# 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan

Elections were held on November 2, 2010, to determine Michigan's 15 members of the United States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms to serve in the 112th United States Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. Primary elections were held on August 3, 2010.
Of the 15 elections, the 1st, 7th and 9th districts were rated as competitive by Sabato's Crystal Ball, CQ Politics and The Rothenberg Political Report, while The Cook Political Report rated the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 9th districts as competitive. Three of Michigan's fifteen incumbents (Bart Stupak of the 1st district, Pete Hoekstra of the 2nd district and Vern Ehlers of the 3rd district) did not seek re-election. Of the twelve who did, one (Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of the 13th district) was not renominated by her party, and one (Mark Schauer of the 7th district) was unsuccessful in the general election.
In total, nine Republicans and six Democrats were elected. A total of 3,194,901 votes were cast, of which 1,671,707 (52 percent) were for Republicans, 1,415,212 (44 percent) were for Democrats, 43,279 (1 percent) were for Libertarian Party candidates, 27,273 (1 percent) were for U.S. Taxpayers Party candidates, 25,739 (1 percent) were for Green Party candidates, 11,238 (0.4 percent) were for independent candidates, 409 (0.01 percent) were for a Natural Law Party candidate and 44 (0.001 percent) were for write-in candidates.

## Overview

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan by district:
| District | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Others | Others | Total | Total | Result |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Result |
| District 1 | 120,523 | 51.94% | 94,824 | 40.86% | 16,690 | 7.19% | 232,037 | 100.00% | Republican gain |
| District 2 | 148,864 | 65.27% | 72,118 | 31.62% | 7,096 | 3.11% | 228,078 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 3 | 133,714 | 59.68% | 83,953 | 37.47% | 6,396 | 2.85% | 224,063 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 4 | 148,531 | 66.21% | 68,458 | 30.51% | 7,365 | 3.28% | 224,354 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 5 | 89,680 | 44.34% | 107,286 | 53.04% | 5,297 | 2.62% | 202,263 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 6 | 123,142 | 61.98% | 66,729 | 33.58% | 8,825 | 4.44% | 198,696 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 7 | 113,185 | 50.16% | 102,402 | 45.38% | 10,082 | 4.47% | 225,669 | 100.00% | Republican gain |
| District 8 | 156,931 | 64.08% | 84,069 | 34.33% | 3,894 | 1.59% | 244,894 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 9 | 119,325 | 47.23% | 125,730 | 49.76% | 7,595 | 3.01% | 252,650 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 10 | 168,364 | 71.97% | 58,530 | 25.02% | 7,036 | 3.01% | 233,930 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 11 | 141,224 | 59.27% | 91,710 | 38.49% | 5,353 | 2.25% | 238,287 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 12 | 71,372 | 34.97% | 124,671 | 61.08% | 8,074 | 3.95% | 204,117 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 13 | 23,462 | 18.46% | 100,885 | 79.39% | 2,729 | 2.15% | 127,076 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 14 | 29,902 | 19.87% | 115,511 | 76.76% | 5,065 | 3.37% | 150,478 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 15 | 83,488 | 40.08% | 118,336 | 56.81% | 6,485 | 3.11% | 208,309 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| Total | 1,671,707 | 52.32% | 1,415,212 | 44.30% | 107,982 | 3.38% | 3,194,901 | 100.00% | |
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## District 1

In 2010, the 1st district included Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie. The district's population was 93 percent white (see Race and ethnicity in the United States census); 88 percent were high school graduates and 18 percent had received a bachelor's degree or higher. Its median income was $40,243. In the 2008 presidential election the district gave 50 percent of its vote to Democratic nominee Barack Obama and 48 percent to Republican nominee John McCain. In 2010 the district had a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+3.
Democrat Bart Stupak, who took office in 1993, was the incumbent. Stupak was re-elected in 2008 with 65 percent of the vote. In 2010 Stupak retired rather than seeking re-election. The candidates in the general election were Democratic nominee Gary McDowell, a member of the Michigan House of Representatives; Republican nominee Dan Benishek, a physician; Green Party nominee Ellis Boal, a former Charlevoix County commissioner and prosecutor; U.S. Taxpayers Party nominee Patrick Lambert, a shift supervisor at Kalitta Air; Libertarian Party nominee Keith Shelton, a sports reporter; and independent candidate Glenn Wilson, the owner of an Internet service provider. Lonnie Lee Snyder had intended to run as a Tea Party candidate, but was found ineligible to do so in August 2010.
McDowell ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, as Mike Prusi, a member of the Michigan Senate, announced in April 2010 that he would not run; and Matt Gillard, a former member of the state House of Representatives; Connie Saltonstall, a former county official; and Joel Sheltrown, a member of the state House of Representatives, ended their campaigns in May 2010. Jason Allen, a member of the state Senate; Patrick Donlon, a businessman; Don Hooper, the owner of a trucking business; and Tom Stillings, a steel industry sales representative, also sought the Republican nomination. Linda Goldthorpe, a lawyer, suspended her campaign in July 2010; however her name remained on the Republican primary ballot. Dennis Lennox, the Cheboygan County drain commissioner, ended his campaign for the Republican nomination in March 2010. Jim Barcia, a former U.S. Representative; and Kevin Elsenheimer, the leader of the Republican Party in the state House of Representatives, both said in April 2010 they would not run. A poll conducted by Practical Political Consulting and released in July 2010, with a sample size of 140, found Benishek leading with 21 percent followed by Allen with 19 percent; Donlon, Goldthorpe, Hooper and Stillings each had the support of less than 2 percent of respondents, while around 55 percent were undecided.
McDowell raised $838,208 and spent $838,160. Benishek raised $1,379,311 and spent $1,343,624. Wilson raised $127,237 and spent $118,276. Allen raised $379,899 and spent $379,979. Goldthorpe raised $9,244 and spent $5,410.
A poll of 1,016 registered voters, conducted in August 2010 by We Ask America, found Benishek leading with 45 percent to McDowell's 29 percent, while 27 percent chose "Other/Unsure". In a poll of 406 likely voters by TargetPoint Consulting, conducted for Benishek's campaign between August 31 and September 1, 2010, Benishek led McDowell by 39 percent to 25 percent when the names of Wilson and Snyder were also given, and by 54 percent to 31 percent when Benishek and McDowell were the only names offered. A poll of 400 likely voters conducted by Hill Research Associates for the National Republican Congressional Committee between September 19 and September 21, 2010, found Benishek leading with 40 percent to McDowell's 24 percent. In a poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner for McDowell's campaign, conducted on September 21 and 22, 2010, with a sample size of 505 likely voters, Benishek led with 41 percent while McDowell received 38 percent, Wilson received 12 percent and 9 percent were undecided. A poll of 401 likely voters published by The Hill, conducted between October 2 and 7, 2010, 42 percent of respondents supported Benishek while 39 percent favored McDowell and 18 percent were undecided. In a poll of 400 likely voters by EPIC/MRA, conducted on October 17 and 18, 2010, Benishek led with 42 percent to McDowell's 40 percent. Though Benishek won the Republican primary by a margin of only 15 votes, Allen, who placed second, chose not to seek a recount.
Sabato's Crystal Ball rated the race as "Leans Republican". In October 2010 The Cook Political Report and CQ Politics rated the race as "Leans Republican". In November 2010 The Rothenberg Political Report rated the race as "Toss-up/Tilt Republican". Prior to the election FiveThirtyEight's forecast gave Benishek an 88 percent chance of winning, and projected that he would receive 52 percent of the vote to McDowell's 45 percent. On election day Benishek was elected with 52 percent of the vote to McDowell's 41 percent. Benishek was re-elected in 2012, again against McDowell, and in 2014.

### Republican primary results

Michigan's 1st congressional district Republican primary, August 3, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dan Benishek | 27,077 | 38.14 |
| | Republican | Jason Allen | 27,062 | 38.12 |
| | Republican | Tom Stillings | 5,418 | 7.63 |
| | Republican | Linda Goldthorpe | 4,980 | 7.01 |
| | Republican | Don Hooper | 3,969 | 5.59 |
| | Republican | Patrick Donlon | 2,490 | 3.51 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 70,996 | 100.00 |

### General election results

Michigan's 1st congressional district general election, November 2, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dan Benishek | 120,523 | 51.94 |
| | Democratic | Gary McDowell | 94,824 | 40.87 |
| | Independent | Glenn Wilson | 7,847 | 3.38 |
| | U.S. Taxpayers | Patrick Lambert | 4,200 | 1.81 |
| | Libertarian | Keith Shelton | 2,571 | 1.11 |
| | Green | Ellis Boal | 2,072 | 0.89 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 232,037 | 100.00 |