2014 Michigan gubernatorial election
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The 2014 Michigan gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Michigan, concurrently with the election of Michigan's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
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Turnout | 41.6% 1.3 [1] | |||||||||||||||||||
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Snyder: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Schauer: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Republican governor Rick Snyder ran for re-election to a second term in office.[2] Primary elections took place on August 5, 2014, in which Snyder and former U.S. representative Mark Schauer were unopposed in the Republican and Democratic primaries, respectively.[3]
Snyder was considered vulnerable in his bid for a second term, as reflected in his low approval ratings.[4][5][6][7] The consensus among The Cook Political Report,[8] Governing,[9] The Rothenberg Political Report,[10] and Sabato's Crystal Ball[11] was that the contest was a "tossup". Snyder was saddled with a negative approval rating, while his Democratic opponent, former U.S. representative Mark Schauer, suffered from a lack of name recognition.[12][13] Despite having a more centrist voting record in the House of Representatives,[14] Schauer ran as more of a populist who put education, unions and taxes as his top priorities.[15]
Despite concerns about his approval rating hurting his chances at victory, Snyder was re-elected with 50.9% of the vote. As of 2025, this was the last time a Republican won the governorship of Michigan. This is also the last time the Republican candidate won the counties of Kalamazoo, Oakland, Clinton, Macomb, Kent, Leelanau, and Isabella, and the last time the Democratic candidate won the counties of Alger, Baraga, and Manistee. As of 2025, this is the last time that the winner of the Michigan gubernatorial election won a majority of Michigan's counties. This was the first election since 1990 that the winner was of a different party than the concurrent Senate election.
Republican primary
Summarize
Perspective
Polling indicated significant opposition from Republican primary voters in Michigan towards Snyder's bid for re-election.[16][17][18][19] This came in the midst of discussions by the Tea Party network regarding whether incumbent lieutenant governor Brian Calley should be replaced as Snyder's running mate.[16][20] Snyder started running campaign ads in September 2013, immediately following the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference[21] and formally declared that he is seeking re-election in January 2014.[2]
In August 2013, Tea Party leader Wes Nakagiri announced that he would challenge Calley for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.[22][23][24] At the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference (September 20–22, 2013), speculation reported by the media also included Todd Courser as a potential challenger to Calley.[25] At the Michigan Republican Party state convention, which took take place on August 23, 2014, incumbent lieutenant governor Brian Calley won renomination.[26]
On January 3, 2014, Mark McFarlin (who had originally declared his intention to run as a Democrat the previous November), announced that he would be running for the Republican nomination.[27][28] He believed that his populist platform was too conservative for the Democratic ticket, and that he could get crossover support in the general election. However, he did not submit his filing petitions in time to qualify for the August primary ballot.[3]
Candidates
Declared
- Rick Snyder, incumbent governor of Michigan[2]
Failed to qualify
Declined
- Mike Bishop, former Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate (running for Congress)[29]
- Todd Courser, Tea Party activist, candidate for the Michigan Board of Education in 2012 and for chairman of the Michigan Republican Party in 2013[30][31]
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder |
Dave Agema |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harper Polling[32] | September 4, 2013 | 958 | ±3.17% | 64% | 16% | 20% |
iCaucus Michigan[33] | August 26–30, 2013 | 744 | ± 4.08% | 32.39% | 42.34% | 25.27% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder |
Mike Bishop |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iCaucus Michigan[33] | August 26–30, 2013 | 744 | ± 4.08% | 36.83% | 24.19% | 38.98% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder |
Keith Butler |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iCaucus Michigan[33] | August 26–30, 2013 | 744 | ± 4.08% | 38.98% | 11.29% | 49.73% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder |
Betsy DeVos |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iCaucus Michigan[33] | August 26–30, 2013 | 744 | ± 4.08% | 40.59% | 18.41% | 40.99% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder |
Gary Glenn |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iCaucus Michigan[33] | August 26–30, 2013 | 744 | ± 4.08% | 39.11% | 30.78% | 30.11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder |
Pete Hoekstra |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iCaucus Michigan[33] | August 26–30, 2013 | 744 | ± 4.08% | 47.04% | 21.77% | 31.18% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder |
Bill Schuette |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iCaucus Michigan[33] | August 26–30, 2013 | 744 | ± 4.08% | 31.85% | 38.44% | 29.70% |
Hypothetical polling
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rick Snyder (incumbent) | 617,720 | 100 | |
Total votes | 617,720 | 100 |
Democratic primary
Summarize
Perspective
Michigan Democratic Party leadership rallied support behind former U.S. representative Mark Schauer, who ran unopposed in the Democratic Party primary. Party Chairman Lon Johnson encouraged all other potential challengers to stay out of the race so as to avoid a costly and potentially bitter primary campaign.[35] Conservative Democrat and "birther" Mark McFarlin had announced on November 29, 2013, that he was running for the Democratic nomination for governor,[27] but he switched parties on January 3, 2014,[28] leaving Schauer as the only candidate for the Democratic nomination.
Candidates
Declared
- Mark Schauer, former U.S. representative[36]
- Running mate: Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk & Register of Deeds and former state representative[37]
Withdrew
- Mark McFarlin, private investigator and Independent write-in candidate for governor in 2002 (ran as a Republican)[27][28]
Declined
- John C. Austin, president of the Michigan Board of Education[38]
- Vicki Barnett, Minority Whip of the Michigan House of Representatives[39]
- Jocelyn Benson, dean of Wayne State University Law School and nominee for Michigan Secretary of State in 2010[35][40]
- Virgil Bernero, Mayor of Lansing and nominee for governor in 2010[41]
- Mark Bernstein, attorney and Regent of the University of Michigan[35]
- Mike Duggan, Mayor-elect of Detroit and former Wayne County Prosecutor[42]
- Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive[43]
- Dan Kildee, U.S. representative[44]
- Gary Peters, U.S. representative (running for the U.S. Senate)[45]
- Bart Stupak, former U.S. representative[46]
- Gretchen Whitmer, Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate[47]
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Mark Schauer |
Bob King |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mitchell Research[48] | May 28, 2013 | 361 | ± 5.16% | 31% | 38% | 31% |
Hypothetical polling
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Mark Schauer | 513,263 | 100 | |
Total votes | 513,263 | 100 |
Minor parties
Candidates
Libertarian Party
- Mary Buzuma, nominee for Michigan's 2nd congressional district in 2012[49][50]
- Running mate: Scott Boman, activist, former chairman of the Libertarian Party of Michigan and perennial candidate
Green Party
- Paul Homeniuk[51]
- Running mate: Candace Caveny, nominee for the state senate in 2006, 2008 and 2010 and nominee for the State Board of Education in 2012
U.S. Taxpayers Party
Independents
Candidates
Declared
- Robin Sanders, retired from the United States Navy and the Michigan Department of Corrections[52]
General election
Summarize
Perspective
Debates
- Complete video of debate, October 12, 2014 - C-SPAN
Predictions
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[53] | Tossup | November 3, 2014 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[54] | Lean R | November 3, 2014 |
Rothenberg Political Report[55] | Tilt R | November 3, 2014 |
Real Clear Politics[56] | Tossup | November 3, 2014 |
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder (R) |
Mark Schauer (D) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mitchell Research[57] | November 3, 2014 | 1,310 | ± 2.7% | 48% | 47% | 3%[58] | 2% |
Mitchell Research[59] | November 2, 2014 | 1,224 | ± 2.8% | 47% | 47% | 4%[60] | 3% |
Clarity Campaign Labs[61] | November 1–2, 2014 | 1,003 | ± 3.08% | 45% | 45% | — | 10% |
Public Policy Polling[62] | November 1–2, 2014 | 914 | ± 3.2% | 46% | 45% | 4%[63] | 5% |
47% | 47% | — | 5% | ||||
EPIC-MRA[64] | October 26–28, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 45% | 43% | 3% | 9% |
Mitchell Research[65] | October 27, 2014 | 1,159 | ± 2.88% | 48% | 43% | 3%[66] | 5% |
Glengariff Group[67] | October 22–24, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 45% | 40% | 5% | 10% |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[68] | October 16–23, 2014 | 2,394 | ± 3% | 44% | 45% | 1% | 11% |
Rasmussen Reports[69] | October 20–22, 2014 | 1,000 | ± 3% | 49% | 46% | 2% | 3% |
Public Policy Polling[70] | October 20–21, 2014 | 723 | ± ? | 48% | 48% | — | 4% |
Clarity Campaign Labs[71] | October 19–20, 2014 | 1,032 | ± ? | 41% | 44% | — | 15% |
Mitchell Research[72] | October 19, 2014 | 919 | ± 3.23% | 48% | 46% | 3%[58] | 3% |
EPIC-MRA[73] | October 17–19, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 47% | 39% | 3% | 11% |
Clarity Campaign Labs[74] | October 12–14, 2014 | 967 | ± 3.16% | 44% | 42% | — | 13% |
Clarity Campaign Labs[71] | October 11–13, 2014 | 1,032 | ± ? | 44% | 43% | — | 13% |
Mitchell Research[75] | October 12, 2014 | 1,340 | ± 2.68% | 47% | 44% | 3%[58] | 6% |
Mitchell Research[76] | October 9, 2014 | 1,306 | ± 2.71% | 47% | 46% | 4%[77] | 3% |
Glengariff Group[78] | October 2–4, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 45% | 37% | 3%[79] | 15% |
Public Policy Polling[80] | October 2–3, 2014 | 654 | ± 3.8% | 47% | 46% | — | 7% |
Marketing Resource Group[81] | September 30–October 1, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 46% | 41% | 4% | 10% |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[82] | September 20–October 1, 2014 | 2,560 | ± 2% | 44% | 46% | 1% | 9% |
Lake Research Partners[83] | September 27–30, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 44% | 43% | — | 12% |
Mitchell Research[84] | September 29, 2014 | 1,178 | ± 2.86% | 46% | 42% | 5%[85] | 8% |
EPIC-MRA[86] | September 25–29, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 45% | 39% | 8% | 8% |
Target-Insyght[87] | September 22–24, 2014 | 616 | ± 4% | 44% | 45% | — | 11% |
Public Policy Polling[88] | September 18–19, 2014 | 852 | ± 3.4% | 46% | 44% | — | 10% |
We Ask America[89] | September 18–19, 2014 | 1,182 | ± 3% | 43% | 43% | 4%[79] | 10% |
Rasmussen Reports[69] | September 17–18, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 47% | 41% | 3% | 9% |
Denno Research[90] | September 11–13, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 43% | 40% | — | 17% |
Mitchell Research[91] | September 10, 2014 | 829 | ± 3.4% | 46% | 41% | 7%[92] | 6% |
Suffolk[93] | September 6–10, 2014 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 43% | 45% | 4%[79] | 8% |
Public Policy Polling[94] | September 4–7, 2014 | 687 | ± 3.7% | 43% | 42% | 6%[95] | 9% |
46% | 44% | — | 10% | ||||
Glengariff Group[96] | September 3–5, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 44% | 42% | 3% | 12% |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[97] | August 18–September 2, 2014 | 2,897 | ± 3% | 44% | 43% | 1% | 12% |
Mitchell Research[98] | August 27, 2014 | 1,004 | ± 3.09% | 47% | 46% | — | 7% |
EPIC-MRA[99] | August 22–25, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 43% | 45% | — | 12% |
Lake Research Partners[83] | August 6–11, 2014 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 46% | 38% | — | 15% |
Mitchell Research[100] | August 5, 2014 | 626 | ± 5% | 47% | 42% | — | 11% |
Rasmussen Reports[69] | July 28–29, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 45% | 42% | 5% | 8% |
Marketing Resource Group[101] | July 26–30, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 45% | 44% | — | 11% |
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[102] | July 5–24, 2014 | 3,812 | ± 2.8% | 46% | 43% | 1% | 9% |
Mitchell Research[103] | July 7–17, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 43% | 39% | — | 17% |
EPIC-MRA[104] | July 12–15, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 46% | 43% | — | 11% |
Denno Research[105] | July 9–11, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 43% | 35% | — | 22% |
NBC News/Marist[106] | July 7–10, 2014 | 870 | ± 3.3% | 46% | 44% | 1% | 9% |
Public Policy Polling[107] | June 26–29, 2014 | 578 | ± 4.1% | 40% | 40% | — | 20% |
Mitchell Research[108] | June 6, 2014 | 961 | ± 3.16% | 46% | 41% | — | 13% |
Glengariff Group[109] | May 20–22, 2014 | 600 | ± 4.3% | 45% | 35% | — | 20% |
EPIC-MRA[110] | May 17–20, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 47% | 38% | — | 15% |
Hickman Analytics[111] | April 24–30, 2014 | 502 | ± 4.4% | 48% | 37% | — | 15% |
Magellan Strategies[112] | April 14–15, 2014 | 875 | ± 3.31% | 45% | 42% | 9% | 4% |
Mitchell Research[113] | April 9, 2014 | 1,460 | ± 2.56% | 49% | 37% | — | 15% |
Public Policy Polling[114] | April 3–6, 2014 | 825 | ± 3.4% | 43% | 39% | — | 18% |
Marketing Resource Group[115] | March 24–28, 2014 | 600 | ± 4.1% | 47% | 39% | — | 14% |
Denno Research[116] | March 9–10, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 42% | 39% | — | 20% |
Benenson Strategy Group[117] | March 4–7, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 45% | 42% | — | 9% |
Public Opinion Strategies[118] | March 2–4, 2014 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 45% | 36% | — | 19% |
Clarity Campaigns[119] | February 22–23, 2014 | 859 | ± 2.55 | 40% | 47% | — | 12% |
Target Insyght[120] | February 18–20, 2014 | 600 | ± ? | 47% | 38% | — | 15% |
EPIC-MRA[121] | February 5–11, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 47% | 39% | — | 14% |
Harper Polling[122] | January 7–8, 2014 | 1,004 | ± 3.09% | 47% | 35% | — | 18% |
Public Policy Polling[123] | December 5–8, 2013 | 1,034 | ± 3% | 44% | 40% | — | 16% |
Denno Research[124] | November 12–14, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 45% | 31% | — | 25% |
Inside Michigan Politics[125] | October 29, 2013 | 794 | ± 4% | 36% | 34% | — | 30% |
MRG/Mitchell Research[126] | October 6–10, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 50% | 36% | — | 14% |
EPIC-MRA[127] | September 7–10, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 44% | 36% | — | 20% |
Denno Research[128] | July 23–24, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 43% | 37% | — | 20% |
Public Policy Polling[129] | May 30–June 2, 2013 | 697 | ± 3.7% | 38% | 42% | — | 20% |
EPIC-MRA[130] | May 11–15, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 39% | 39% | — | 22% |
EPIC-MRA[131] | April 13–16, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 38% | 39% | — | 23% |
Public Policy Polling[132] | March 2–4, 2013 | 702 | ± 3.7% | 36% | 40% | — | 24% |
Public Policy Polling[133] | December 13–16, 2012 | 650 | ± 3.8% | 39% | 44% | — | 18% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder (R) |
Virg Bernero (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[132] | March 2–4, 2013 | 702 | ± 3.7% | 38% | 43% | 19% |
Public Policy Polling[133] | December 13–16, 2012 | 650 | ± 3.8% | 38% | 49% | 12% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder (R) |
Gary Peters (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[132] | March 2–4, 2013 | 702 | ± 3.7% | 37% | 44% | 19% |
Public Policy Polling[133] | December 13–16, 2012 | 650 | ± 3.8% | 39% | 47% | 14% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder (R) |
Bart Stupak (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EPIC-MRA[131] | April 13–16, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 39% | 38% | 23% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Snyder (R) |
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling[133] | December 13–16, 2012 | 650 | ± 3.8% | 38% | 46% | 16% |
Hypothetical polling
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rick Snyder (incumbent) | 1,607,399 | 50.92% | −7.19% | |
Democratic | Mark Schauer | 1,479,057 | 46.86% | +6.96% | |
Libertarian | Mary Buzuma | 35,723 | 1.13% | +0.44% | |
Constitution | Mark McFarlin | 19,368 | 0.61% | −0.04% | |
Green | Paul Homeniuk | 14,934 | 0.47% | −0.17% | |
n/a | Write-ins | 50 | 0.00% | N/A | |
Total votes | 3,156,531 | 100.0% | N/A | ||
Republican hold |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
By congressional district
Snyder won 9 of 14 congressional districts.[135]
District | Snyder | Schauer | Representative |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 54.0% | 43.28% | Dan Benishek |
2nd | 62.7% | 34.87% | Bill Huizenga |
3rd | 60.6% | 37.18% | Justin Amash |
4th | 55.1% | 42.05% | John Moolenaar |
5th | 39.95% | 57.59% | Dan Kildee |
6th | 55.91% | 41.21% | Fred Upton |
7th | 54.37% | 43.29% | Tim Walberg |
8th | 58.07% | 39.99% | Mike Bishop |
9th | 47.19% | 50.68% | Sander Levin |
10th | 59.08% | 38.42% | Candice Miller |
11th | 62.31% | 36.02% | David Trott |
12th | 41.27% | 56.53% | Debbie Dingell |
13th | 20.26% | 78.15% | John Conyers Jr. |
14th | 27.52% | 71.43% | Brenda Lawrence |
See also
References
External links
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