Michigan Elections Run Through Macomb

Starting with the 1980 election, Macomb County became the center of the American political universe. We were known as the Arsenal of Democracy in World War II, and the center of Michigan auto manufacturing afterward. By 1980, the auto industry was in a rut. We were contested by foreign manufacturers like Japan which began the outsourcing crisis.

At the time Macomb County was known as a Democrat stronghold, but in that election became famous as the home of the Reagan Democrats. In 1980 President Reagan stunned the political world by carrying Macomb County over Jimmy Carter 50% to 40%, and in 1984 won an astounding 66% of the vote against Walter Mondale as those voters agreed that it was as President Reagan said “Morning in America.”

Since that time, we've been poked, prodded and studied by politicians and academics to understand what makes us tick. No longer would we be taken for granted, and that is a wonderful thing. Since those fateful elections in the 1980s, we've been critical to victory for every single state and national candidate. Today is no different.

Since Macomb County became a battleground in 1980, the winner of our community almost always picks the statewide winner for both President and Governor. Bill Clinton in 1992, John Kerry in 2004, and Joe Biden in 2020 are the only candidates for President to carry Michigan without winning Macomb County in 12 elections. For Governor, only Jennifer Granholm in 2002 won statewide without winning Macomb County. So we are nine out of 12 for President and 10 of 11 for Governor. We are even more important for Republicans as George W. Bush in 2004, Dick Posthumus for Governor in 2002, and Donald Trump in 2020 are the only members of the GOP to carry Macomb and not win statewide. No Republican has won statewide without winning Macomb County.

82% of the time we pick the statewide winner, that is a great batting average. During the time that we've been a competitive county, it has forced politicians to focus on our needs and our desires. As a result, our lakes are cleaner, Selfridge Air National Guard Base gets attention, manufacturing is coming back, our home values and wages are rising, and our communities are safe.

If you live in Macomb County don't ever let somebody tell you that your vote doesn't matter. It matters greatly. Together we have built an incredible community that is the envy of the state. Here we hold politician's feet to the fire and expect our priorities and our values to be respected and acted upon.

I'm proud to make Macomb my home, and I will never stop fighting and working to make politicians understand our needs.