ELECTION RESULTS

Interlochen Public Radio | By Linda Stephan

Published November 2, 2010 at 12:00 AM EDT

Republican Rick Snyder's campaign declared victory within minutes of polls closing Tuesday.

UPDATED 6:58 am Snyder Takes Governor By Wide Margin Rick Snyder will be the next governor of Michigan. Media outlets used early returns and exit polls to call the race for Snyder shortly after the polls closed last night. Even the campaign was confident enough to claim victory before 8:15 pm. First Congressional Seat Goes Red In a race widely expected to be one of the closest in the state, Republican Dan Benishek also declared victory early last night against Democrat Gary McDowell. McDowell had conceded the race by 10:00 pm. After 18 years of being represented by Democrat Bart Stupak, the Upper Peninsula and tip the Lower Peninsula down to Bay City, turns red. Camp & Huizenga Also Victorious Republicans also hold on to Michigan's second and third congressional seats. Dave Camp holds his seat, and Bill Huizenga will take over for Pete Hoekstra, who gave up his seat to run for governor in the Primary. Republicans Sweep Attorney General & Secretary of State The G.O.P. nominee for attorney general, Bill Schuette, wins over Democrat David Leyton. Republican Ruth Johnson has defeated Democrat Jocelyn Benson in the race for Secretary of State. State House & Senate Both Go Republican The state Senate will remain under Republican control, but the House of Representatives, which had been saturated with democrats now also swings red. Michigan 101st House Race Democrat Dan Scripps could not withstand the "Republican tsunami." He surrenders his state House seat after just one term to Republican Ray Franz. Scripps' even lost in his home county, Leelanau. McDowell's State House Seat Goes Republican A 24-year-old Republican from Pellston, Frank Foster, has taken over the seat now held by Democrat Gary McDowell. McDowell is term-limited. He has lost in the First Congressional race today. Other Northern Michigan Seats We are not seeing any big other big upsets in northern Michigan state House and Senate races, which were expected to stay with the G.O.P.. These Republicans all take their seats in the House of Representatives with a commanding majority: Wayne Schmidt in the 104th. Greg MacMaster in the 105th. In the state Senate: Howard Walker easily takes the 37th District seat, as does Darwin Booher in the 35th and Geoff Hansen in the 34th. All are Republican. State Supreme Court Swings Republican Republican Justice Robert Young keeps his seat on the bench, joined by Wayne Circuit Judge Mary Beth Kelly. Democratic Justice Alton Thomas Davis leaves the bench. He was just appointed by Granholm earlier this year at the behest of former Justice Betty Weaver. No Surprises On Statewide Ballot Questions Michigan voters do not want to convene a convention to re-write the state constitution. Supporters had said it would be a way to streamline state government. Detractors said it could create an uncertain climate for business. Voters have passed, by a large majority, a second proposal that bans public officials convicted of certain felonies from holding office for 20 years. It was put on the ballot after the conviction of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Traverse City Light & Power Proposals City voters overwhelmingly defeated a proposal to take Traverse City's utility out the hands of its appointed board. But, by another overwhelming majority, voters have agreed to a second proposal. It allows voters to approve any plans for local power generation, such as a biomass plant, by referendum. 86th District Court After a commanding lead in a nonpartisan primary for this race, state Representative Kevin Elsenheimer loses the judgeship to Attorney Mike Stepka. Voters may have responded to robo-calls that went out one night from the Elsenheimer campaign, claiming wrongly that Stepka was endorsed by the local Democratic Party. Grand Traverse County Commission One Democrat who has held on to his seat is Ross Richardson. He held off a challenge by City Commissioner Ralph Soffredine.