2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan
The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan were held on November 6, 2018, 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 elections of other offices, including a gubernatorial election, other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The filing deadline for candidates filing for the August 7 primary was April 24, 2018.[1] Unless otherwise indicated, the Cook Political Report rated the congressional races as safe for the party of the incumbent.
Matt Morgan was the only Democrat to file to run. However, he was removed from the ballot because he used a PO box address on his nomination petitions instead of his residential address. Instead, Morgan ran a write-in campaign, hoping to qualify for the ballot by winning at least five percent of the total votes cast in the district for the Democratic gubernatorial primary.[5] Over 4,800 votes were cast in Marquette County, which would have been enough by itself to qualify Morgan for the ballot.[6] According to official results, Democrats cast 29,293 write-in votes in the primary for Morgan, more than seven times the 3,781-vote threshold. On August 24, the Board of State Canvassers placed him on the November ballot.[7]
Candidates
Nominee
Matthew W. Morgan, retired US Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and Iraq War veteran[8]
The 2nd district is located in West Michigan and is anchored by the suburbs of Grand Rapids such as Kentwood and Wyoming, other cities include Holland and Muskegon. This district has a PVI of R+9. The incumbent was Republican Bill Huizenga, who had represented the district since 2011. He was re-elected to a fourth term with 63% of the vote in 2016.
The 3rd district is located in inland West Michigan, centered on the city of Grand Rapids, and extends down to Battle Creek and Marshall. This district has a PVI of R+6. The incumbent was Republican Justin Amash, who had represented the district since 2011. He was re-elected to a fourth term with 59% of the vote in 2016.
The 4th district is located in Northern and Central Michigan including portions of the Tri-Cities region, specifically Midland, other cites include Mount Pleasant and the northern suburbs of Lansing. This district has a PVI of R+10. The incumbent was Republican John Moolenaar, who had represented the district since 2015. He was re-elected to a second term with 62% of the vote in 2016.
The 5th district is located along the eastern coast of Michigan, centered on the Tri-Cities region of Mid Michigan, such as Bay City and Saginaw, and stretches down into Flint. This district has a PVI of D+5. The incumbent was Democrat Dan Kildee, who had represented the district since 2013. He was re-elected to a third term with 61% of the vote in 2016. Kildee considered running for governor in 2018, but decided to run for re-election instead.[23]
Michigan's 5th district was included on the initial list of Democratic held seats being targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2018.[24] There is one Republican candidate, Durand resident Travis Wines who lives outside the district.[8]
The 6th district is located in Southwestern corner of Michigan, specifically the Michiana region. The district is anchored by Kalamazoo and the surrounding areas including Benton Harbor and Niles. This district has a PVI of R+4. 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 to a sixteenth term with 59% of the vote in 2016. The Cook Political Report rated this race as "likely Republican."[4]
The 7th district is located in Southern Michigan including downtown Lansing and the western suburbs of Ann Arbor including Lodi and Milan, other cities include Adrian, Coldwater, and Jackson. This district has a PVI of R+7. 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 to a fourth consecutive and fifth total term with 55% of the vote in 2016. The Cook Political Report rated this race as "likely Republican."[4]
The 8th district was centered on the state capital, Lansing, and stretches into the northern outskirts of Metro Detroit including Rochester Hills. This district has a PVI of R+4. The incumbent was Republican Mike Bishop, who had represented the district since 2015. He was re-elected to a second term with 56% of the vote in 2016. This race was considered competitive, with the Cook Political Report rating it as 'Tossup' in August 2018.[43][4] With $28 million spent, it drew the most campaign spending for a U.S. House seat in Michigan's history.[44]Elissa Slotkin defeated Bishop, flipping the district to the Democratic side.
The 9th district is located in Metro Detroit including Roseville, Royal Oak, and Warren. This district has a PVI of D+4. The incumbent was Democrat Sander Levin, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 12th district from 1993 to 2013 and the 17th district from 1983 to 1993. He was re-elected to an eighteenth term with 58% of the vote in 2016. In December 2017, Levin announced his retirement, and that he would not seek re-election in 2018.[58]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Andy Levin, former head of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, Sander Levin's son[59]
The 10th district is located in an area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan known as The Thumb and parts of the Metro Detroit area including Chesterfield, Macomb, and Port Huron. This is the most Republican friendly district with a PVI of R+13. The incumbent was Republican Paul Mitchell, who had represented the district since 2017. He was elected to replace retiring representative Candice Miller with 63% of the vote in 2016.
The 11th district is located in Metro Detroit including Livonia, Novi, and Troy. This district had a PVI of R+4. The incumbent was Republican Dave Trott, who had represented the district since 2015. He was re-elected to a second term with 53% of the vote in 2016. Trott was not running for re-election in 2018.[66][67] This race is considered to be competitive; the Cook Political Report rated this contest as a "toss up."[4]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Lena Epstein, businesswoman and Michigan co-chair of the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign[68]
The 12th district is based in Ann Arbor and the surrounding cities including Ypsilanti, and the western suburbs of Detroit including Dearborn and Lincoln Park. This district has a PVI of D+14. The incumbent was Democrat Debbie Dingell, who had represented the district since 2015. She was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2016.
The 13th district is located entirely within Wayne County and is centered on the city of the Detroit and the immediate surrounding suburbs including Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and Westland. This is the most Democratic-friendly district with a PVI of D+32. The seat was vacant for most of 2018, following the resignation of John Conyers in December 2017.[107] A special primary and special general election were held in August and November 2018, on dates coinciding with the already scheduled primary and general elections in a money-saving move by Michigan GovernorRick Snyder.[108]
Conyers represented the district from 2013 to 2017. He previously represented the 14th district from 1993 to 2013, and the 1st district from 1965 to 1993. He was Dean of the United States House of Representatives, and was re-elected to a twenty-seventh term with 77% of the vote in 2016.
David Dudenhoefer was the only Republican candidate to announce his run for the Republican nomination, but he failed to qualify. He did, however, run as a write-in candidate. As a result, Tlaib was opposed in the general election only by minor party candidates and write-in candidates.
The 14th district stretches from the northern Detroit suburbs including Farmington Hills, Southfield, and West Bloomfield, to eastern part of Detroit. This district has a PVI of D+30. The incumbent was Democrat Brenda Lawrence, who had represented the district since 2015. She was re-elected to a second term with 79% of the vote in 2016.
^"2018 Michigan Election Dates" (PDF). www.michigan.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
^"Michigan Dems flip two Republican seats in U.S. House". Detroit News.
^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.
^ a b c d e f"2018 House Race ratings - The Cook Political Report". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^"Only Democrat in Michigan race will have to run as write-in candidate". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^TRAVIS, JORDAN (August 10, 2018). "Matt Morgan declares write-in campaign a success". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^"Democrat Matt Morgan will be on ballot in 1st Congressional District". August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^ a b c d e f g h i"2018 Michigan Official Primary Candidate Listing - 08/07/2018". miboecfr.nictusa.com. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n"2018 Endorsements". miaflcio.org. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
^ a b c d e f g h i"Champions of CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM". endcitizensunited.org. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^Grim, Ryan (August 10, 2018). "HOW BAD ARE THINGS FOR THE GOP? A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE CANDIDATE GOT 30,000 WRITE-IN VOTES IN MICHIGAN".
^Grim, Ryan. "HOW BAD ARE THINGS FOR THE GOP? A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE CANDIDATE GOT 30,000 WRITE-IN VOTES IN MICHIGAN".
^ a b cChange Research (D)
^ a b c d e f g"2018 House Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
^ a b c d e f g"2018 House Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
^ a b c d e f g"Battle for the House 2018". RCP. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
^ a b c d e f g"Daily Kos Elections 2018 race ratings". Daily Kos. Retrieved November 5, 2018.[permanent dead link]
^ a b c d e f gSilver, Nate (August 16, 2018). "2018 House Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
^Irizarry, Jaleesa (June 4, 2017). "After health care debate, ER doctor runs against US Rep. Bill Huizenga". WZZM. Retrieved June 5, 2017.[permanent dead link]
^ a b c d e f g h"Who's running for Congress in Michigan". January 7, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^Lake Research Partners (D-Davidson)
^Gray, Kathleen (May 8, 2017). "U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee will forgo race for governor". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
^ a bIsenstadt, Alex (February 8, 2017). "House Republicans name Democratic targets for 2018". Politico. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^Barrett, Malachi (July 18, 2017). "Democrat doctor challenges Fred Upton in 2018 after health care vote". Kalamazoo Gazette. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
^ a bNann Burke, Melissa (May 27, 2017). "Upton generates buzz, backlash for role in health bill". The Detroit News. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
^Barrett, Malachi (July 20, 2017). "Democrat focuses on economy in 2018 challenge to Fred Upton". Kalamazoo Gazette. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
^ a b"Former Kellogg Exec Might Seek Upton's Seat". WSJM. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^Devereaux, Brad (October 5, 2017). "Former Kellogg lobbyist George Franklin announces congressional run". Kalamazoo Gazette. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
^Barrett, Malachi (July 6, 2017). "Paul Clements announces third challenge to Fred Upton in 2018". Kalamazoo Gazette. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
^McNeill, John (March 7, 2017). "Kalamazoo's population grows famously". WNWN-FM. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^ a b c"George Franklin for Congress". georgefranklin.com. Retrieved August 29, 2018.[permanent dead link]
^ a b"2018 ENDORSEMENTS". sunrisemovement.org. Archived from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^DCCC (D)
^Public Policy Polling (D)
^Global Strategy Group (D-Longjohn)
^Public Policy Polling (D)
^ a b cCheney, Kyle (January 30, 2017). "Amid Democratic doldrums, DCCC identifies 2018 targets". Politico. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^Oosting, Jonathan (July 19, 2017). "Driskell seeks rematch with Rep. Walberg". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
^ a b c d"HELP OUR CANDIDATES WIN!". emilyslist.org. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
^ a b c"OUR CANDIDATES". moveon.org. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^DCCC (D)
^"Challenger Elissa Slotkin outraises Rep. Mike Bishop over three months". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^Schuster, Simon (October 19, 2022). "Michigan's closest U.S. House races report lopsided fundraising". mlive. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
^"Races for new Circuit Court seat, state House and Senate set as filing deadline passes". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^Spangler, Todd (July 10, 2017). "Ex-Pentagon, intelligence official Elissa Slotkin to challenge Mike Bishop for Congress". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
^ a b c d e fJ. KYLE KEENER (October 28, 2018). "Michigan Elections 2018: These candidates are endorsed by the Detroit Free Press". Retrieved February 3, 2023.
^Change Research (D)
^Brian Ellison (L) with 3%, David Lillis (T) with 0%
^NYT Upshot/Siena College
^Target Insyght
^Brian Ellison (L) with 2%, David Lillis (T) with 1%
^NYT Upshot/Siena College
^GQR Research (D-Slotkin)
^Public Opinion Strategies (R-Bishop)
^Public Policy Polling (D)
^Target Insyght
^Peterson, Kristina (December 2, 2017). "Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan to Retire". The Wall Street Journal. New York. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
^"Levin, Bieda running for Congress". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^"Steve Bieda drops out of U.S. House race to run for Spranger's office". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^Oosting, Jonathan. "Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner says he WON'T run for Congress in #MI9". Twitter.
^"EMILY's List Endorses Ellen Lipton in Michigan's 9th District". www.emilyslist.org. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^EPIC-MRA
^Lake Research Partners (D-Levin)
^GQR Research
^ a b c dSchneider, Elena (September 11, 2017). "Michigan Rep. Dave Trott won't run for reelection". Politico. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
^Roskopp, Jack. "Republican Michigan Representative Dave Trott not seeking reelection". Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^ a b"Raczkowski, Epstein enter race to succeed Trott". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^Jacobs, Ben (September 12, 2017). "Former congressman Kerry Bentivolio tells me he is "seriously considering" running for his old seat which is being vacated by Dave Trott". Twitter. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
^Oosting, Jonathan (October 16, 2017). "Bentivolio eyes return to Congress". Detroit News. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
^ a b c dSpangler, Todd (September 11, 2017). "U.S Rep. Dave Trott to leave Congress". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
^ a b c d e f gNann Burke, Melissa (September 11, 2017). "Rep. Dave Trott is retiring from U.S. House". The Detroit News. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
^ a bKadrich, Brad (September 12, 2017). "Heise eyes run for Trott's House seat". Plymouth Observer. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
^"Form 1 for Kurt Heise for Congress".
^"Heise ends campaign for Congress, endorses Kowall".
^ a b"Board: 7 U.S. House hopefuls tossed from primary ballot". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^"Former candidate Kristine Bonds endorses Mike Kowall for Congress". Mike Kowall for Congress. July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
^Pathé, Simone (September 11, 2017). "Michigan's Dave Trott Won't Seek Re-Election in 2018". Roll Call. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
^Spangler, Todd (February 22, 2018). "Patterson endorses state Sen. Mike Kowall for Trott's seat in Congress". Detroit Free Press.
^ a bLena Epstein. "Thank you to @RepDaveTrott for endorsing my campaign to represent #MI11. Congressman Trott has been a strong, conservative representative for our district throughout his time in Washington, and I look forward to bringing the same passion and conservative ideals to Congress". Twitter.
^"Detroit Free Press Endorses Mike Kowall in MI-11 Republican Primary". Mike Kowall for Congress. July 27, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
^Mitchell Research (R)
^ a bEPIC-MRA
^Oosting, Jonathan (April 27, 2017). "Michigan native comes home for run against Rep. Trott". The Detroit News. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
^Todd Spangler (October 17, 2017). "State Rep. Tim Greimel joins crowded congressional field". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
^Burke, Melissa (January 5, 2018). "Democrat Gupta raises $501K in bid to replace Trott". The Detroit News. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
^Nann Burke, Melissa (July 13, 2017). "Former Duggan official plans run against Rep. Trott". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
^Kumar, Anil. "Kumar For US Congress". Facebook.
^Gorchow, Zach (September 11, 2017). "On the Barb McQuade/#MI11 rumor, she says when I asked if she's looking at it, "No, not at all. I don't even live in the 11th District."". Twitter. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
^"DFA backs four progressive women in primaries key to Democrats retaking U.S. House". democracyforamerica.com. January 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^ a bTarget-Insyght
^Daniel Haberman (failed to make ballot) 4%
^Mike Pence. "Great to be in Michigan tonight! Proud to support @LenaEpstein - an early supporter of President Trump. She'll be a fighter for the @RealDonaldTrump agenda in Congress & a strong advocate for the people of Michigan! #MI11". Twitter.
^Lena Epstein. "Thank you @realDonaldTrump for supporting our campaign to represent #MI11!". Twitter.
^"Maggie's List endorsement". Lena Epstein for Congress. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
^"Lena Epstein". VIEW PAC. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
^"For Congress, from Metro Detroit". The Detroit News. July 12, 2018.
^Target Insyght
^ALG Research (D-Stevens) Archived October 18, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
^Leonard Schwartz (L) with 4%
^Harper Polling (R-Epstein)
^Leonard Schwartz (L) with 1%, Cooper Nye (I) with 1%
^NYT Upshot/Siena College
^Public Policy Polling (D)
^Public Policy Polling (D)
^Gray, Kathleen; Spangler, Todd (December 5, 2017). "John Conyers retires after 53 years in office amid sexual harassment claims". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
^"Snyder sets Aug. 7, Nov. 6 election dates to replace John Conyers in Congress". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^Spangler, Todd (February 6, 2018). "Former Michigan state Rep. Rashida Tlaib to seek Conyers' seat in Congress". Detroit Free Press.
^Bever, Lindsey (December 5, 2017). "John Conyers could be replaced by his son — who has his dad's name but not his political resume". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
^Oosting, Jonathan (December 7, 2017). "Conyers III denies allegations, unsure on Congress run". The Detroit News. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^Burke, Melissa Nann (February 5, 2018). "State lawmakers running for open seats in Congress". The Detroit News. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
^Hicks, Mark (January 26, 2018). "Detroit City Council head seeks Conyers' Congress seat". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
^"Westland Mayor Bill Wild to run for John Conyers' vacated U.S. House seat".
^Oosting, Jonathan (December 8, 2017). "Coleman Young II running for Congress". The Detroit News. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^Williams, Corey; Eggert, David (December 8, 2017). "Son of late Detroit Mayor Coleman Young to run for John Conyers' seat". The Press Democrat. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^Bartkowiak, Dave Jr. (December 5, 2017). "How Rep. John Conyers' House seat will be filled". Click On Detroit. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
^Burke, Melissa Nann (February 5, 2018). "Another state lawmaker running for Conyers' seat". The Detroit News. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
^"Kimberly Hill Knott for Congress". www.facebook.com. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^EPIC-MRA
^YouTube
^"2018 Michigan Official Primary Candidate Listing". Retrieved July 9, 2018.
