2018 Michigan Attorney General election

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.

2018 Michigan Attorney General Election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022 →
 
Nominee Dana Nessel Tom Leonard
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,031,117 1,916,117
Percentage 49.04% 46.26%

Nessel:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Leonard:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tie:      40–50%      No data

Attorney General before election

Bill Schuette
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Dana Nessel
Democratic

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

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Candidates

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Nominee

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Eliminated at convention

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Declined

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Democratic Party

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Candidates

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Nominee

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Eliminated at convention

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Declined

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General election

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Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Tom
Leonard (R)
Dana
Nessel (D)
Other Undecided
Glengariff Group[10] October 25–27, 2018 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 34% 45% 5%[b] 17%
EPIC-MRA[11] October 18–23, 2018 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 39% 39% 9%[c] 13%
Michigan State University[12] October 13–22, 2018 169 (RV) 40% 37%
Marketing Resource Group[13] October 14–18, 2018 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 34% 39% 10%[d] 16%
Glengariff Group[14] September 30 – October 2, 2018 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 32% 39% 6%[e] 24%
EPIC-MRA[15] September 21–25, 2018 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 32% 38% 11%[f] 19%
Glengariff Group[16] September 5–7, 2018 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 29% 42% 5% 24%

Fundraising

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Campaign finance reports as of October 21, 2018
Candidate (party) Total receipts Total disbursements Cash 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[17]

Results

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Michigan Attorney General election, 2018[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dana Nessel 2,031,117 49.04% +4.85%
Republican Tom Leonard 1,916,117 46.26% −5.81%
Libertarian Lisa Lane Giola 86,807 2.10% +0.24%
Independent Chris Graveline 69,889 1.69% N/A
Constitution Gerald Van Sickle 38,114 0.92% −0.08%
Total votes 4,142,044 100.0% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican

By congressional district

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Despite losing the state, Leonard won 9 of 14 congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats.[19]

District Leonard Nessel Representative
1st 56% 39% Jack Bergman
2nd 56% 39% Bill Huizenga
3rd 52% 43% Justin Amash
4th 58% 36% John Moolenaar
5th 44% 51% Dan Kildee
6th 51% 44% Fred Upton
7th 53% 42% Tim Walberg
8th 49% 46% Mike Bishop
Elissa Slotkin
9th 40% 55% Sander Levin
Andy Levin
10th 60% 36%
Paul Mitchell
11th 48.3% 48.0% Dave Trott
Haley Stevens
12th 32% 64% Debbie Dingell
13th 17% 79% Brenda Jones
Rashida Tlaib
14th 19% 78% Brenda Lawrence

Notes

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  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ Giola (L) with 3%; Van Sickle (UTP) with 1%; Graveline (I) with 1%
  3. ^ Giola (L) with 4%; "Other candidate" with 5%
  4. ^ "Someone else" with 6%; Giola (L) with 4%
  5. ^ Giola (L) with 4%; Graveline (I) with <1%
  6. ^ "Other party candidate" with 6%; Giola (L) with 5%

References

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  1. ^ Oosting, Jonathan (October 5, 2017). "House speaker joins race for Michigan attorney general". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Gray, Kathleen (September 19, 2017). "2018 races getting crowded for attorney general, secretary of state". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  3. ^ Livengood, Chad (August 17, 2015). "Justice Kelly to leave Michigan Supreme Court". The Detroit News. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  4. ^ Brand-Williams, Oralandar (August 15, 2017). "Same-sex case lawyer to run for Mich. attorney general". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  5. ^ McVicar, Brian (September 27, 2017). "Former U.S. Attorney Pat Miles announces candidacy for Michigan attorney general". MLive.
  6. ^ Gray, Kathleen (December 18, 2017). "Who's running for Michigan Attorney General in 2018?". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  7. ^ Spangler, Todd (December 6, 2017). "Michigan state Sen. Steve Bieda want Sander Levin's seat in Congress". Detroit Free.
  8. ^ Spangler, Todd (October 17, 2017). "State Rep. Tim Greimel joins crowded congressional field". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  9. ^ Cook, Jameson (January 23, 2018). "Eric Smith turns down request to run for Attorney General". Macomb Daily. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  10. ^ Glengariff Group
  11. ^ EPIC-MRA
  12. ^ Michigan State University
  13. ^ Marketing Resource Group
  14. ^ Glengariff Group
  15. ^ EPIC-MRA
  16. ^ Glengariff Group
  17. ^ "Campaign finance data". Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  18. ^ "2018 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/06/2018". mielections.us.
  19. ^ "DRA 2020". Daves Redistricting.
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Official campaign websites