DETROIT (WWJ) - The Democrats have won the trifecta in Michigan again: Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State.
And in what was probably the most watched race, The Associated Press declared that progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won the Michigan Senate race, defeating Trump-endorsed Republican Mike Rogers to become first Muslim US senator.
Hours since polls across Michigan closed, returns were still coming in from clerk offices across the state. With an array of races expected to shape the political balance in Lansing and Washington, eyes across the nation remain on Michigan.
>> Get updated Michigan election results, HERE
The biggest races
- Michigan governor: In a race that keeps Michigan’s executive branch under Democratic leadership, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has declared victory in the election for governor, predicted to defeat Republican U.S. Representative John James with 80% of the votes counted.
- U.S. Senate: In an outcome capping one of the nation’s most closely watched midterm races, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has declared victory in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, expected to defeat Republican Mike Rogers with more than 80% of the vote counted.
Statewide proposals
- Proposal 1 FAILED — With early results coming in late in the night Tuesday, it appears that Michigan's statewide Proposal 1 has failed. Prop 1 would have triggered a constitutional convention to rewrite the state’s 1963 constitution. If approved, voters would have elected 148 delegates to draft revisions, which would have required another statewide vote to take effect.'
- Proposal 2 PASSED — The so called "Money Out of Politics proposal" — that would prevent certain companies from funding candidates — has been called for the yes side, with 81% voting to pass the proposal.
More race results in Michigan
- Michigan Attorney General: AG Dana Nessel will be replaced by another Democrat. Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit beat Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd.
- Michigan Secretary of State: Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, a Democrat, defeated Republican Anthony Forlini to be the next Secretary of State.
US House results
Here's the rundown:
Michigan's state legislature
The Republicans didn't do so good within the Michigan House.
Democrat Sarah Pounds, a paralegal, mother of four and Oakland University grad beat 23-year old University of Michigan grad Roman Gaskey to fill a seat serving the Lake Orion area. In the 55th District in Rochester Hills area, Democrat U.S. Army veteran Alex Hawkins beat incumbent state Rep Mark Tisdel, who has been in the state House for six years. Downriver, former Democrat and former state Rep. Jaime Churches of Wyandotte topped incumbent Republican Rep. Rylee Linting of Grosse Ile in the 27th District. That was a seat that Linting won two years ago.
Other local results of interest
- Flint Township will not get a new name. Voters rejected a proposal to rename the township to Oak Hills. Supporters of the idea wanted to distance themselves from the city of Flint and the water crisis and crime. Voters defeated the idea by about two thousand votes.
- A tax renewal to fund the Detroit Zoo passed in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
- Macomb County voters supported countywide proposals, saying yes to two mileages: for SMART bus service, and funding veterans
- Police and fire millages that were struck down by voters in the August primary found new success on Tuesday in several Metro Detroit communities. Orion Twp., Waterford, Highland, Independence, Brandon, and Sumpter Township all put their millages back on the ballot, and all of them passed this time around.
Get your local election results online:
- MACOMB COUNTY ELECTION PAGE
- OAKLAND COUNTY ELECTION PAGE
- WAYNE COUNTY ELECTION PAGE
- CITY OF DETROIT ELECTION PAGE
- STATE OF MICHIGAN ELECTION PAGE
MORE: Democrats win the US House and Senate as voters deliver a strong rebuke to Trump and Republicans
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