Michigan Democrats watch races for White House and Senate become nailbiters
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow speaks and the Michigan Democrats' party in Detroit, Nov. 5, 2024 | Andrew Roth
Democrats in Michigan started Tuesday night with optimism, but are now looking at considerably narrower paths to victory for races up and down the ballot.
As of 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, not only was former President Donald Trump leading in Michigan over Vice President Kamala Harris, so was former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) in his race for U.S. Senate against U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly).
Former state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) led former state Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) for Slotkin's soon-to-be former 7th Congressional District.
"The votes are in. We're counting them now, and when the dust settles, I'm confident that we're going to come out ahead," Barrett told supporters in Howell after taking an early lead in the returns.
While the seat was considered to be a toss-up for the bulk of campaign season, the nonpartisan Cook Political report amended its rating last week to "lean Republican."
Hertel's supporters were gathered in Lansing, but he had not addressed the crowd as of 11:30 p.m.
Barrett cast his ballot this morning at Carmel Township Hall in Eaton County, speaking with reporters around 8:15 a.m. about the state of his campaign for U.S. House and his tradition of going to the polls with his family.
Barrett told reporters he's feeling confident headed into Election Day, but that his campaign isn't taking anything for granted.
Joined by his wife and four children, Barrett said his family has been a big motivator in running for Congress. They always stop by the polls before taking the kids to school in order to involve the whole family.
He also told reporters he saw some community members he knew while voting.
"This is one of the reasons why, you know, I like coming into the polls and kind of being physically here, because you end up seeing neighbors, friends, people that you know, which is a good thing, because I think it builds that kind of community element of voting," Barrett said.
Meanwhile, in Detroit, Democrats gathered Tuesday evening for what they hoped would be a victory party.
"Michigan is the center of the political universe tonight, and we are going to deliver a victory for Kamala Harris," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Traverse City-area resident.
Also speaking was UAW President Shawn Fain, whose union had gone all in on supporting Harris and the entire Democratic slate.
"When we get a win, it's going to be because the hard work that we all put in together, " he said. "It's our generation-defining moment. You know, the last time we had a moment like this in history, we saw the massive expansion of the working class, the greatest economic expansion in this country for decades. That's the opportunity we have right now before us. That's what this election is about."
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) was also effusive in his praise, telling supporters that getting Slotkin to the Senate was imperative.
"We've got to make sure she wins. She has run an incredible campaign. All of you have put your heart and soul into this race. That's why we've come together to celebrate all of the work we've done, and soon we'll start seeing some results coming in, and we can talk about that," said Peters.
But as the night wore on, the early lead Slotkin banked up began to dissipate and was eventually overtaken by Rogers. However, returns from Detroit, expected to be a Democratic stronghold, remained largely unreported.
The seat Slotkin and Rogers are battling for is currently held by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), who decided not to seek another term and placed Michigan's Senate seat up for grabs.
"I'm very, very honored to have had the opportunity to serve you in the United States Senate, and so I want to first say thank you. It has been my honor to get up every day and suit up and be able to go and fight for you. It is now my honor and excitement to know I'm going to be passing the torch to somebody who loves Michigan as much as I do, and is going to make sure that we continue the one two months, going to be a great United States senator," Stabenow said, referencing Slotkin.
