2018 Michigan Attorney General election explained

Election Name:2018 Michigan Attorney General Election
Country:Michigan
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 Michigan Attorney General election
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2022 Michigan Attorney General election
Next Year:2022
Nominee1:Dana Nessel
Image1:File:Dana Nessel 20190202 110126 (cropped).jpg
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,031,117
Percentage1:49.04%
Nominee2:Tom Leonard
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,916,117
Percentage2:46.26%
Map Size:300px
Attorney General
Before Election:Bill Schuette
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Dana Nessel
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2018 Michigan Attorney General election took place on November 6, 2018, alongside elections to elect Michigan's governor, Class I United States Senator, Secretary of State, as well elections for Michigan's 14 seats in the United States House of Representatives, all 38 seats in the Michigan Senate and all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives; to elect the Secretary of State of Michigan. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette was prohibited from seeking a third term due to term limits and unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Michigan instead. The Michigan GOP was unsuccessful in looking to win its 5th straight attorney general election. Along with the offices of Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State, the nominees for attorney general were chosen by party delegates at their respective party conventions.

Nessel defeated Leonard by 115,000 votes, becoming the first Democratic attorney general of Michigan since 2003, when Jennifer Granholm left office to become governor.

Republican Party

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated at convention

Declined

Democratic Party

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated at convention

Declined

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Tom
Leonard (R)
Dana
Nessel (D)
OtherUndecided
Glengariff GroupOctober 25–27, 2018600 (LV)± 4.0%34%45%5%17%
EPIC-MRAOctober 18–23, 2018600 (LV)± 4.0%39%39%9%13%
Michigan State UniversityOctober 13–22, 2018169 (RV)40%37%
Marketing Resource GroupOctober 14–18, 2018 600 (LV)± 4.0%34%39%10%16%
Glengariff GroupSeptember 30 – October 2, 2018 600 (LV)± 4.0%32%39%6%24%
EPIC-MRASeptember 21–25, 2018600 (LV)± 4.0%32%38%11%19%
Glengariff GroupSeptember 5–7, 2018600 (LV)± 4.0%29%42%5%24%

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of October 21, 2018
Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on hand
Tom Leonard (R)$1,988,558.29$1,900,406.09$88,152.20
Dana Nessel (D)$1,573,966.91$1,329,134.98$244,831.93
Source: Michigan Department of State[10]

By congressional district

Despite losing the state, Leonard won 9 of 14 congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats.[11]

DistrictLeonardNesselRepresentative
56%39%Jack Bergman
56%39%Bill Huizenga
52%43%Justin Amash
58%36%John Moolenaar
44%51%Dan Kildee
51%44%Fred Upton
53%42%Tim Walberg
49%46%Mike Bishop
Elissa Slotkin
40%55%Sander Levin
Andy Levin
60%36%
Paul Mitchell
48.3%48.0%Dave Trott
Haley Stevens
32%64%Debbie Dingell
17%79%Brenda Jones
Rashida Tlaib
19%78%Brenda Lawrence

External links

Official campaign websites

Notes and References

  1. News: House speaker joins race for Michigan attorney general . Jonathan . Oosting . October 5, 2017 . October 17, 2017 . The Detroit News.
  2. News: 2018 races getting crowded for attorney general, secretary of state . Kathleen . Gray . Detroit Free Press . September 19, 2017 . September 20, 2017.
  3. News: Justice Kelly to leave Michigan Supreme Court . Chad . Livengood . The Detroit News . August 17, 2015 . November 19, 2017 .
  4. News: Same-sex case lawyer to run for Mich. attorney general . October 18, 2017 . The Detroit News. August 15, 2017 . Oralandar . Brand-Williams.
  5. Web site: Former U.S. Attorney Pat Miles announces candidacy for Michigan attorney general . MLive . Brian. McVicar . September 27, 2017.
  6. Web site: Who's running for Michigan Attorney General in 2018? . Kathleen . Gray . Detroit Free Press . December 18, 2017 . February 12, 2018.
  7. Web site: Michigan state Sen. Steve Bieda want Sander Levin's seat in Congress . Todd . Spangler . Detroit Free . December 6, 2017.
  8. Web site: State Rep. Tim Greimel joins crowded congressional field . Todd . Spangler . Detroit Free Press . October 17, 2017 . October 19, 2017.
  9. Web site: Eric Smith turns down request to run for Attorney General . Macomb Daily . Jameson . Cook . January 23, 2018 . February 12, 2018.
  10. Web site: Campaign finance data. September 27, 2018.
  11. Web site: DRA 2020. Daves Redistricting.