| State: | Michigan |
| District Number: | 7 |
| Image Caption: | Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023 |
| Representative: | Elissa Slotkin |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Residence: | Holly |
| Population: | 779,873 |
| Population Year: | 2022 |
| Median Income: | $74,404 |
| Percent White: | 79.9 |
| Percent Hispanic: | 5.7 |
| Percent Black: | 5.9 |
| Percent Asian: | 3.2 |
| Percent More Than One Race: | 4.6 |
| Percent Other Race: | 0.7 |
| Cpvi: | R+2[1] |
Michigan's 7th congressional district is a United States congressional district in Southern Michigan and portions of Central Michigan. From 2004 to 2013 it consisted of all of Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, and Lenawee counties, and included most of Calhoun and a large portion of western and northern Washtenaw counties. The current district, which was created in 2022, is centered around Lansing, Michigan's state capital, and includes all of Clinton, Shiawassee, Ingham, and Livingston counties, as well as portions of Eaton and Oakland counties.[2]
The district is currently represented by Democrat Elissa Slotkin, who previously represented the old 8th district. The previous incarnation of this district was represented by Republican Tim Walberg, who now represents the state's 5th congressional district.
The district was identified as a presidential bellwether by Sabato's Crystal Ball, having voted for the Electoral College winner in the past four presidential elections as of 2020.[3]
| Election results from presidential races | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Results | |
| 2020 | President | Biden 49.6 - 48.6%[4] | |
| 2016 | President | Trump 48.8 - 45.1% | |
| 2012 | President | Obama 50.1 - 48.8% | |
| 2008 | President | Obama 52 - 46% | |
| 2004 | President | Bush 54 - 45% | |
| 2000 | President | Bush 51 - 46% | |
| 1996 | President | Clinton 46 - 43% | |
| 1992 | President | Clinton 38 - 37% | |
The 7th congressional district was formed in 1872 covering the Thumb of Michigan. It had Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac, Lapeer, St. Clair, and Macomb Counties. In 1882 Tuscola County was removed from the district but everything else remained the same. In 1892 Grosse Point and Hamtramck Townships, the latter one today mainly within the city boundaries of Detroit were moved into the 7th district.
In 1912 Tuscola County was put back in the 7th district, but it may have lost its Wayne County areas. It was definitely deprived of these areas by 1932. In 1964 the 7th district experienced its most drastic redistricting yet. Only Lapeer County was retained from the old district while Genesee County was added. In 1972 the district was redrawn again, losing Lapeer County as well as a few outlying parts of Genesee County. In 1982 most of Lapeer County was put back in the 7th district. The northern tier of townships in Genesee County were moved to the 8th district. Burns Township in Shiawasee County and all the northern tier of townships in Oakland County with the exception of Brandon Township were also put in the district.
After 1992 this old 7th district constituted a large part of the new 9th district. The current 7th has no connection with the pre-1992 seventh congressional district. If populations and not just areas are considered, it is primarily an heir of the previous 3rd district. Most of the area came from the old 2nd district, and some of John Dingell's old 16th district was also included.
All of Eaton and Calhoun Counties were preserved from the 3rd to the 7th district. Half of the area of Barry County that had been in the old 3rd was retained. From the old 4th was drawn most of Branch County. The rest of Branch County and Hillsdale County, the southwestern portion of Washtenaw County and western Lenawee County, and most of Jackson County were taken from the old 2nd district. Even though most of the area of the old second was put in the new 7th, most of its population was moved into the 13th, From Ann Arbor to Plymouth, Livonia, and Northville. The portion of Lenawee County that had been in the 16th was absorbed, and a small part of the Washtenaw County area of the 15th district and the part of the old 6th that had been in Jackson County. Thus the new 7th district incorporated areas from six old districts.
The 2002 redistricting is best seen as a shift from the 3rd district to the 2nd district legacy. With the loss of its quadrant in Barry County and a small section of Calhoun County, the district lost affinity to the 3rd of yore. It took back the portion of Washtenaw County that had been lost to the 8th district, and shed the part of Washtenaw County that had come from the old 15th district. Although none of Wayne County was included in the new district, it did have Salem Township which not only borders Wayne County but is largely in a Wayne County-headquartered school district.
In the 2012 redistricting, the district gained Monroe County as well as the portion of Washtenaw County around Saline.
| Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress | Election history | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left nowrap | Omar D. Conger | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1881 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Resigned when elected U.S. Senator. | |||||
| Vacant | March 4, 1881 – April 5, 1881 | |||||||
| align=left nowrap | John Tyler Rich | April 5, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | Elected to finish Conger's term. Lost re-election. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Ezra C. Carleton | Democratic[5] | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887 | Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Retired. | ||||
| align=left nowrap | Justin Rice Whiting | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1895 | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Retired. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Horace G. Snover | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899 | Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Retired. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Edgar Weeks | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903 | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Lost renomination. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Henry McMorran | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1913 | Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Retired. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Louis C. Cramton | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1931 | Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Lost renomination. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Jesse P. Wolcott | March 4, 1931 – January 3, 1957 | Elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Retired. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Robert J. McIntosh | January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1959 | Elected in 1956. Lost re-election. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | James G. O'Hara | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1965 | Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Redistricted to the . | |||||
| align=left nowrap | John C. Mackie | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 | Elected in 1964. Lost re-election. | |||||
| align=left nowrap rowspan=2 | Donald Riegle | January 3, 1967 – February 27, 1973 | Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Elected as a Republican and changed political affiliation in 1973. | |||||
| February 27, 1973 – December 30, 1976 | Re-elected in 1974. Retired to run for U.S. Senator and resigned following early appointment. | |||||||
| Vacant | December 30, 1976 – January 3, 1977 | |||||||
| align=left nowrap | Dale Kildee | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993 | Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the . | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Nick Smith | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2005 | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Retired. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Joe Schwarz | January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007 | Elected in 2004. Lost renomination. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Tim Walberg | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 | Elected in 2006. Lost re-election. | |||||
| align=left nowrap | Mark Schauer | Democratic | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 | Elected in 2008. Lost re-election. | ||||
| align=left nowrap | Tim Walberg | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2023 | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Redistricted to the . | |||||
| align=left | Elissa Slotkin | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 2023 – present | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2022. Retiring at end of term to run for U.S. Senator. | |||