Michigan Voter Guide: Key Races

As is often the case, Michigan finds itself at or near the center of the political universe again in 2024 and the Aug. 6 primary will help set the down-ballot races to be decided in a hotly contested presidential year. Those races will help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, the state Legislature and local offices and the Detroit Free Press will be keeping track of all of them.

Michigan U.S. Senate

The big ? and only ? statewide race this fall beyond the campaign for U.S. president is for a rare open U.S. Senate seat created when the incumbent Democrat, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, decided early last year not to run for a fifth 6-year term. The last time a Senate seat was open in Michigan was in 2014. Republicans sense a chance to win this year but if they do, it will mark the first time since 1994 a Democrat has lost a U.S. Senate race in the state.

Learn more about the Michigan U.S. Senate candidates

Michigan U.S. House

The state has 13 U.S. House seats to be decided but only a handful of those are expected to be competitive, starting with open seats in mid-Michigan and around the Flint-Saginaw-Bay City area. Democrats hold the slightest edge in the current congressional delegation, with a 7-6 margin in U.S. House seats. The Aug. 6 primaries will help set the stage for resolving those races.

Learn more about the Michigan U.S. House District 1 candidates

Learn more about the Michigan U.S. House District 3 candidates

Learn more about the Michigan U.S. House District 4 candidates

Learn more about the Michigan U.S. House District 8 candidates

Learn more about the Michigan U.S. House District 10 candidates

Learn more about the Michigan U.S. House District 11 candidates

Learn more about the Michigan U.S. House District 12 candidates

Learn more about the Michigan U.S. House District 13 candidates

Michigan State House

For the first time in 40 years, Democrats control both chambers of the Michigan Legislature, as well as the offices of governor, attorney general and secretary of state. For that to continue next year, they'll need to continue to hold the majority in the State House of Representatives, with 110 seats up for grabs. The primaries will help determine if Republicans are in a position to topple the Democrats' slim 56-54 majority.

Learn more about the Michigan State House candidates

Michigan County Officials

The primary elections in Michigan also include a slew of races setting up the November general elections for countywide offices, including many in populous Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties.

Learn more about Wayne County key races

Learn more about Oakland County key races

Learn more about Macomb County key races

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Voter Guide: Key Races