Wed. Nov 27th, 2024

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) speaks at a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris in Grand Rapids on July 29, 2024. | Lucy Valeski

As preliminary results roll in, winners have been declared in each of Michigan’s congressional races, including two open U.S. House seats that were labeled as some of the most competitive races in the nation. 

Across the board, Michigan’s sitting U.S. Representatives each secured another term, while Republicans gained a seat in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District while failing to flip another in the 8th Congressional District. 

With 13 U.S. House seats in the state, here is a breakdown of Michigan’s top races.

Scholten retains control in Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) defended her seat from her Republican challenger, East Grand Rapids attorney Paul Hudson. 

While West Michigan has historically been a stronghold for Republicans, Scholten took the seat for Democrats in 2022, defeating President-elect Donald Trump’s favored candidate, John Gibbs.

In doing so, Scholten became the first woman to hold a House seat in the district, which encompasses the Grand Rapids metro area and parts of the Lake Michigan coastline as well as parts of Muskegon and Ottawa.

I set out to build a new political home in West Michigan, and with this decisive victory, we’ve proven that what we made is built to last. It truly is a new day in West Michigan. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress, and I’m ready to get back to work,” Scholten said in a statement. 

In a post to social media at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday, Hudson said he’d called Scholten to congratulate her on the win.

“It was a disappointing result but, as they say, the next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing. I am proud of the campaign we ran and it was the honor of a lifetime to be part of this great American process,” Hudson said.

Scholten is a former immigration attorney, who centered her campaign on abortion rights, lowering prescription drug costs, investing in clean energy and supporting Michigan schools. 

Barrett flips Michigan’s 7th Congressional District red

With U.S. now Sen.-elect Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) opting against a reelection bid to pursue Michigan’s open Senate seat, Michigan’s 7th Congressional District was put up for grabs as Democrats sought to reclaim control of the U.S. House and Republicans fight to retain their majority 

In a 220-212 member split, with three vacant seats, Michigan’s 7th Congressional District was once again teed up as one of the deciding districts for which party will lead the U.S. House. 

Tom Barrett, candidate for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District speaks at a rally at Alro Steel in Potterville, Michigan ahead of a speech from former president Donald Trump on Aug. 29. 2024 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Former state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) ultimately prevailed over former State Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing), flipping control of the district from Democrats to Republicans. 

Hertel conceded the race in the early hours Wednesday morning, wishing Barrett well and thanking his staff, family and volunteers.

“I got into this race because I believe that we can make meaningful progress by seeking compromise, that our freedoms are worth fighting for, that we can bring down costs by cutting taxes for working families and reducing drug prices, that we can bring manufacturing jobs back home, and that we can strengthen our democracy. Spending the past year and a half on the campaign trail meeting the good people of this district has been one of the great honors of my life. To everyone who shared our vision and supported this campaign, I thank you deeply for your support. Know that I will continue to work with you towards that better future we all seek,” Hertel said.

The Associated Press would later call the race for Barrett at 4:06 a.m. As of 3:15 p.m. Barrett led Hertel 50.3% to 46.5% with 99% of votes counted. 

Barrett celebrated the victory in a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday afternoon, sharing photos from his election watch party the night prior, and thanking his family members and campaign volunteers.

“This opportunity to represent you in our nation’s Capitol is something I will never take for granted. The hard work of putting our country on the right track begins now, and I’m excited and humbled to go do it,” Barrett said. 

Barrett centered his campaign on “four pillars of security” pledging action on economic security, neighborhood security, national security and border security if elected.

McDonald Rivet holds the line for Dems in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District

In 2023, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) announced he wouldn’t seek reelection, leaving yet another hotly contested seat up for grabs.

While the 8th Congressional District was viewed as another target for Republicans to expand their majority in the U.S. House, Michigan State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) was able to defend the seat for Democrats in her race against former prosecutor Paul Junge, who faced Kildee in the 2022 election. 

Michigan state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) participates in a roundtable with small business owners in Flint, Mich., on Sept. 20, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

With 99% of votes counted Wednesday afternoon, McDonald Rivet leads Junge by nearly 7% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. 

“I am honored by the trust of our neighbors to represent mid-Michigan in the U.S. House. We won this race with a broad and energized coalition, and I am grateful to the tens of thousands of people who voted, volunteered, and donated. We showed that even amidst negativity and attack ads, we can come together as a community with a positive vision for our region,” McDonald Rivet said in a statement celebrating her victory. 

Junge congratulated McDonald Rivet in a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday morning.

“While unfortunately we came up short at the polls, I was proud of the campaign we ran, highlighting the concerns of working families I heard so often, Junge said. Those concerns included high costs of living, border security and a need for “common sense solutions” in Washington.

McDonald Rivet is currently serving her first time in the Michigan Senate, and has previously served in a variety of roles in both public service and in running nonprofits, including chief of staff for the Michigan Department of Education, as well as executive director of the Michigan Head Start Association, vice president of Michigan Future Inc. and president and CEO of Greater Midland Inc.

In her campaign, McDonald Rivet focused on support for the middle class, by bringing high-wage jobs into Michigan, reinstating the expanded child tax credit authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act, and bringing down costs on housing and prescription drugs. 

James emerges victorious after rematch in Michigan’s 10th District

U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.) has secured a second term in the U.S. House after once again facing Democratic former Judge Carl Marlinga in the last of Michigan’s congressional races called by the Associated Press.

“Reporting for my second tour of duty! Michigan never quits. And neither will I. Thank you. God bless,” James said in a post to X early Wednesday morning.

Marlinga conceded the race Wednesday morning, though the Associated Press wouldn’t call the race for James until 12:21 p.m. on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.) offers remarks in support of former President Donald Trump at a campaign event with Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance in Auburn Hills on Oct. 2, 2024. | Kyle Davidson

“While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, I am incredibly grateful for the support and dedication of the people who stood by me throughout this campaign,” Marlinga said in his concession statement. 

“This race was about more than just a seat in Congress — it was about standing up for our shared values,” Marlinga said. Those values included defending reproductive rights and protecting Social Security and Medicare. 

While the race was decided by a slim margin of 1,600 votes in 2022, James held a more than 6% lead over Marlinga as of Wednesday afternoon, with the Associated Press reporting 98% of votes counted. 

Endorsed by Trump in both 2022 and 2024, James is Michigan’s first Black Republican Congressman. His campaign shared a number of Trump’s talking points, centering on border security and criticizing the state of the economy under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

James has also introduced legislation to connect people to telehealth mental health services, investigate human trafficking that happens in-part outside of U.S. borders and examine the security of the Soo Locks, used to allow ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. 

 

Here are the results of the other Congressional Races across the state:

1st Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) was victorious in his race against Democrat Callie Barr.

2nd Congressional District

U.S. Rep John Moolenaar (R-Midland) defeated Democrat Michael Lynch, and will retain his House seat for a sixth term. 

4th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) defeated Democrat Jessica Swartz, and will serve his eighth term in the U.S. House.

5th Congressional District

U.S. Rep Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) will retain his seat in the house, emerging victorious over Democratic challenger Libbi Urban.

6th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) will serve her sixth term in the U.S. House after defeating her challenger, Republican Heather Smiley.

9th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R- Bruce Twp.) will serve a third term in the house following her victory over Democrat Clinton St. Mosley.

11th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Waterford Twp.) was victorious after facing off against Republican Nick Somberg. This will be Stevens’ fourth term in the U.S. House. 

12th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) will serve her fourth term in the U.S. House, defeating Republican challenger James Hooper. 

13th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) has won a second term, defeating GOP opponent Martell Bivings in their rematch for the 13th District.

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