# 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan

Elections in Michigan :
Federal government
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Ballot proposals
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Detroit
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vte :
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the 14 U.S. representatives from the state of Michigan, a decrease of one following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on August 7, 2012. The filing deadline for candidates to file to run in the primary was May 15. Except for two seats, all the incumbents sought re-election. The open seats were the 5th and 11th congressional districts. Due to the loss of one seat from the 2010 census, two congressmen ran against each other.
Despite Democrats winning more than 240,000 more votes for U.S. House districts statewide, Republicans won nine of 14 seats and Michiganders tied a state record by electing the lowest rate (35 percent) of U.S. Representatives by a major party whilst simultaneously casting its electoral votes for that party's presidential nominee. This made Michigan one of five states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2012, the other states being Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

## Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats Before | Seats After | +/– |
| | Democratic | 2,327,985 | 50.89% | 6 | 5 | -1 |
| | Republican | 2,086,804 | 45.62% | 9 | 9 | - |
| | Libertarian | 102,141 | 2.23% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Green | 25,379 | 0.55% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | U.S. Taxpayers | 16,264 | 0.36% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Independents | 16,059 | 0.35% | 0 | 0 | - |
| Total | Total | 4,574,632 | 100.00% | 15 | 14 | -1 |
Popular vote
Democratic
50.89%
Republican
45.62%
Libertarian Party
2.23%
Other
1.26% :
House seats
Republican
64.28%
Democratic
35.71% :

## Redistricting

The Michigan Legislature, which is controlled by the Republican Party, began the redistricting process on April 11, 2011. A plan released by the Republican Party in June 2011, which would place the homes of Democrats Gary Peters and Sander Levin into the same district, was passed by the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate later that month. The plan was signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder on August 9. The two incumbents forced to face each other were Gary Peters and Hansen Clarke.

## District 1

In redistricting, the 1st district was made slightly more favorable to Republicans: Republican nominee John McCain received less than one percentage point more of the vote in the 2008 presidential election in the newly drawn district compared to the former district. Roll Call had rated the race as "Leans Republican," but changed the rating first to "Tossup" and then "Leans Democratic." Republican Dan Benishek, who was first elected to represent the 1st district in 2010, ran for re-election.
The third-party candidates were Emily Salvette as the Libertarian Party nominee and Ellis Boal as the Green Party nominee.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Dan Benishek, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dan Benishek (incumbent) | 64,411 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 64,411 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Gary McDowell, former state representative and nominee for this seat in 2010

##### Withdrawn

* Derek Bailey, tribal chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (running for the 101st State House district)

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gary McDowell | 36,339 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,339 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* National Republican Congressional Committee "Patriot" Program
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Newspapers
* The Detroit News
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* National Association of Letter Carriers
Organizations
* Blue Dog Coalition
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program
* League of Conservation Voters
Newspapers
* Detroit Free Press

#### Debate

2012 Michigan's 1st congressional district debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Dan Benishek | Gary McDowell |
| 1 | Oct. 16, 2012 | League of Women Voters of the Grand Traverse Area | Jennifer Berry | C-SPAN | P | P |

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Dan Benishek (R) | Gary McDowell (D) | Undecided |
| Benenson Strategy Group | September 29 – October 1, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 40% | 43% | 17% |
| Garin-Hart-Yang | September 18–20, 2012 | 402 | ± 4.9% | 40% | 49% | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 18–19, 2012 | 866 | ± 3.3% | 42% | 44% | 14% |
| Garin-Hart-Yang | June 19–20, 2012 | 402 | ± 4.9% | 40% | 38% | 22% |
| Public Policy Polling | January 18–23, 2012 | 867 | ± 3.3% | 41% | 46% | 13% |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Tossup | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean D (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Michigan's 1st congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dan Benishek (incumbent) | 167,060 | 48.1 |
| | Democratic | Gary McDowell | 165,179 | 47.6 |
| | Libertarian | Emily Salvette | 10,630 | 3.1 |
| | Green | Ellis Boal | 4,168 | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 347,037 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

Republican Bill Huizenga, who was first elected to represent the 2nd district in 2010, sought re-election. He was unopposed for the Republican primary. Other third-party candidates on the ballot were Mary Buzuma for the Libertarian Party, Ronald Graeser for the U.S. Taxpayers Party and William Opalicky for the Green Party. Roll Call rates the race as "Safe Republican", and Huizenga easily won re-election with 61.2% of the vote.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Bill Huizenga, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Declined

* David Agema, state representative

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Huizenga (incumbent) | 58,170 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 58,170 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary

Muskegon city commissioner Willie German, Jr. ran in the August primary as a write-in candidate after David Takitaki, a political science professor at Adrian College and Muskegon Community College, was seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Huizenga, but withdrew from the race for health reasons. Commissioner German was therefore on the ballot on the Democratic side.

#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Willie German Jr, Muskegon city commissioner

##### Withdrawn

* David Takitaki, political science professor at Adrian College and Muskegon Community College

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Willie German Jr. (write-in) | 1,813 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,813 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Newspapers
* Muskegon Chronicle

#### Results

Michigan's 2nd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Huizenga (incumbent) | 194,653 | 61.2 |
| | Democratic | Willie German, Jr. | 108,973 | 34.2 |
| | Libertarian | Mary Buzuma | 8,750 | 2.6 |
| | Constitution | Ronald Graeser | 3,176 | 1.1 |
| | Green | William Opalicky | 2,715 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 318,267 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 3

Republican Justin Amash, who was first elected to represent the 3rd district in 2010, is seeking re-election and ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Libertarian Party candidate Bill Gelineau is also on the ballot.
In redistricting, the 3rd district was made more favorable to Democrats. Roll Call rate the race as "Likely Republican."

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Justin Amash, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Declined

* Terri Lynn Land, former Michigan Secretary of State

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Justin Amash (incumbent) | 51,113 | 100.0 |
| | Republican | Steven Lee Butler (write-in) | 16 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,129 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Steve Pestka, former state representative, former judge, former Kent County Commissioner and small business owner

##### Eliminated in primary

* Trevor Thomas, former employee in the executive office of Jennifer Granholm

##### Declined

* Pat Miles, lawyer and nominee for this seat in 2010
* Mark Schauer, former U.S. Representative

#### Endorsements

U.S. Senators
* Carl Levin, U.S. Senator (1979–present)
State legislators
* Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Senate Minority Leader
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* Michigan Education Association
* Service Employees International Union
* United Auto Workers
Local officials
* John H. Logie, Mayor of Grand Rapids (1992–2003)
Individuals
* Jocelyn Benson law professor and nominee for Secretary of State in 2010
U.S. Representative
* Barney Frank, U.S. Representative from Massachusetts's 4th congressional district (1981–present)
* Raul Grijalva, U.S. Representative from Arizona's 7th congressional district (2003–present)
Statewide officials
* Jennifer Granholm, Governor of Michigan (2003–2011)
* John Cherry, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (2003–2011)
* Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland (1995–2003)
Organizations
* Equality Michigan
* National Organization for Women
* Planned Parenthood Action Fund
* Stonewall Democrats
Individuals
* Cate Edwards, attorney and daughter of former US Senator John Edwards

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Pestka | 13,414 | 59.0 |
| | Democratic | Trevor Thomas | 9,321 | 41.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,735 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Citizens Against Government Waste
* National Federation of Independent Business
* Republican Liberty Caucus
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Newspapers
* Grand Rapids Press
* The Detroit News
U.S. Senators
* Carl Levin, U.S. Senator (1979–present)
* Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Senator (2001–present)
U.S. Representative
* Mark Schauer, U.S. Representative from Michigan's 7th congressional district (2009–2011)
* Joe Schwarz, U.S. Representative from Michigan's 7th congressional district (2005–2007)
Statewide officials
* Jennifer Granholm, Governor of Michigan (2003–2011)
State legislators
* Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Senate Minority Leader
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* International Association of Fire Fighters
* Laborers International Union of North America
* Michigan Education Association
* National Association of Letter Carriers
* Service Employees International Union
* United Auto Workers
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program
* Equality Michigan
Newspapers
* Detroit Free Press
Local officials
* John H. Logie, Mayor of Grand Rapids (1992–2003)
Individuals
* Jocelyn Benson law professor and nominee for Secretary of State in 2010

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Justin Amash (R) | Steve Pestka (D) | Undecided |
| Glengariff Group | October 17–18, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 34% | 35% | 29% |
| Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research | October 8–9, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 48% | 44% | 8% |
| Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research | August 18–21, 2012 | 501 | ± 4.4% | 50% | 42% | 8% |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Michigan's 3rd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Justin Amash (incumbent) | 171,675 | 52.6 |
| | Democratic | Steve Pestka | 144,108 | 44.2 |
| | Libertarian | Bill Gelineau | 10,498 | 3.2 |
| | Independent | Steven Butler (write-in) | 2 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 326,283 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 4

Republican David Lee Camp, who has represented the 4th district since 1993 and previously represented the 10th district from 1991 until 1993, will seek re-election. Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Republican".

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* David Lee Camp, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dave Camp (incumbent) | 67,028 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,028 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Debra Friedell Wirth, attorney

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Debra Friedell Wirth | 20,519 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,519 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Newspapers
* Midland Daily News
* Saginaw News
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* United Auto Workers
Organizations
* Equality Michigan

#### Results

Michigan's 4th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dave Camp (incumbent) | 197,386 | 63.1 |
| | Democratic | Debra Freidell Wirth | 104,996 | 33.6 |
| | Libertarian | John Gelineau | 4,285 | 1.4 |
| | Constitution | George Zimmer | 3,506 | 1.1 |
| | Green | Pat Timmons | 2,776 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 312,949 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 5

Democrat Dale Kildee, who has represented the 5th district since 2003 and previously represented the 9th district from 1993 until 2003 and the 7th district from 1977 until 1993, chose to retire rather than run for re-election in 2012.
Flint school board member David Davenport ran as an independent. Also running was Gregory Creswell of the Libertarian Party.
Roll Call rated the race as "Safe Democratic".

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Dan Kildee, former Genesee County treasurer and nephew of Dale Kildee

##### Declined

* Jim Barcia, former U.S. Representative
* Deborah Cherry Genesee County treasurer
* John Cherry, former Lieutenant Governor
* David Crim, union organizer
* John Gleason, state senator
* Dale Kildee, incumbent U.S. Representative
* Woodrow Stanley, state representative

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dan Kildee | 51,840 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,840 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jim Slezak, former Democratic state representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Tom Wassa, Tuscola County public safety officer Slezak defeated Wassa in the GOP primary.

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Slezak | 16,951 | 63.9 |
| | Republican | Tom Wassa | 9,583 | 36.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,534 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* National Association of Letter Carriers
* Service Employees International Union
* United Auto Workers
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Majority Makers" Program
* Equality Michigan
* National Organization for Women
* Planned Parenthood Action Fund
* Sierra Club
Newspapers
* Detroit Free Press
* The Detroit News
* The Flint Journal

#### Results

Michigan's 5th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dan Kildee | 214,531 | 65.0 |
| | Republican | Jim Slezak | 103,931 | 31.5 |
| | Independent | David Davenport | 6,694 | 2.0 |
| | Libertarian | Gregory Creswell | 4,990 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 330,146 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 6

Republican Fred Upton, who has represented the 6th district since 1993 and previously represented the 4th district from 1987 until 1993, will seek re-election.
Jason Gatties, a business manager and security consultant from St. Joseph, received the US Taxpayers Party of Michigan's nomination at their state convention on June 16, 2012. Christie Gelineau received the Libertarian Party's nomination at their state Saturday June 2, 2012. Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Republican".

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Fred Upton, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Jack Hoogendyk, former state representative and candidate for this seat in 2010

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jack Hoogendyk | Fred Upton | Undecided |
| EPIC-MRA | July 28–29, 2012 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 31% | 61% | 8% |

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Fred Upton (incumbent) | 34,581 | 66.3 |
| | Republican | Jack Hoogendyk | 17,561 | 33.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,142 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Mike O'Brien, project leader at Herman Miller and former organic farmer

##### Withdrawn

* John Waltz, Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, nominee for Kentucky's 4th congressional district in 2010 but dropped out in February 2012 because of an illness.

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike O'Brien | 14,224 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,224 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* United Auto Workers
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program
* Equality Michigan

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Michigan's 6th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Fred Upton (incumbent) | 174,955 | 54.6 |
| | Democratic | Mike O'Brien | 136,563 | 42.6 |
| | Libertarian | Christie Gelineau | 6,366 | 2.1 |
| | Independent | Jason Gatties | 2,591 | 0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 320,475 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 7

In redistricting, the 7th district was made slightly more favorable to Republicans: McCain received less than one percentage point more of the vote in the 2008 presidential election in the newly drawn district compared to the former district.
Republican Tim Walberg, who has represented the 7th district since January 2011 and previously served from 2007 until 2009, is running for re-election. Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Republican".

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Tim Walberg, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Dan Davis, businessman and former police officer
* Mike Stahly, former member of Potterville City Council and candidate for this seat in 2010

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tim Walberg (incumbent) | 45,592 | 76.0 |
| | Republican | Dan Davis | 14,386 | 24.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 59,978 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary

Joe Schwarz, who represented the 7th district from 2005 to 2007 as a Republican and was defeated by Walberg in the Republican primary in 2006, had been recruited by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Kurt Haskell, attorney

##### Eliminated in primary

* Ruben Marquez, chair of the Jackson County Democratic Party

##### Declined

* Mark Schauer, former U.S. Representative
* Joe Schwarz, former Republican U.S. Representative

#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* United Auto Workers

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kurt Richard Haskell | 18,812 | 66.7 |
| | Democratic | Ruben Marquez | 9,371 | 33.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,183 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* National Federation of Independent Business
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Newspapers
* Jackson Citizen Patriot
Labor unions
* United Auto Workers

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Michigan's 7th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tim Walberg (incumbent) | 169,668 | 53.3 |
| | Democratic | Kurt R. Haskell | 136,849 | 43.0 |
| | Libertarian | Ken Proctor | 8,088 | 2.6 |
| | Green | Richard Wunsch | 3,464 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 318,069 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 8

Republican Mike Rogers, who has represented the 8th district since 2001, sought re-election.
Other candidates were Daniel Goebel of the Libertarian Party and independent candidate Preston Brooks. Roll Call rated the race as "Likely Republican".

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Mike Rogers, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Brian Hetrick, mechanical engineer
* Vernon Molnar

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Rogers (incumbent) | 56,208 | 85.7 |
| | Republican | Brian Hetrick | 6,098 | 9.3 |
| | Republican | Vernon Molnar | 3,257 | 5.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 65,563 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Lance Enderle, former teacher and nominee for this seat in 2010

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lance Enderle | 29,322 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,322 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Newspapers
* Livingston County Daily Press & Argus
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* American Federation of Teachers
* United Auto Workers
Organizations
* Equality Michigan
* National Organization for Women

#### Results

Michigan's 8th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Rogers (incumbent) | 202,217 | 58.6 |
| | Democratic | Lance Enderle | 128,657 | 37.3 |
| | Libertarian | Daniel Goebel | 8,083 | 2.3 |
| | Independent | Preston Brooks | 6,097 | 1.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 345,054 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 9

In redistricting, the homes of Democratic Representatives Sander Levin and Gary Peters were drawn into the 9th district, which comprises mostly Macomb County but also includes a part of Oakland County. Levin, who has represented the 12th district since 1993 and previously represented the 17th district from 1983 until 1993, will seek re-election here. Peters, who has represented the 9th district since 2009, will seek re-election in the redrawn 14th district.
Jim Fulner, an engineer from Berkley, earned the Libertarian Party nomination at their state convention June 2, 2012, in Livonia. Julia Williams, the 2010 Green Party Candidate for the same seat, was nominated again at the 2012 Michigan Green Party convention, Saturday June 9, 2012, in Mount Pleasant. Lester Townsend received the US Taxpayers Party of Michigan's nomination at their state convention Saturday June 16, 2012. This marks the fourth election cycle in a row Townsend has challenged Levin for his seat. Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Democratic".

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Sander Levin, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 12th district

##### Withdrawn

* Allen James O'Neil, businessman

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sander Levin (incumbent) | 55,198 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,198 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Don Volaric, businessman and nominee for the 12th district in 2010

##### Eliminated in primary

* Gregory Dildilian, woodworker

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Don Volaric | 24,521 | 61.6 |
| | Republican | Gregory C. Dildilian | 15,283 | 38.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,804 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* National Association of Letter Carriers
Organizations
* Equality Michigan
* Planned Parenthood Action Fund
* Sierra Club

#### Results

Michigan's 9th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sander Levin (incumbent) | 208,846 | 61.8 |
| | Republican | Don Volaric | 114,760 | 34.0 |
| | Libertarian | Jim Fulner | 6,100 | 1.8 |
| | Green | Julia Williams | 4,708 | 1.4 |
| | Constitution | Les Townsend | 2,902 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 337,316 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 10

Republican Candice Miller, who has represented the 10th district since 2003, will seek re-election. Roll Call rates the race as "Likely Republican".

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Candice Miller, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Candice S. Miller (incumbent) | 68,063 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 68,063 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Chuck Stadler, practical nurse and accountant

##### Eliminated in primary

* Jerome Quinn, attorney

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Chuck Stadler | 13,480 | 58.1 |
| | Democratic | Jerome George Quinn | 9,705 | 41.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,185 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* National Association of Letter Carriers
Organizations
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce

#### Results

Michigan's 10th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Candice Miller (incumbent) | 226,075 | 68.8 |
| | Democratic | Chuck Stadler | 97,734 | 29.7 |
| | Libertarian | Bhagwan Dashairya | 4,803 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 328,612 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 11

Thad McCotter had represented the old 11th district since 2003 and sought the Republican presidential nomination. After poor polling results, McCotter ended his presidential campaign and announced plans to run again for his seat in Congress. On May 26, 2012, the Michigan Secretary of State announced McCotter had fallen well short of the required 1,000 petition signatures required for him to qualify for the primary ballot. In what state officials described as a level of fraud unprecedented in Michigan political history, subsequent reviews of McCotter's petitions revealed that over 85 percent of the signatures were invalid. Most of them were either duplicates or signatures that appeared to have been pasted from past years' petitions. Conceding that the signatures were indeed invalid, McCotter announced he would mount a write-in bid for his seat; however, he decided not to continue with his write-in bid on June 2 and announced his intention to retire after completing his term. McCotter suddenly resigned from his seat on July 6, leaving the 11th District unrepresented.
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson found the apparent fraud egregious enough to turn the evidence over to the Michigan Attorney General's office to determine if laws were broken regarding the invalid signatures. The Michigan Attorney General's office charged four McCotter aides with forgery, although McCotter was not charged with any wrongdoing.
McCotter's resignation resulted in a special election, which was expected to cost taxpayers $650,000.
As a result of Republican-leaning areas of the old 9th district being drawn into the new 11th, the 11th district was made more favorable to Republicans. McCain received four percentage points more of the vote in the 2008 presidential election in the newly drawn district compared to the current district. While Roll Call rated this race as "Likely Republican" before the primary, they changed the rating to "Leans Republican". It has since changed back to "Likely Republican."

### Republican primary

For the regular primary held August 7, 2012, for the upcoming two-year term in Congress, Kerry Bentivolio, a veteran and former teacher who had already planned to challenge McCotter, was left the only candidate on the Republican primary ballot. The Troy Republican Club, U.S. House Member Justin Amash, Tea Party groups and Ron Paul's PAC all endorsed Bentivolio. Other Republicans, including Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, refused to endorse Bentivolio and instead endorsed former state senator Nancy Cassis as a write-in candidate. Bentivolio defeated Cassis in the August 7 primary, and was the only Republican candidate on the ballot in areas covered by the new 11th. Cassis and Drexel Morton also wrote as write-in candidates.
Bentivolio was endorsed by Gov. Rick Snyder, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Senator Rand Paul, and Congress members Candice Miller, Justin Amash, Dan Banishek and Ron Paul, and former officeholders Rick Santorum and Peter Hoekstra.

#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Kerry Bentivolio, veteran and former teacher

##### Eliminated in primary

* Nancy Cassis, former state senator

##### Declined

* Mike Kowall, state senator
* Rocky Raczkowski, former state representative, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2002 and nominee for 9th district in 2010
* David Trott, attorney
* Paul Welday, former Oakland County Republican Party Chair

##### Disqualified

* Thad McCotter, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kerry Bentivolio | 42,470 | 66.3 |
| | Republican | Nancy Cassis (write-in) | 21,436 | 33.4 |
| | Republican | Drexel Morton (write-in) | 161 | 0.3 |
| | Republican | Loren Bennett (write-in) | 14 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 64,081 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Dr. Syed Taj, member of the Canton Township Board of Trustees

##### Eliminated in primary

* Bill Roberts, follower of Lyndon LaRouche.

##### Declined

* David Curson, labor activist and nominee for this seat in 2012 special election

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Syed Taj | 21,953 | 58.9 |
| | Democratic | William F. Roberts | 15,338 | 41.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,291 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* Republican Liberty Caucus
* Tea Party Express
Newspapers
* The Detroit News
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program
* Equality Michigan
* National Organization for Women
Newspapers
* Detroit Free Press

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kerry Bentivolio (R) | Syed Taj (D) | Others | Undecided |
| FMWB (D) | October 22–23, 2012 | 392 | ± 5.0% | 47% | 39% | 5% | 9% |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Lean R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Michigan's 11th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kerry Bentivolio | 181,788 | 50.8 |
| | Democratic | Syed Taj | 158,879 | 44.4 |
| | Libertarian | John Tatar | 9,637 | 2.7 |
| | Green | Steven Paul Duke | 4,569 | 1.3 |
| | Natural Law | Daniel Johnson | 3,251 | 0.9 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 15 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 358,139 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
Democratic candidate David Curson defeated Kerry Bentivolio in the special general election, conducted in the 2012-configured 11th district only, and coinciding with the regular general election on November 6.

## District 12

Democrat John Dingell, who has represented the district since 2003 and previously from 1955 until 1965, and previously represented the 16th district from 1965 until 2003, will seek re-election here.
Roll Call rates the race as "Safe Democratic".

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* John Dingell, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 15th district

##### Eliminated in primary

* Daniel Marcin, doctorate student at the University of Michigan

##### Declined

* Sander Levin, incumbent U.S. Representative (running in the 9th district)

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Dingell (incumbent) | 41,116 | 78.5 |
| | Democratic | Daniel Marcin | 11,226 | 21.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,342 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Cynthia Kallgren, former candidate for State Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Karen Jacobsen, businesswoman

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cynthia Kallgren | 12,028 | 50.7 |
| | Republican | Karen E. Jacobsen | 11,670 | 49.2 |
| | Republican | Timothy Kachinski (write-in) | 10 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,708 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* National Association of Letter Carriers

#### Results

Michigan's 12th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John D. Dingell (incumbent) | 216,884 | 67.9 |
| | Republican | Cynthia Kallgren | 92,472 | 29.0 |
| | Libertarian | Richard Secula | 9,867 | 3.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 319,223 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 13

Democrat John Conyers, who has represented the 14th district since 1993 and previously represented the 1st district from 1965 until 1993, sought re-election in the new 13th district.
The Libertarian Party of Michigan has nominated Chris Sharer of Westland as their candidate. and Martin Gray is the U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate.
Roll Call rates the race as "Safe Democratic".

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* John Conyers, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Glenn S. Anderson, state senator
* John Goci Wayne-Westland school board member
* Shanelle Jackson, state Representative
* Bert Johnson, state senator

##### Disqualified

* Godfrey Dillard, attorney

##### Declined

* Hansen Clarke, incumbent U.S. Representative (running in the 14th district)

#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Glenn Anderson | John Conyers | John Goci | Shanelle Jackson | Bert Johnson | Undecided |
| EPIC-MRA | July 28–29, 2012 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 17% | 57% | 4% | 7% | 5% | 10% |

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Conyers, Jr. (incumbent) | 38,371 | 55.4 |
| | Democratic | Glenn Anderson | 12,586 | 18.2 |
| | Democratic | Bert Johnson | 6,928 | 10.0 |
| | Democratic | Shanelle Jackson | 8,708 | 12.6 |
| | Democratic | John Goci | 2,664 | 3.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,257 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Harry Sawicki

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Harry Sawicki | 8,462 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,462 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* National Association of Letter Carriers
Organizations
* National Organization for Women
* Planned Parenthood Action Fund
* Sierra Club
* Stonewall Democrats

#### Results

Michigan's 13th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Conyers, Jr. (incumbent) | 235,336 | 82.8 |
| | Republican | Harry T. Sawicki | 38,769 | 13.6 |
| | Libertarian | Chris Sharer | 6,076 | 2.1 |
| | Constitution | Martin Gray | 4,089 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 284,270 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 14

The new 14th district crosses the traditional boundary of the 8 Mile Road (separating Detroit from Oakland County) in order to continue to have a majority of minority voters. A large part of the district is now outside of Detroit (it comprises approximately 40 percent Detroit, 40 percent Oakland County, and 20 percent out lying Wayne County).
Leonard Schwartz, Lawyer and Perennial candidate from Oak Park, who most recently challenged Sandy Levin for US House District 12 in 2010, is the Libertarian Nominee. Douglas Campbell, an engineer from Ferndale, is the Green Party Candidate. Roll Call rates the race as "Safe Democratic".

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Gary Peters, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 9th district

##### Eliminated in primary

* Hansen Clarke, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 13th district
* Bob Costello, magistrate for the 36th District Court
* Brenda Lawrence, Mayor of Southfield and nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2010
* Mary Waters, former state representative and candidate for the 13th district in 2008,

##### Declined

* John Conyers, incumbent U.S. Representative (running in the 13th district)
* Geoffrey Feiger, attorney and nominee for governor in 1998
* Irv Lowenberg, Southfield City Treasurer
* Tim Melton, state representative
* Buzz Thomas, state senator

#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* Service Employees International Union

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Hansen Clarke | Bob Costello | Brenda Lawrence | Gary Peters | Mary Waters | Undecided |
| EPIC-MRA | July 28–29, 2012 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 33% | 1% | 7% | 52% | 2% | 5% |

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gary Peters (incumbent) | 41,230 | 47.0 |
| | Democratic | Hansen Clarke (incumbent) | 30,847 | 35.2 |
| | Democratic | Brenda Lawrence | 6,928 | 13.3 |
| | Democratic | Mary Waters | 2,919 | 3.3 |
| | Democratic | Bob Costello | 1,027 | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 87,667 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* John Hauler, government contractor for ACE electronics

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Hauler | 17,691 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,691 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* National Association of Letter Carriers
* Service Employees International Union
Organizations
* Equality Michigan
* National Organization for Women
* Planned Parenthood Action Fund
* Sierra Club
* Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy
* VoteVets

#### Results

Michigan's 14th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gary Peters (incumbent) | 270,450 | 82.3 |
| | Republican | John Hauler | 51,395 | 15.6 |
| | Libertarian | Leonard Schwartz | 3,968 | 1.2 |
| | Green | Douglas Campbell | 2,979 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 328,792 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |