Blue wave washes over Michigan as Dems flip key congressional battlegrounds

The success of Democrats across the nation in Tuesday’s election manifested itself squarely in Michigan’s congressional delegation, which saw three districts change hands from Republicans to Democrats. 

What had been a 7-6 GOP majority has now been reversed to a 9-4 Democratic advantage starting in 2027.

Here are the unofficial results from the U.S. House races across Michigan’s 13 congressional districts:

1st Congressional District

Fending off a push from Democrats at the local and national level, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) won a sixth term.

In a rematch against Traverse City Attorney Callie Barr, Bergman had won over 53.2% of voters when the Associated Press called the race at 1:09 a.m. Wednesday, while Barr received 44.7%.

2nd Congressional District

Emerging victorious against Marine Corps veteran Ben Ambrose, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Caledonia) will serve a seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

According to unofficial results from the Associated Press at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Moolenaar received 62.9% of the vote, while Ambrose received 35.8%

3rd Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) has defeated former broadcast meteorologist Terri DeBoer, winning a third term as representative for Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District.

Unofficial results at 12:54 a.m. Wednesday showed Scholten with 57.3% of the vote while DeBoer received 41.2%.

4th Congressional District

Building on gains in 2022, Democrats have continued to make headway in Western Michigan as state Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) claimed victory Wednesday against U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Holland Township) for his seat in Congress.

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Unofficial results from the Associated Press, which finally called the race at 1:13 p.m. Wednesday, show McCann had 50.1% of the vote while Huizenga received 48.3%.

McCann will conclude his time in the state Legislature and serve as representative for the state’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Allegan and Van Buren counties, and portions of Ottawa, Kalamazoo, Calhoun and Berrien counties.

“I am honored and humbled that the people of Southwest Michigan have put their trust in me to represent and serve this amazing district,” McCann said in a statement. “Thank you to the voters, and to every volunteer and supporter who knocked on doors and made phone calls, talked to their neighbors, and helped out in ways big and small. I will be forever grateful for your support, because you are the heart and soul of this campaign. And thank you to Congressman Bill Huizenga for his years of service to our community.”

5th Congressional District 

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) was easily reelected for a ninth term. Unofficial results show Walberg bested educator and labor organizer Christian Vukasovich with 64.4% of the vote, according to unofficial results shared by the Associated Press, which called the race at 11:11 p.m Tuesday.

6th Congressional District

Voters overwhelmingly reelected U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) for a seventh term. 

Dingell defeated her Republican challenger, Heather Smiley, with 71.8% of the vote according to unofficial results. Smiley received 25.8%.

7th Congressional District

In a tight race for Michigan’s politically purple 7th Congressional District, Lansing area political organizer William Lawrence declared himself the victor against incumbent Congressman Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte).

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Lawrence’s campaign shared their proclamation of victory at 2:49 a.m. Wednesday, though the Associated Press had not yet called the race. 

While Barrett was leading through most of the evening and into the night, Lawrence’s campaign began making gains in the early hours of the morning. 

Barrett departed his election night watch party at 2:39 a.m. without speaking to the media. As of 6:29 a.m., Lawrence was leading by 3.2 percentage points.

“We built an unprecedented movement here in Mid-Michigan, powered by thousands of volunteers, and we showed that you can beat an incumbent Republican without taking a dime of corporate PAC money,” Lawrence said in a statement. “We united people from every corner of this district – and found common ground in opposition to war and data centers, and in favor of good housing and healthcare, social security, jobs and education. Our people-powered movement took on the richest and most powerful people in the world, and we won.”

8th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) defeated retired GM engineer Thomas Smith, winning a second term in the House of Representatives. 

First elected in 2024, McDonald Rivet received 54.4% of the vote according to unofficial results shared by the Associated Press at 1:48 a.m. Wednesday, while Smith received 43%.

While the 8th Congressional District was a key target for Republicans and Democrats in 2024, Smith was never a serious threat to McDonald Rivet’s reelection chances, having won the GOP primary despite dropping out just weeks before. 

9th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Township) will serve a fourth term in Congress, with unofficial results at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday showing she defeated CNC Machinist Ray Pooley with 61.7% of the vote. 

McClain serves as the U.S. House Republican conference chair.

10th Congressional District

In the early hours Wednesday morning, former prosecutor Christina Hines announced her victory over Army National Guard veteran Michael Bouchard Jr.

While Hines declared victory at 3:52 a.m., the Associated Press officially called the race shortly before 12:30 Wednesday afternoon with unofficial results showing Hines with 52.4% of the vote to 45.3% for Bouchard.

The district is currently held by U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), who opted against seeking reelection to run for governor, which was unsuccessful, as he lost to Democrat Jocelyn Benson. Encompassing southern Macomb County, the district also includes Rochester and Rochester Hills in eastern Oakland County. 

A former prosecutor in Wayne and Washtenaw counties, Hines focused her campaign on bringing down costs, emphasizing that as a mother of three and a Macomb county resident, she understood the hardship families in the district are facing.

“This campaign started with a simple truth: that working families in our district are sick of being left behind by corrupt politicians in Washington and deserve someone who will actually put their needs first,” Hines said in a statement. “Over the last 18 months, I have been moved by the thousands of people who have told me their stories, shared their struggles, and demanded more from their leaders. Your words have stayed with me throughout this entire campaign and I will carry them with me to Washington.”

Hines’ win is one of three GOP-held congressional districts in Michigan to flip to Democratic control. Democrat William Lawrence declared victory in the 7th Congressional District early Wednesday over incumbent Republican Congressman Tom Barrett of Charlotte and state Sen. Sean McCann did the same against his opponent, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Holland Township.

11th Congressional District

Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield) emerged victorious against Troy Mayor Ethan Baker, receiving 59.6% of the vote, according to unofficial results shared by the Associated Press at 9:33 p.m. Tuesday. 

Moss, the state’s first openly gay state senator, will be Michigan’s first openly LGBTQ+ representative in Congress. He will succeed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham), who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and then stunned Democrats when she endorsed Republican Mike Rogers just days before the election.

In a statement celebrating his victory, Moss said Michiganders need a Congress that can put a check on the president.

“I will work hard every day to lower costs, protect and expand our healthcare, dismantle ICE, and hold the Trump administration accountable,” Moss said.

12th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) will serve a fifth term in Congress, easily defeating Republican James Hooper, who she previously faced in 2024.

Unofficial results from the Associated Press at 9:33 p.m. Tuesday, show Tlaib with 84.8% of the vote and Hooper with 12.7%.

13th Congressional District

State Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit) will succeed U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar to represent Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. 

McKinney defeated Republican T.P. Nykoriak with 75.5% of the vote, according to unofficial results shared by the Associated Press, which called the race at 10:33 p.m. Tuesday.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel congratulated McKinney on his victory in a statement.

“As a labor organizer and state representative, Donavan has the values and experience we need to fight and deliver for Detroiters in the halls of Congress. His leadership will be key to making the wealthy pay their fair share, expanding access to healthcare and housing, and making sure every Michigander has a fair shot, no matter their zip code.”

The Working Families Party, a minor political party backing progressive candidates, also cheered McKinney’s victory.

“WFP champion Donavan McKinney defeated a sitting Congressman in the primary, despite millions in spending from corporate and crypto interests,” Branden Snyder, state director for the Michigan Working Families Party, said in a statement. “ Now he’s heading to Congress to fight for the community that raised him. We know that Donavan will fight with everything he has to protect the rights of workers and unions, stand up to corporate greed, and bring back investments to Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.”