2018 Michigan Primary Election Results: Schuette, Whitmer Win

MICHIGAN — Come November, eyes across the nation will be watching the Great Lakes State and what likely will be a pair of high-profile political battles for governor and the U.S. Senate.

In the governor's race, Gretchen Whitmer, an attorney and former minority leader in the Michigan Senate and state representative, will face off against Bill Schuette, Michigan's acting attorney general. Meanwhile, for Senate, Iraq War veteran and Republican John James will challenge Democrat incumbent Debbie Stabenow.

What likely will raise the profile of this race is that the two Republicans, Schuette and James, have garnered the glowing praise of President Donald Trump. How much that will impact the race remains a question mark.

Here's a look at election results from key races in the 2018 Michigan Primary:

U.S. Senate

Detroit-area businessman and Iraq War veteran John James has won the Republican nomination to run against Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow this fall.

James, of Farmington Hills, was declared the winner over Grosse Pointe businessman Sandy Pensler at 10:13 p.m. Tuesday by the Associated Press.

James saw a major boost in the election several weeks ago when President Donald Trump Endorsed him. Trump’s campaign released a statement saying, "John James is the embodiment of the American Dream … Love of country and hard work have fueled John's success in life, the military, and business, and have positioned him to be the best candidate to defeat Debbie Stabenow for the Senate this fall."

James is Michigan's first black Republican nominee for a major statewide office in more than three decades, WDIV reported.

Michigan's Governor's Race

Gretchen Whitmer has been declared winner for the Democratic nomination on the governor’s bid, according to the Associated Press.

Whitmer, 46, lives in East Lansing. She is an attorney and former minority leader in the Michigan Senate and state representative. She served as Ingham County Prosecutor for the last six months of 2016 after the resignation of Stuart Dunnings III.

She ran promising to protect children and workers’ rights, and hold the government accountable.

Whitmer has a bachelor's degree in education and a law degree from Michigan State University. She is married with five children.

In November, Whitmer will face Bill Schuette, the Michigan Republican Primary nomination for governor. He is the state's acting attorney general.

Schuette was declared the winner with 51 percent of the vote and approximately 17 percent of precincts in Michigan reporting.

“With an established record as a conservative reformer, Bill Schuette is uniquely qualified to lead Michigan forward,” said Republican Governors Associations Chairman Governor Bill Haslam. “As governor, Bill will work to expand opportunity, fight to keep taxes low, and continue Michigan’s economic comeback. The Republican Governors Association is proud to support Bill Schuette’s campaign to be the next governor of Michigan.”

Schuette defeated Brian Calley and Patrick Colbeck for the Republican nomination.

First Muslim woman in Congress

Rashida Tlaib will become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress after Democrats gave her the nod over a slate of five other candidates to take the U.S. House seat vacated last fall by John Conyers. The Associated Press called the race for Tlaib just before 2 a.m. ET.

Unofficial election night results show Tlaib, a former state representative, pulling ahead of a slate of rival Democrats that included Conyers' great nephew, state Sen. Ian Conyers, Detroit City Councilwoman Brenda Jones, and Coleman Young II, the son of the former Detroit mayor, and Westland Mayor Bill Wild. With 93 percent of the precincts reporting, Tlaib had 27,948 votes, or 34 percent.

Jones, who had the endorsement of Mayor Michael Duggan, was Tlaib's closest rival and had 23,705 votes, or 26 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, Wild had 12,076 votes and Young had 9,887 votes. Rounding out the voting was Ian Conyers with 5,154 votes and Shanelle Jackson, a former state lawmaker and deputy director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, who received 4,379 votes.

Voter turnout in Michigan Primary Elections

In the last Michigan Primary in 2014, only 17 percent of people voted — that’s only 1.3 million out of 7.4 million shaping local leadership. The highest it’s been in recent years is 23 percent, but that was in 2002.

For some people, Election Day means hitting the polls no matter what — and it’s for different reasons.

Stacey Doyle, of Royal Oak, does it to set an example for her kids: her 2-year-old son and newborn daughter.

“I’ve taken my son to every election (presidential, primaries, local) since he was born. Today, I also took my daughter for the first time,” she told Patch. “I will always bring them, and be sure they understand the privilege and importance of voting.”

By 9:15 a.m. when Doyle cast her vote, she was the 62nd voter at Churchill Community Center in Precinct 18.

Leigh McFarland, of Rochester Hills, echoes the same sentiments.

"I want my children and their children to inherit a country in the world that proves them with bright futures," she shared.

McFarland was pleased to hear her local polling place was busier Tuesday morning than most Primary Election days.

Monica Woodby Wall, of Dearborn, votes to pay tribute to those who protect our democracy: “I vote to honor the men and women who died so I could have the right to vote,” she said.

Nora Clancy Mullin, of Royal Oak, says it’s about civic duty. But, there’s another reason, she said.

“If you don’t vote, then you can’t complain about the results,” Mullin said. Bassam Talab, of Dearborn, agrees: “It was said when you don’t vote you give your idiot neighbor your right to decide,” he said.

Why do you vote in the primary election? Drop us a line and share your voting experience today at jessica.strachan@patch.com.

Heated races this election

This election day Aug. 7, Michiganders will narrow down the candidates vying for a the governor’s position in the November election. Three Democrats, three Republicans and two Libertarians are on the ballot.

According to a recent poll just before election day, Republican candidate Bill Schuette and Democratic candidate Gretchen Whitmer were in the lead. Read more on that race here or catch up on the gubernatorial debates held a few weeks ago.

Michiganders will also choose which Republican candidate to run against U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the Democratic incumbent, in November. President Donald Trump recently announced his endorsement of John James in the race.

Another talked-about race in Michigan is in the 13th Congressional District, where half a dozen Democrats have lined up to take John Conyer’s place after a sexual assault scandal.

About the primary election

What's with the primary election, anyway? According to Ballotpedia, a primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election, which for Michigan is in November. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Michigan utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.

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