LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s U.S. House representation saw only a minor shift in the 2024 election, with Republicans securing a narrow 7-6 majority in the state’s delegation.
Though the shift gives Republicans a slight edge, the overall balance in Michigan’s U.S. House seats remains close to previous years. This small change came thanks to a win in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, where former State Sen. Tom Barrett, a Republican, defeated Democratic challenger Curtis Hertel.
Slotkin’s Senate leap paves the way for Barrett’s House takeover.
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This flip, one of the most closely watched races in the country, occurred as Democrat Elissa Slotkin left her U.S. House seat to successfully run for the U.S. Senate, taking over the seat vacated by Debbie Stabenow. Slotkin’s Senate victory set the stage for Barrett’s win and handed Republicans their slim edge in the U.S. House delegation.
In addition to Barrett, Michigan welcomes another fresh face in the U.S. House: Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, who won a closely contested seat left open by retiring Rep. Dan Kildee. McDonald Rivet’s win ensures the state’s urban-industrial areas around Flint and Saginaw stay in Democratic hands.
Every other district stayed the same with both Republicans and Democrat incumbents holding onto their seats. Representative Rashida Tlaib (Detroit-D), who easily won her re-election bid, did so by getting 9,643 more votes in Dearborn than Kamala Harris.
+1 in House, Senate still Democratic in Michigan representation.
While Michigan Republicans celebrate the delegation’s 7-6 tilt, both Michigan senators remain firmly Democratic, maintaining the state’s broader split in federal representation.
The road ahead.
With Michigan’s federal representation holding steady but inching right in the U.S. House, all eyes will be on how this slim GOP majority navigates legislative goals in the new Congress which is slated to be controlled by the Republicans. As of the posting of this article, the Republicans had a narrow 212 to 201 lead in the House according to Real Clear Politics.
Members of the 119th Congress will be sworn in on January 3rd.
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