Breaking down the Michigan primary election results
Michigan political reporters and commentators explain why Stevens and Thanedar won, and how the Republican Party is leaning further into Donald Trump.
A voter walks by a sign pointing toward a polling place at Rochester High School on Tuesday, Aug. 2, in Rochester Hills. Photo Credit: Nate Pappas/WDET
Yesterday during the Michigan primary, voters went to the polls in new districts created by an independent citizens redistricting commission.
We have learned a few things from the Michigan primary – some surprising, some expected. We know that Michigan’s next governor will be a woman, as the Republican Party nominated Tudor Dixon. We know that U.S. Rep Peter Meijer, one of the few Republicans in Congress who voted to impeach Donald Trump over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, will not be returning to office.
As for Democrats, Rep. Haley Stevens defeated Rep. Andy Levin in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District, and State Rep. Shri Thanedar won the 13th Congressional District race.
“I think we saw women tend to do a little better in Democratic primaries. We also saw Brenda Lawrence come through endorsing Haley Stevens, which I think was a huge get for her, and it was just really difficult for Levin to come back from that.” — Alethia Kasben, managing editor at Gongwer News Service Michigan
Listen: How the primaries shook out last night.
Guests
Alethia Kasben is the managing editor at Gongwer News Service Michigan. Kasben says the 11th Congressional District race had a few things going in Rep. Haley Stevens’ favor.
“I think we saw women tend to do a little better in Democratic primaries,” says Kasben. “We also saw Brenda Lawrence come through endorsing Haley Stevens, which I think was a huge get for her, and it was just really difficult for Levin to come back from that.”
Greg Bowens is a political and communications consultant and columnist with Deadline Detroit. He says candidates who were trailing in the 13th Congressional District should have dropped out in order to better consolidate the vote of Black Detroiters.
“If the idea is to make sure that we have African American representation, let’s get the best person with the best shot and we know the vote is going to be split, and you’re sitting on the train tracks, you’re watching this disaster barrel down on you and you don’t do anything about it,” says Bowens.
Rick Pluta is a senior state Capitol correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. Pluta says Michigan’s Republican Party are rallying around candidates that Donald Trump supports.
“This shows that, at least on the Republican side, Trump remains a powerful figure,” says Pluta.
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