The district's current representative is Democrat incumbent Dan Kildee, who previously represented the old 5th district. According to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, after 2022 redistricting Michigan's 8th is the median district in the country, with 217 districts rated more Democratic and 217 districts rated more Republican.
Prior to 1992, the 8th congressional district included the cities of Saginaw and Bay City as well as Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac Counties in the Thumb of Michigan, Arenac county north from Bay County, a total of about half the area of Saginaw County, and small northern portions of Lapeer and St. Clair counties.
This area would largely be transferred to the 5th district after the 1990 census, while most of the old 6th district became the 8th district. Unlike the old 6th district, the 8th did not include Pontiac. To make up for the loss in population, it was pushed further into Lansing (which had previously been split between the 6th and 8th districts), picking up all of Ingham County. It also added the area around Brighton and portions of Washtenaw and Genesee counties.
In the 2002 redistricting, the district gained all of Clinton County about half of Shiawasee County and most of its area in Oakland County while losing its shares of Washtenaw and Genesee counties.
In the 2012 redistricting, the district dropped all of its area in Clinton and Shiawasee counties and was pushed further into Oakland County.
In the 2022 redistricting, the district was shifted to mid-Michigan to include the Tri Cities and Flint.
^Timothy E. Tarsney was elected as a fusion candidate, but was seated in Congress with the Democratic Party.
^Elected on the Democratic Peoples Union Silver ticket, a union of elements from the Democratic Party and Populist Party. They were seated as part of the Democratic Party in Congress.
^"My Congressional District".
^"2022 Cook PV: District Map and List". The Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
^"Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020". Daily Kos. November 14, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
^"2014 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/04/2014".
^"2016 Michigan Election Results - Official Results". Michigan Department of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
^Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
^"2020 Michigan Election Results Official". Michigan Secretary of State. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
^"2022 Michigan Election Results". Michigan Department of State. November 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
References
Govtrack.us for the 8th District - Lists current Senators and representative, and map showing district outline
The Political graveyard: U.S. Representatives from Michigan, 1807-2003
U.S. Representatives 1837-2003, Michigan Manual 2003-2004
Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present