2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan

Overview

District 1

Popular incumbent Bart Stupak was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Conservative state Representative Tom Casperson, from Escanaba, won the Republican primary election over Linda Goldthorpe and Don Hooper. The Libertarian Party nominated Daniel Grow; the U.S. Taxpayers Party nominated Joshua Warren and the Green Party nominated Socialist Jean Treacy. The 1st District is generally socially conservative and strongly pro-union. It covers the entire Upper Peninsula and the northern part of the Lower Peninsula, and is the largest congressional district east of the Mississippi River.

Predictions

District 2

Pete Hoekstra, a conservative incumbent and ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, was challenged by Democrat Fred Johnson, Libertarian Dan Johnson (campaign website) and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Ronald Graeser. The district is centered on Michigan's West Shoreline and includes the cities of Muskegon and Holland.

Predictions

District 3

Incumbent Vern Ehlers was re-elected. The district trends Republican and is centered on Grand Rapids. Ehlers was challenged by Democrat Henry Sanchez and Libertarian Erwin Haas.

Predictions

District 4

Republican David Lee Camp was reelected. He was by challenged by Democrat Andrew Concannon, Libertarian Allitta Hren, and U.S. Taxpayer Party candidate John Emerick. This large district stretches from Owosso in the east central part of the state to Traverse City to the extreme northwest part of the Lower Peninsula.

Predictions

District 5

Democrat Dale Kildee ran for re-election in 2008. The Flint area congressman has served for over 30 years. His district (covering Flint, Saginaw, Bay City and part of the western part of The Thumb) is strongly Democratic. Petitions were circulated for Democratic state senator John Gleason to challenge Kildee, but Gleason decided not to run. Kildee is challenged on by Republican candidate by Matt Sawicki of Bay City, Libertarian candidate Leonard Schwartz and Green Party candidate Ken Mathenia of Grand Blanc.

Predictions

District 6

Republican Fred Upton had three opponents, Democrat Don Cooney, Green Edward Pinkney and Libertarian Greg Merle. The sixth district covers the southwest corner of lower Michigan.

Predictions

District 7

The seventh district covers the middle part of southern lower Michigan. Republican incumbent Tim Walberg faced State Senate Minority Leader and Democratic nominee Mark Schauer, Libertarian Ken Proctor, Green Lynn Meadows and independent Sharon Reiner.

Walberg was elected in 2006 with a surprisingly thin 49.9% of the vote, despite outspending Democratic opponent Sharon Reiner 20:1. This made Walberg a top target for defeat in 2008 by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Schauer defeated Renier in the August 5 primary, after which Renier ran in the general election as a write-in candidate with no party affiliation.

Predictions

District 8

Incumbent Republican Mike Rogers was re-elected in 2006 with 55.3% of the vote compared to 42.9% for his Democratic opponent. East Lansing Democratic activist Bob Alexander (who lost in 2004 to Rogers) announced that he is running again. Aaron Stuttman is running for the Green Party, Will Tyler White for the Libertarian Party, and George Zimmer for the U.S. Taxpayers Party. This district stretches from the western Detroit suburbs to the Lansing area.

Predictions

District 9

This district covers parts of Oakland County. Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg was challenged by former Michigan Lottery commissioner and military veteran, Democratic nominee Gary Peters. Libertarian Adam Goodman, Green Party Douglas Campbell and Independent Dr. Jack Kevorkian were also running. Knollenberg was targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee after his surprisingly narrow margin of victory in the 2006 election, receiving 51.5% of the vote compared with 46.2% for his Democratic opponent.

Predictions

District 10

Republican incumbent Candice Miller was challenged by Democratic nominee Robert Denison, Libertarian Neil Kiernan Stephenson, and Green Candace Caveny. This district stretches from the northeast Detroit suburbs up to most of The Thumb.

Predictions

District 11

Incumbent Republican Thad McCotter was challenged by Democrat Joseph Larkin who defeated Edward Kriewall in the August 5 party primary. Also running were Libertarian John Tatar and Green Erik Shelley. This district covers part of Detroit's western suburbs.

Predictions

District 12

12-term Democrat Sander M. Levin was challenged by Republican Bert Copple, Libertarian John Vico, Green William J. O'Palicky and U.S. Taxpayers' Lester Townsend. This district covers part of Detroit's northern suburbs.

Predictions

District 13

Incumbent Democrat Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick narrowly survived the August 5 party primary. She faced complications due to the legal troubles facing her son, Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Cheeks Kilpatrick won with 39.1% of the vote over former state representative Mary Waters with 36% of the vote and state senator Martha Scott with 24.9% of the vote. A televised debate between the three candidates developed into a shouting match. Cheeks Kilpatrick faced Republican candidate Edward Gubics, Libertarian candidate Greg Creswell and Green Party candidate George Cosetti in the general election. This district covers the east side of Detroit and its eastern and Downriver suburbs.

Predictions

District 14

Powerful incumbent Democrat John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, had one Democratic opponent in the primary, Detroit pastor Rev. Horace Sheffield, but Sheffield's campaign was short lived because he withdrew his name and announced his support for Conyers. Conyers faced Libertarian Rick Secula and Green Party Clyde Shabazz in the general election. This district covers the west side of Detroit and some inner western and downriver suburbs.

Predictions

District 15

55-year Congressional veteran Democrat John Dingell is the Dean of the House and chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He was challenged by Republican Jack Lynch, Libertarian Gregory Scott Stempfle, Green Aimee Smith and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate James Wagner. The 15th district includes Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Monroe, the downriver suburbs of Detroit and the semi-rural southeastern corner of Michigan.

Predictions

References

References

1. "CQ Politics {{!}} Primaries Set in Michigan, Dems Hope for Takeovers".
2. [http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateMI 2008 Election Statistics]
3. "Michigan - chicagotribune.com". Chicago Tribune.
4. "Jean Treacy for Congress (1st District - Michigan) - Home".
5. (6 November 2006). "2008 Competitive House Race Chart". [[The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.
6. (2 November 2006). "2008 House Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report.
7. (6 November 2008). "2008 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball.
8. (7 November 2008). "Battle for the House of Representatives". Real Clear Politics.
9. "Race Ratings Chart: House". Congressional Quarterly Inc.
10. [http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/candlist/08PRI/08PRI_CL.HTM 2008 Official Michigan Primary Candidate Listing]
11. Campbell, Dick. (March 22, 2008). "Saginaw Democrat enters House race". [[Argus-Press]].
12. [http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/05/sen_john_gleason_bows_out_cong.html Sen. John Gleason bows out; Congressman Dale Kildee so far unchallenged - The Flint Journal Online News - Michigan Newspaper - MLive.com]{{Dead link. (August 2024)
13. "Green Party member Ken Mathenia, Republican Matthew Sawicki and Libertarian Leonard Schwartz challenge incumbent Rep. Dale e. Kildee - the Flint Journal Online News - Michigan Newspaper - MLive.com".
14. (February 2022)
15. (February 2022)
16. (August 2019)
17. "MIGREENS.ORG - Candidates2007".
18. [http://www.mi.lp.org/Shared%20Documents/candidates.aspx candidates] {{webarchive. link. (August 5, 2010)
19. "Elaection Page".
20. "Topic Galleries - chicagotribune.com". Chicago Tribune.
21. Freep.com. Detroit Free Press]
22. Freep.com. Detroit Free Press]
23. Freep.com. Detroit Free Press]
24. Freep.com. Detroit Free Press]
25. Freep.com. Detroit Free Press]
26. Detroit Free Press. freep.com]
27. Detroit Free Press. freep.com]
28. Detroit Free Press. freep.com]
29. Locally, he is also referred to as the Dean of Downriver