836 100.00%  
CD 2
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Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Peter Hoekstra
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Peter Hoekstra
  Elected Republican 214,100 62.36% Congressman Peter Hoekstra
• FEC H2MI02066: $742,940
  Candidate Democratic 119,506 34.81% Freddie Lee "Fred" Johnson, III
• FEC H8MI02097: $115,011
  Candidate Libertarian 5,496 1.60% Dan Johnson
• FEC H8MI02105: Financial report not available
  Candidate U.S. Taxpayers 4,200 1.22% Ronald E. Graeser
• FEC H0MI02086: Financial report not available
  Candidate Write-in 7 0.00% William Bailey
Total 343,309 100.00%  
CD 3
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Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• First elected in Special Election, 7 December 1993, re: death of Congressman Paul Henry, 31 July 1993
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
  Elected Republican 203,799 61.11% Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
• FEC H4MI03045: $413,365
  Candidate Democratic 117,961 35.37% Henry Alvaro Sanchez
• FEC H8MI03046: $4,210
  Candidate Libertarian 11,758 3.53% Erwin J. Haas
• FEC H6MI03123: Financial report not available
Total 333,518 100.00%  
CD 4
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Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman David Lee "Dave" Camp
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman David Lee "Dave" Camp
  Elected Republican 204,259 61.94% Congressman David Lee "Dave" Camp
• FEC H0MI10071: $2,237,726
  Candidate Democratic 117,665 35.68% Andrew Donnelly Concannon
• FEC H8MI04077: $122,041
  Candidate U.S. Taxpayers 4,055 1.23% John W. Emerick
• FEC H0MI04082: Financial report not available
  Candidate Libertarian 3,785 1.15% Allitta Hren
• FEC H6MI04154: Financial report not available
Total 329,764 100.00%  
CD 5
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Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Dale E. Kildee
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Dale E. Kildee
  Elected Democratic 221,841 70.36% Congressman Dale E. Kildee
• FEC H6MI07108: $606,568
  Candidate Republican 85,017 26.96% Matthew Allan "Matt" Sawicki
• FEC H8MI05090: Financial report not available
  Candidate Libertarian 4,293 1.36% Leonard Schwartz
• FEC H8MI05108: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 4,144 1.31% Ken Mathenia
• FEC H6MI05193: Financial report not available
Total 315,295 100.00%  
CD 6
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Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Frederick Stephen "Fred" Upton
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Frederick Stephen "Fred" Upton
  Elected Republican 188,157 58.86% Congressman Frederick Stephen "Fred" Upton
• FEC H6MI04113: $1,413,946
  Candidate Democratic 123,257 38.56% Don Cooney
• FEC H8MI06098: $82,761
  Candidate Libertarian 4,720 1.48% Greg Merle
• FEC H8MI06114: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 3,512 1.10% Edward Pinkney
• FEC H8MI06106: Financial report not available
Total 319,646 100.00%  
CD 7
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Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Timothy L. "Tim" Walberg
• First elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Democratic state Senate Minority Leader Mark Hamilton Schauer favored over Republican Congressman Timothy L. "Tim" Walberg
  Elected Democratic 157,213 48.78% state Senate Minority Leader Mark Hamilton Schauer
• FEC H8MI07096: $2,344,492
  Candidate Republican 149,781 46.47% Congressman Timothy L. "Tim" Walberg
• FEC H4MI07103: $2,112,214
  Candidate Green 9,528 2.96% Lynn Meadows
• FEC H8MI07104: Financial report not available
  Candidate Libertarian 5,675 1.76% Ken Proctor
• FEC H2MI07073: Financial report not available
  Candidate Write-in; (Democratic) 89 0.03% Sharon Marie Renier
• Ran for but lost the Democratic Primary. Reportedly running as a write-in candidate.
• FEC H4MI07137: $13,382
Total 322,286 100.00%  
CD 8
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Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Michael J. "Mike" Rogers
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• First elected: 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Michael J. "Mike" Rogers
  Elected Republican 204,408 56.53% Congressman Michael J. "Mike" Rogers
• FEC H0MI08042: $1,384,974
  Candidate Democratic 145,491 40.23% Robert Darwood "Bob" Alexander
• FEC H4MI08085: $218,544
  Candidate Libertarian 4,373 1.21% Will Tyler White
• FEC H4MI08093: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 3,836 1.06% Aaron Stuttman
• FEC H6MI08239: Financial report not available
  Candidate U.S. Taxpayers 3,499 0.97% George M. Zimmer
• FEC H8MI08086: Financial report not available
Total 361,607 100.00%  
CD 9
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Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Joseph K. "Joe" Knollenberg
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic former state Senator Gary Peters favored over Republican Congressman Joseph K. "Joe" Knollenberg
  Elected Democratic 183,311 52.08% former state Senator Gary Peters
• former State lottery commissioner (resigned 10 August 2007)
• FEC H8MI09068: $2,552,235
  Candidate Republican 150,035 42.63% Congressman Joseph K. "Joe" Knollenberg
• FEC H2MI11042: $3,790,742
  Candidate No Party Affiliation 8,987 2.55% Jack Kevorkian
• FEC H8MI09076: $0
  Candidate Libertarian 4,893 1.39% Adam Goodman
• FEC H6MI09161: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 4,737 1.35% Douglas "Doug" Campbell
• FEC H8MI09084: Financial report not available
Total 351,963 100.00%  
CD 10
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Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Candice S. Miller
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• First elected: 2002
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Candice S. Miller
  Elected Republican 230,471 66.30% Congressman Candice S. Miller
• FEC H6MI12181: $835,527
  Candidate Democratic 108,354 31.17% Robert Denison
• FEC H6MI10136: $1,073
  Candidate Libertarian; (Boston Tea) 4,632 1.33% Neil Kiernan Stephenson
• FEC H8MI10090: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 4,146 1.19% Candace Ruth Caveny
• FEC H6MI10177: Financial report not available
Total 347,603 100.00%  
CD 11
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Seat up for election		 Republican Congressman Thaddeus G. McCotter
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• First elected: 2002
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Thaddeus G. McCotter
  Elected Republican 177,461 51.41% Congressman Thaddeus G. McCotter
• FEC H2MI00037: $1,133,906
  Candidate Democratic 156,625 45.37% Joseph William Larkin
• FEC H8MI11221: $29,066
  Candidate Libertarian 6,001 1.74% John J. Tatar
• FEC H8MI11247: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 5,072 1.47% Erik William Shelley
• FEC H8MI11239: $1,906
  Candidate Write-in 23 0.01% Bhagwan Dashairya
Total 345,182 100.00%  
CD 12
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Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Sander M. "Sandy" Levin
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Sander M. "Sandy" Levin
  Elected Democratic 225,094 72.07% Congressman Sander M. "Sandy" Levin
• FEC H2MI17023: $725,438
  Candidate Republican 74,565 23.87% Bert Copple
• FEC H8MI12088: Financial report not available
  Candidate Libertarian 4,767 1.53% John Vico
• FEC H8MI12104: Financial report not available
  Candidate U.S. Taxpayers 4,076 1.30% Lester I. "Les" Townsend
• FEC H6MI12231: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 3,842 1.23% William J. "Bill" Opalicky
• FEC H8MI12096: Financial report not available
Total 312,344 100.00%  
CD 13
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Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• First elected: 1996
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
  Elected Democratic 167,481 74.13% Congressman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
• Received 39% of the vote in the 5 August 2008 primary.
• FEC H6MI15127: $1,027,101
  Candidate Republican 43,098 19.08% Edward J. Gubics
• FEC H8MI13193: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 9,579 4.24% George L. Corsetti
• FEC H8MI13201: Financial report not available
  Candidate Libertarian 5,764 2.55% Gregory Creswell
• FEC H8MI13219: Financial report not available
Total 225,922 100.00%  
CD 14
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Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
  Elected Democratic 227,841 92.40% Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
• FEC H6MI01028: $1,111,753
  Candidate Libertarian 10,732 4.35% Richard J. "Rick" Secula
• FEC H8MI14092: Financial report not available
  Candidate Green 8,015 3.25% Clyde K. Shabazz
• FEC H8MI14084: Financial report not available
Total 246,588 100.00%  
CD 15
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Seat up for election		 Democratic Congressman John D. Dingell
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
• First elected in 1955 in a special election to fill the seat of his deceased father, John Dingell.
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
• Renominated - 5 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman John D. Dingell
  Elected Democratic 231,784 70.70% Congressman John D. Dingell
• FEC H6MI16034: $2,736,892
  Candidate Republican 81,802 24.95% John Joseph "Jack" Lynch
• FEC H8MI15099: $20,096
  Candidate Green 7,082 2.16% Aimee Smith
• FEC H6MI15218: Financial report not available
  Candidate Libertarian 4,002 1.22% Gregory Scott "Greg" Stempfle
• FEC H2MI15092: Financial report not available
  Candidate U.S. Taxpayers 3,157 0.96% James H. Wagner
• FEC H8MI15107: Financial report not available
Total 327,827 100.00%  
Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
  Republican Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land
• First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
• The current Secretary of State is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
• Open Seat - At term limit
  
Candidates for Secretary of State are nominated by political parties at their fall state convention (Michigan Election Law, Act 116 of 1954, Section 168.72).
Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
  Republican Attorney General Mike Cox
• First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
• The current Attorney General is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
• Open Seat - At term limit. Running for Governor in 2010.
  
Candidates for Attorney General are nominated by political parties at their fall state convention (Michigan Election Law, Act 116 of 1954, Section 168.72).
Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.
Major Parties
 • Democratic (affiliates): 10 incumbents, 19 candidates
 • Republican: 11 incumbents, 18 candidates
Major Third Parties
 • Green (affiliates): 14 candidates
 • Libertarian: 17 candidates
Other Third Parties
 • American Independent (affiliate of America's Independent): 1 candidate
 • Boston Tea: 1 candidate
 • Natural Law (affiliates): 2 candidates
 • Socialist Party USA: 2 candidates
 • U.S. Taxpayers (affiliate of Constitution): 8 candidates
Independents
 • No Party Affiliation: 1 candidate
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
 • Write-in: 6 candidates
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.
Notes
Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that the person so listed will actually appear on the ballot.
 
FEC indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary "Total Receipts" for candidates for Federal Office.
 

  2008 General Election Home  
 
  U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
  U.S. House Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Close Contests Summary - Decision by 2% or less  
  Contests Where No Candidate Received a Majority  
 
Electoral College
  Allocation       How Appointed       Meeting Place (15 December)  
  Duly Appointed Electors       Tabulation by Congress (8 January 2009)  
  THE "FAITHLESS ELECTORS" - Presidential Electors who have defected in the past  
  May Electors Defect?  
  DATES OF U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION "EVENTS": 1789 to the present  
  "APPARENT" ELECTORAL VOTE for President of the United States: 1856 to present  
  ELECTORAL VOTE for President of the United States (as pledged and as officially counted)  
  ELECTORAL VOTE for Vice President of the United States (as pledged and as officially counted)  
 
  Contests to Watch and Polling Data  
 
2008 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress
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  2008 Partisan Composition by State  
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  Senate Electoral Classes  
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  1976-2004 Presidential Election State Voting Trends  
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