2012 is proving to be one of the most contentious and exciting primary races in Michigan’s recent history.
Stay tuned to The Huffington Post for the latest election news and results on Tuesday, August 7, 2012; plus voter interviews, sound bytes from politicians, links, analysis and more.
Learn about the men and women running for elected office in Michigan’s biggest races of 2012.
For sliding maps showing how voting districts have changed since new voting blocs were drawn up in 2011, check out our infographics of Michigan voting districts.
Read about what’s being called the most unpredictable election across the state of Michigan, in Metro Detroit’s 6th District.
Four young men under the age of 30 are battling seven other Democrats in Detroit’s open 4th District seat, which covers Midtown and Hamtramck. Here’s why “all the young dudes” have joined the race.
Find out why supporters rallied to pass a millage benefiting the Detroit Institute of Arts, and see pictures of museum fans.
LIVE BLOG
12:59 AM – Today
Rose Marie Robinson Leads In The 4th State House District
Rose Marie Robinson currently holds the lead in the Democratic primary race for Michigan’s 4th state house district. WXYZ reports she is leading the pack with 25 percent of the vote, flanked by Adam Hollier at 21 percent, Carol Banks at 15 percent and Mohammed Hassan at 14 percent. So far 55 percent of precincts have reported. A total of 11 candidates are competing in the primary, which features no incumbents.
12:56 AM – Today
After Close Race In Macomb, DIA Millage Passes; Museum Will Stay Open
After a tight race Tuesday, one of Detroit’s cultural gems received the regional support officials say it needs to stay open.
In Wayne, Macomb and Oakland County, residents participating in primary elections voted in favor of a 10-year, 0.2-mill property tax that will raise $23 million for the DIA and cost the the owner of a $200,000 home $20 a year. While voters showed strong support for the measure in Wayne and Oakland, the race was neck-and-neck in Macomb, where the millage passed with 50.5 percent support and 1,340 votes.
Museum officials said that without funding from the public, they would have had to begin cutting hours and staff and eventually close.
12:30 AM – Today
Rashida FTW?
State Rep. Rashida Tlaib appears to be leading her opponents in the battle to grab the Michigan sixth district house Democratic nomination.
WXYZ reports her winning 54 percent of the vote with 52 percent of polling stations reporting. Her fellow state Rep. Maureen Stapleton is in second place with 42 percent, while Patrick O’Connell of Ecorse trails in the last with 4 percent.
12:15 AM – Today
WDIV: DIA Millage Passes
With Macomb narrowly passing the DIA millage and large leads in Wayne and Oakland, WDIV called the proposal as passed.
11:56 PM – 08/ 7/2012
Gary Peters Beats Hansen Clarke In 14th Congressional District
Mr. Peters Goes (Back) To Washington
With 82 percent of precincts reporting, Peters led the field with 48 percent of votes. His strongest opponent and fellow colleague in the U.S. House, Hansen Clarke, was polling at 35 percent. Opponents Brenda Lawrence, mayor of the Metro Detroit suburb of Southfield, garnered 13 percent of the vote.
One of the most-talked about races across the state of Michigan, this election in a newly-designed district pitted two popular Democrat incumbents against each other for a position in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The new 14th Congressional District meanders from Pontiac to the Grosse Pointes, now including voters in Oakland County and Detroit. It’s one of Michigan’s two majority-minority voting districts, which are designed by the 1965 Voters Rights Act to contain a majority of the state’s minority voters. As this district is heavily Democrat, the winner is likely to be elected in the November general election.
11:53 PM – 08/ 7/2012
Results Edge Closer For A DIA Victory
While the DIA millage hasn’t been officially called, it seems likely to pass in all three counties. According to WXYZ, 100 percent of Macomb precincts are reporting, with 51 percent voting for the millage. Freep reports 99 percent of precincts are reporting in Macomb with the same lead. Though polls vary for Oakland and Wayne, in both counties those in favor of the tax have a significant lead.
11:53 PM – 08/ 7/2012
Conyers Earns A 25th Term
Don’t call it a comeback. Despite talk of a possible defeat, Conyers crushed the competition in Tuesday night’s Democratic primary.
The results are in and the venerable John Conyers, Jr. is emerging triumphant in his battle for the newly redistricted 13th Congressional District U.S. House seat.
As of 11 p.m. Tuesday night, Conyers has polled 60 percent with 96 percent of precincts reporting. That’s a devastating lead over his opponents: state Senators Glenn Anderson of Westland (with 11 percent) and Bert Johnson of Highland Park (with 12 percent), state Rep. Shanelle Jackson (14 percent) and Wayne Westland school board member John Goci (3 percent).
10:17 PM – 08/ 7/2012
The Detroit News: Hoekstra Wins
A breaking alert from the Detroit News names Hoekstra as the winner in the GOP primary for Senate. He will face incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow in November’s election.
Hoekstra faced a challenge from Clark Durant.
According to Fox 2 Detroit, Hoekstra has 54 percent of the vote as of 10 p.m. with 36 percent reporting. His challenger Clark Durant trails Hoekstra with 33 percent.
9:41 PM – 08/ 7/2012
Early Numbers From Conyers Race In 13th District: Closer Than You’d Think
With 10 percent of precincts reporting in Metro Detroit’s 13th Congressional District, veteran U.S. Representative John Conyers has not yet established a commanding lead. WXYZ polls show Conyers with 39 percent of the vote as of 9:34 p.m.
The 83-year-old Conyers is attempting to hold off four challengers to his seat. Westland’s Glenn Anderson currently follows with 28 percent of the vote; John Goci at 15 percent; Bert Johnson with 14 percent; and Shanelle Jackson with nine percent.
Political analysts have dubbed this election “the fight of John Conyers’ career.” Given the smooth sailing that his fellow incumbent is experiencing, Rep. Gary Peters, this certainly might turn into the fight of the night.
Rep. Peters currently leads Rep. Hansen Clarke 67 percent to 17 percent, with only 3 percent of precincts from the 14th Congressional District reporting.
9:27 PM – 08/ 7/2012
Early Numbers Trickle In For Detroit Institute of Arts Millage
Only a few precincts have reported their ballots on a 10-year millage on residents of Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties to support the Detroit Institute of Arts.
52 percent of Macomb County residents are voting in favor of the DIA millage, with 34 percent of precincts reporting. That’s a big change from even 15 minutes ago, when a very small percentage of precincts had come out against the millage vote.
In Oakland County, 61 percent of voters have voted their support for the millage. Only three percent of Oakland County primary votes have been reported.
Nothing yet from Wayne County.
9:12 PM – 08/ 7/2012
Early Poll Results Show Hoekstra With Commanding Lead
Only 7 percent of precincts are reporting as of 9:08 p.m., but those who have counted their ballots are rewarding Pete Hoekstra with a commanding lead in the Republican primary for Michigan’s available U.S. Senate seat in November.
WXYZ reports that former Rep. Hoekstra leads with 52 percent, followed by Cornerstone Schools’ CEO Clark Durant with 32 percent. Republican candidates Randy Hekman and Gary Glenn are trailing at 7 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
The winner will face incumbent Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow on Nov. 7.
More at WXYZ.com.
About Post Author
