Updates About Elections

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

Republican candidate Perry Johnson will not run a write-in campaign for the gubernatorial primary on August 2 following a denied appeal from federal judge Mark Goldsmith.

This leaves former Detroit Police Chief James Craig as the only gubernatorial candidate that will run a write-in campaign. Both Johnson and Craig were disqualified from the primary ballot due to fraudulent signatures. Both parties attempted to fight the decision by the Bureau of Elections in court, but both lost attempts at those appeals.

Johnson has told sources that he plans on running for elected office again in the future.

On June 13, U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith denied disqualified GOP gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson’s efforts to halt the ballot printing process in hopes of gaining a spot on the ballot for the August primary election.

Johnson had claimed in his suit, Johnson v. Board of State Canvassers, that the Bureau of Elections did not follow their normal procedures when identifying fraudulent signatures, and if all fraudulent signatures were compared to the Qualified Voter File, Johnson could prove that there were enough legitimate signatures to keep him on the ballot. Judge Goldsmith sided with the Bureau of Elections, finding their report to be sufficient in identifying fraudulent signatures and petition circulators.

In other related news, disqualified GOP gubernatorial candidate James Craig announced his write-in campaign for the August 2 primary. Craig filed with the Bureau of Elections on Tuesday, June 14, kicking off his campaign.

Craig also recently filed suit against In Field Strategies and eighteen petition circulators in Kent Circuit Court. Craig, et al v. In Field Strategies claims that the fraudulent signatures resulting in Craig’s disqualification from the ballot were unbeknownst to Vanguard Field Strategies and himself, also noting that circulators signed affidavits falsely swearing to collect legitimate signatures. Craig is seeking recovery of damages for breach of contract.