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Michigan state executive official elections, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
- Early voting: N/A
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: No
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID requested
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2022 →
← 2014
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| Michigan state executive official elections |
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| Election details |
| Filing deadline: April 24, 2018 |
| Primary: August 7, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in Michigan |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2018 Impact of term limits in 2018 State government trifectas and triplexes |
| Other state executive elections |
The following state executive offices were up for election in Michigan in 2018. Click on the following links to learn more about each race:
Governor
Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Secretary of state
State board of education
State board of regents
Candidates and election results
Governor
General election
General election for Governor of Michigan
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Gretchen Whitmer (D) | 53.3 | 2,266,193 | |
| Bill Schuette (R) | 43.7 | 1,859,534 | ||
| Bill Gelineau (L) | 1.3 | 56,606 | ||
| Todd Schleiger (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.7 | 29,219 | ||
| Jennifer Kurland (G) | 0.7 | 28,799 | ||
| Keith Butkovich (Natural Law Party) | 0.2 | 10,202 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 32 | ||
| Total votes: 4,250,585 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Richard Sills (Independent)
- Ryan Henry Cox (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan
Gretchen Whitmer defeated Abdul El-Sayed and Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Gretchen Whitmer | 52.0 | 588,436 | |
| Abdul El-Sayed | 30.2 | 342,179 | ||
| Shri Thanedar | 17.7 | 200,645 | ||
| Total votes: 1,131,260 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kentiel White (D)
- Bill Cobbs (D)
- Justin Giroux (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Michigan
Bill Schuette defeated Brian Calley, Patrick Colbeck, and Jim Hines in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Bill Schuette | 50.7 | 501,959 | |
| Brian Calley | 25.2 | 249,185 | ||
| Patrick Colbeck | 13.1 | 129,646 | ||
| Jim Hines | 11.0 | 108,735 | ||
| Total votes: 989,525 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Evan Space (R)
Green primary election
Green primary for Governor of Michigan
Jennifer Kurland advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Jennifer Kurland | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Dwain Reynolds (G)
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for Governor of Michigan
Bill Gelineau defeated John Tatar in the Libertarian primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Bill Gelineau | 57.8 | 4,034 | |
| John Tatar | 42.2 | 2,941 | ||
| Total votes: 6,975 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Lieutenant governor
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The following candidates ran in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Garlin Gilchrist II (D) | 53.3 | 2,266,193 | |
| Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) | 43.7 | 1,859,534 | ||
| Angelique Chaiser Thomas (L) | 1.3 | 56,606 | ||
| Earl Lackie (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.7 | 29,219 | ||
| Charin Davenport (G) | 0.7 | 28,799 | ||
| Raymond Warner (Natural Law Party) | 0.2 | 10,202 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 32 | ||
| Total votes: 4,250,585 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Attorney general
General election
General election for Attorney General of Michigan
Dana Nessel defeated Tom Leonard, Lisa Lane Gioia, Chris Graveline, and Gerald T. Van Sickle in the general election for Attorney General of Michigan on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dana Nessel (D) | 49.0 | 2,031,117 | |
| Tom Leonard (R) | 46.3 | 1,916,117 | ||
| Lisa Lane Gioia (L) | 2.1 | 86,807 | ||
| Chris Graveline (Independent) | 1.7 | 69,889 | ||
| Gerald T. Van Sickle (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.9 | 38,114 | ||
| Total votes: 4,142,044 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Secretary of state
General election
General election for Michigan Secretary of State
Jocelyn Benson defeated Mary Treder Lang, Gregory Scott Stemple, and Robert Gale in the general election for Michigan Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jocelyn Benson (D) | 52.9 | 2,213,243 | |
| Mary Treder Lang (R) | 44.0 | 1,840,118 | ||
| Gregory Scott Stemple (L) | 2.0 | 81,849 | ||
| Robert Gale (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 1.2 | 48,816 | ||
| Total votes: 4,184,026 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
State board of education
General election
General election for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Michigan State Board of Education on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Judith Pritchett (D) | 25.2 | 1,830,312 | |
| ✔ | Tiffany Tilley (D) | 24.0 | 1,743,379 | |
| Tami Carlone (R) | 22.3 | 1,615,129 | ||
| Richard Zeile (R) | 20.3 | 1,473,904 | ||
| Mary Anne Hering (Working Class Party) | 1.7 | 125,693 | ||
| Scott Boman (L) | 1.7 | 125,309 | ||
| Logan Smith (Working Class Party) | 1.3 | 91,077 | ||
| John Tatar (L) | 1.1 | 80,414 | ||
| Karen Adams (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 1.0 | 72,639 | ||
| Sherry A. Wells (G) | 0.8 | 61,493 | ||
| Douglas Levesque (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.4 | 32,326 | ||
| Total votes: 7,251,675 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
State board of regents
General election
General election for University of Michigan Board of Regents (2 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for University of Michigan Board of Regents on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jordan Acker (D) | 25.1 | 1,750,414 | |
| ✔ | Paul Brown (D) | 24.0 | 1,672,732 | |
| Andrea Fischer Newman (R) | 23.2 | 1,619,025 | ||
| Andrew Richner (R) | 21.2 | 1,480,084 | ||
| Crystal Van Sickle (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 1.4 | 99,301 | ||
| John Jascob (L) | 1.2 | 84,317 | ||
| James Lewis Hudler (L) | 1.2 | 84,006 | ||
| Kevin Graves (G) | 1.0 | 72,160 | ||
| Joe Sanger (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.9 | 63,248 | ||
| Marge Katchmark Sallows (Natural Law Party) | 0.7 | 51,710 | ||
| Total votes: 6,976,997 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Context of the 2018 elections
Party control in Michigan
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Republicans in Michigan held a state government trifecta for 13 years between 1992 and 2017.
Michigan Party Control: 1992-2025
Two years of Democratic trifectas • Fourteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D |
| House | D | S | S | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R |
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Michigan utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[1][2]
Poll times
In Michigan, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Most of the state is observes Eastern Time, while several counties observe Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Michigan, a voter must be a United States citizen and a resident of their city or township for at least 30 days. Voters must be at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not be currently serving a sentence in jail or prison.[4]
Voters may register to vote online, by mail, or in person at clerk's offices in their county, city, or township, or at a state department branch office 15 days or earlier before an election .[4]
Within 14 days of an election and on Election Day, voters can register in person at their local clerk's office by presenting proof of residency documentation.[4] According to the Michigan Secretary of State's website:[4]
| “ | Proof of residency is official documentation (paper or digital) that lists a voter’s current name and address. When registering to vote within 14 days of an election, voters must present one form of proof of residency in person at a local clerk’s office. Proof of residency examples include:
|
” |
Automatic registration
Michigan automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they apply for or update a driver’s license or personal identification card.[1]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Michigan has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[1]
Same-day registration
Michigan allows same-day voter registration.[1]
Residency requirements
Michigan law requires 30 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.[4]
Verification of citizenship
Michigan does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[6] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
This page, administered by the Michigan Department of State, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Michigan requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[7] Voters without identification can cast a regular ballot by signing an affidavit.[7]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the Michigan Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- Michigan driver’s license
- Michigan personal identification card
- Current driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state
- Current operator's or chauffeur's license
- Current federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID
- Current U.S. passport
- Current military identification card with photo
- Current student identification with photo from an educational institution
- Current tribal identification card with photo.
Voters can obtain a state identification card at a secretary of state branch office for $10. Voters over the age of 65, voters who are blind, and voters whose driving privileges have been terminated due to a physical or mental disability can obtain an identification card for free. Additionally, voters who can present a reason for having the fee waived may also obtain an ID for free. Visit the Michigan secretary of state’s page or call (888) SOS-MICH (767-6424) for more information.[7]
Early voting
Michigan permits early voting. Michigan refers to early voting as early in-person voting. Early voting dates vary across the state, but must include a minimum of nine consecutive days, ending on the Sunday before an election. For more information, click here.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Any Michigan voter can cast an absentee ballot. To vote absentee, a request must be received online or by mail no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election. In person requests can be made until 4 p.m. on the day before Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must then be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day.[8]
Impact of term limits
Twelve state executive seats in Michigan were up for election in 2018. In the 2018 elections, four officials were ineligible to run because of term limits. The following state officials were term-limited in 2018:
Republicans (4):
- Governor: Rick Snyder
- Lt. Gov.: Brian Calley
- Attorney General: Bill Schuette
- Secretary of State: Ruth Johnson
Of the 283 state executives offices on the ballot in 2018, 131 of them were represented by incumbents who were subject to term limits. Of the 36 gubernatorial seats up for election in 2018, 13 governors—two Democrats and 11 Republicans—were term-limited and therefore unable to run for re-election. Of the 31 states with term limits that held state executives elections in 2018, some incumbents in 18 of the states were term-limited.
A total of 49 state executive officials were ineligible to run in the 2018 elections because of term limits. This represented 17 percent of the 283 total seats up for election in 2018.[9] Republicans had more than six times as many state executive officials term-limited in 2018 than Democrats. A total of seven Democrats were term-limited, while 40 Republicans were term-limited. The other two term-limited officials were nonpartisan.
Past elections
2016
There were no state executive elections in Michigan in 2016.
2014
The following elections took place in 2014.
- Michigan state executive official elections, 2014
- Michigan Attorney General election, 2014
- Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014
- Michigan Secretary of State election, 2014
2012
There were no state executive elections in Michigan in 2012.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Michigan state executive election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
State profile
| Demographic data for Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 9,917,715 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 56,539 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 79% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 14% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 2.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.6% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 4.7% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 89.6% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 26.9% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $49,576 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 20% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Michigan. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Michigan
Michigan voted for the Democratic candidate in four out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 12 are located in Michigan, accounting for 5.83 percent of the total pivot counties.[10]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Michigan had 11 Retained Pivot Counties and one Boomerang Pivot County, accounting for 6.08 and 4.00 of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.
More Michigan coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Michigan
- United States congressional delegations from Michigan
- Public policy in Michigan
- Endorsers in Michigan
- Michigan fact checks
- More...
See also
| Michigan | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 NCSL, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 7, 2024 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "ncsl" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Michigan.gov, "Questions and Answers: Michigan’s Presidential Primary," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions: Elections and Voting," accessed April 16, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Michigan Secretary of State, "Registering to Vote," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Michigan.gov, "Notice to Voters: Voter Identification Requirement in Effect," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "Vote at home (Absentee)," April 17, 2023
- ↑ Some of the 49 state executive officials in 2018 may have resigned before their term ended. These state executive officials were still counted in the total number of term-limited state executives in 2018.
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
