Whitmer and Benson re-elected, Nessel leading, and proposals pass in Michigan

I begin my promised posts about the election results with news from my adopted home state of Michigan and start at the top of the ballot with Governor Gretchen Whitmer winning re-election. WOOD-TV used the graphic announcing that news as the preview image for Michigan's Election Day 2022 results.


In addition, Hillary Scholten won Peter Meijer's current seat. That's a relief, as I worried about the tactic used to get her a more favorable opponent after the primary.

Not only did TFG go after Meijer, the DCCC did as well, running ads "attacking" Gibbs as too extreme in the hopes that doing so would make him more attractive to the right-wing of the Republican Party so they would vote for him. On the one hand, that's smart politics, as it makes the seat easier for Hillary Scholten to win in November. On the other, it's punishing a holdout for decency and democracy in the GOP by removing him from Congress. Sigh. It worked last night, but I hope it doesn't backfire in November.

It worked again. Whew!

I caught Whitmer's victory speech this morning on WZZM, ABC 13 in Grand Rapids. WATCH: Gov. Whitmer delivers first remarks since being declared winner of gubernatorial race.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is delivering remarks after being the projected winner of the gubernatorial race.

Whitmer was first elected in 2018 after years in the Legislature and has since become a leading voice in the Democratic Party, delivering the party’s response to former President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in 2020. She has said in interviews that she will not run for president in 2024 even if President Joe Biden doesn’t seek reelection.

Congratulations and go Big Gretch!

Follow over the jump for the rest of the election news from Michigan.

News outlets called the contest for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson last night, so she gave her victory speech then. Watch Benson to be reelected as Michigan secretary of state, NBC projects from WOOD-TV.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will be reelected for a second term, with NBC News projecting she will defeat her Republican challenger.

That was an inspiring speech. Democracy was indeed on the ballot and it won last night, at least in Michigan.

WZZM had more details on Benson's win and Dana Nessel's lead in Secretary of State race called for Democrat Jocelyn Benson; Attorney General race remains close.

ABC News has called the Secretary of State race for Democrat Jocelyn Benson, but the Attorney General race has not yet been called.

I don't think 6+% lead of 250,000+ votes with 88% counted is all that close, so I expect it's a matter of time before this race is called for Nessel.

WDIV analyzed the results in Breaking down voting numbers for key races in Michigan.



We're breaking down the numbers on key races in Michigan.
Tudor Dixon was waiting for Macomb County to report its results to concede and they voted for Whitmer. Also, the Democrats flipped both chambers of the Michigan Legislature? I'll have to return to that later, but right now I think that's as much a result of fair redistricting and Proposal 3 being on the ballot as it was Democratic organizing. All of those deserve credit for this accomplishment.

Speaking of Proposal 3, WZZM showed it and the other two proposals winning in Breaking down current results for Proposals 1, 2 & 3.

Proposal 3 has passed with 55% of the votes, and Proposals 1 and 2 are expected to pass as results come in.

All good news, but I'll refrain from posting Professor Farnsworth until I see the results from the rest of the country. On that note, stay tuned for more election results.