Yesterday, Michigan residents voted in primary elections for a number of key races. This is a massive election year in the state, with the seats of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state all open. Additionally, all 110 Michigan House seats and all 38 Michigan Senate seats are up for election. Furthermore, all Congressional seats are up for election, and the state has one of the most highly watched races for United States Senate, which will help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate next term.
Heading into primary day, more than 1.2 million Michigan voters had already cast their ballots via early voting or absentee ballot. Voter participation in both those methods was outpacing the 2024 election and the last midterm election in 2022. At the top of the ticket, unsurprisingly, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican Congressman John James won their primary races in the gubernatorial election. In one of the most closely watched races in the country, the Democratic primary race in the open United States Senate seat remains too close to call, with Abdul El-Sayed having a slim lead over Congresswoman Haley Stevens. While some media outlets have called the race for Mr. El-Sayed, other outlets have stated that the race remains too close to call.
While the Democratic primary race in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District remains too close to call, incumbent Congressman Shri Thanedar is behind State Representative Donavan McKinney and may lose reelection to the U.S. House. Senator Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) won the Democratic primary race for Michigan’s 4th Congressional District and will move on to the primary race in one of the nation’s most watched races this fall. Another member of the Michigan Senate, Senator Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), came out on top in the Democratic primary race for the 11th Congressional District.
Several state representatives were running in primary elections for the Michigan Senate and had successful primary nights, including:
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- Representative Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) in the 7th
- Representative Natalie Price (D-Berkley) in the 10th
- Representative Donni Steele (R-Orion) in the 23rd
- Representative Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township) in the 24th
- Representative Matt Bierlein (R-Vassar) in the 26th
- Representative Carol Glanville (D-Walker) in the 30th
- Representative Gina Johnson (R-Portland) in the 33rd
- Representative David Prestin (R-Cedar River) in the 38th
Additionally, some former members won their primary races to return to the legislature, including:
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- Former Representative Felicia Brabec (D-Ann Arbor) won the Democratic primary race in the 15th Michigan Senate District.
- Former Representative Andrew Beller (R-Port Huron) won the Republican primary race in the 25th Michigan Senate District.
Lastly, Senator Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe) defeated two challengers in her primary race for reelection to the 11thMichigan Senate District. Conversely, incumbent Representative Helena Scott (D-Detroit) was defeated in her Democratic primary race and will not return.
