Traverse City Record-Eagle

Election 2010

November 2, 2010

State's balance of power at stake

Associated Press

LANSING — Michigan voters elected a new state Legislature on Tuesday as the state's term limits law forced a number of incumbents out of office.

Based on early returns, Republicans appeared to be maintaining control of the state Senate. Republicans also were in position to make gains in the state House, although it was not yet clear if they would be able to wrestle control away from Democrats, who have held the majority in the chamber since 2007.

In all, 148 races were on the ballot across the state.

In what was shaping up to be a strong Republican year in many states, including Michigan, Democrats tried to hang on to the House with a late fundraising and campaign push in key toss-up districts. More than half a dozen Democratic House incumbents were in close battles as returns were being counted Tuesday night.

Republicans campaigned against Democrats on both national and state issues, tying the candidates to President Barack Obama and outgoing Gov. Jennifer Granholm - both of whom have lost popularity in Michigan in recent months.

Term limits will cause plenty of turnover in the Legislature. State law restricts senators to two terms of four years each and House members to three terms of two years each.

Only nine incumbents were running for re-election in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 22-16 edge over Democrats. The GOP has held the majority in the Senate since 1984.

Democrats entered the election with a 64-42 edge in the House, with four vacant seats. Fifty-eight incumbents were seeking re-election, including 35 Democrats and 23 Republicans.

Incumbents rarely lose, but it happens. Two House Republicans were knocked off when Democrats grabbed control of the chamber with a strong showing in the 2006 election. In 2008, a Democratic House incumbent lost in a primary but no incumbents were beaten in the general election.

If Republicans win control of the House, it would be the largest single-election swing in the chamber since 1966.

Text Only
General Election Returns
Primary Election Returns
Poll
Poll
Poll
Poll
Poll
AP Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide