Updates About Elections

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has asked the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordination Council for a special prosecuting attorney to review charges against nine individuals in an investigation into vote tabulators from the 2020 general election.

This investigation stems from a request by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson who, back in February, asked Nessel to investigate third-party access to vote tabulators. Individuals involved in this investigation were allegedly trying to provide evidence that then-President Donald Trump had the election stolen from him.

Notable individuals included in this investigation are Republican attorney general candidate Matthew DePerno, Representative Daire Rendon (R-Lake City), and Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf. Charges in this case include conspiracy, using a computer system to commit a crime, willfully damaging a voting machine, malicious destruction of property, fraudulent access to a computer, and false pretenses.

In the 34th House District, which encompasses Lenawee County, incumbent Senator Dale Zorn (R-Ida) is facing a recount against Madison Township Fire Chief Ryan Rank after results revealed that Rank lost the Republican primary by seven votes.

Zorn, who decided to run for the House seat as he would be term-limited in the Senate, won the primary with 4,774 votes. Rank received 4,767 votes.

The 77th House District also saw a close primary race, but between Democratic candidates. Emily Dievendorf won the primary with 4,547 votes, while Jon Horford received 4,522 votes – a 25-vote difference. Horford is not seeking a recount.

Michigan’s primary election on August 2 was the first election in the state since the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission put forward new district maps. Below we provide some of the main takeaways.

For the gubernatorial election, conservative commentator Tudor Dixon overwhelmingly won the Republican race. She will face Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer in November, making this the first time in Michigan history that two women will be running against one another for Governor.

The U.S. House election had numerous highlights. Republican Congressman Peter Meijer, who voted for the impeachment of former President Donald Trump, lost to Trump-endorsed candidate John Gibbs for Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District. Gibbs will face Democrat Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids in November. In the 11th District, Congresswoman Haley Stevens beat out Democrat incumbent Andy Levin after redistricting pit the two against each other for the seat. Additionally, State Representative Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) won the 13th District primary against State Senator Adam Hollier (D-Detroit).

In the Michigan Senate primary race, incumbent Senators Kim LaSata (R-Niles) and Marshall Bullock (D-Detroit) will not return in 2023. LaSata lost to Trump-endorsed candidate Jonathan Lindsey, and Bullock lost to incumbent Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak). Three Republican House Members will likely move to the Senate after winning their primaries: Representative Annette Glenn (R-Midland), Representative Joseph Bellino (R-Monroe), and Representative John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs).

In the Michigan House, Representative Rodney Wakeman (R-Frankenmuth) lost to former Tuscola County Commissioner Matthew Bierlein. Representative Andrew Beeler (R-Fort Gratiot) defeated Representative Gary Eisen (R-St.Clair) in the only House Republican race featuring two incumbents. Representative Richard Steenland (D-Roseville) lost his race against Kim Edwards in the Democratic primary. Finally, Senator Douglas Wozniak (R-Shelby Township) beat out Representative Terence Mekoski (R-Shelby Township) in the Republican primary after Wozniak’s district was drawn into that of Senator Ruth Johnson (R-Groveland Township).

All unofficial results of the 2022 Primary Election can be found here