Michigan’s primary election was held on Aug. 6 with voters determining who will be on the November General Election ballot for seats in the Michigan House, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House. 

Most Michigan House incumbents running for re-election defeated their opponents in the primary, except for Representative Neil Friske (R-Charlevoix) and Representative Bob Bezotte, Jr. (R-Howell). All state House seats are up for re-election in November. At stake is party control of the Michigan House, which is currently held by Democrats with a 56-54 majority.

Primary voters narrowed the race for retiring U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow’s seat (D-Lansing) to U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin (D) and former U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R). This contest is expected to be among the most competitive nationally. Many U.S. House races in November will determine Michigan’s majority in the chamber, which is currently held by Republicans. The August 2024 Karoub Report lists November’s candidates for each race along with important upcoming election dates.

The federal three-judge panel that ordered a redraw of Michigan’s Senate map has approved the remedial map proposed by the Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission. The new map, named Crane A1, redraws six Senate districts declared unconstitutional based on race and also changes eight other nearby metro Detroit districts. It will be used starting with the 2026 election cycle. Seven newly mapped state House districts, known as Motown Sound FC E1, were used for the first time in the Aug. 6 state primary.

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled on July 31st that the Legislature’s 2018 decision to adopt and amend voter-proposed initiatives for raising the minimum wage and expanding earned paid sick time for all employees was unconstitutional. This ruling restores and goes beyond the original voter-proposed initiatives. 

Click here for more details and election information in the August 2024 Karoub Report.