2018 Michigan August primary election results

In today's election, Manchester Township passed its proposal to renew and increase extra-voted millage to offset Headlee Rollbacks. Precinct 2 voted yes 374 (61.41%) to no 235 (38.59%). Precinct 1 yes 310 (64.99%) to no 167 (35.01%).

Voter Turnout in all five Manchester area precincts was in the 30% to 40% range with Manchester Village at 32.91%, Manchester Township at 35.51%, Sharon Township at 38.71%, Freedom Township at 39.19% and Bridgewater Township at 35.21%.

At 11pm Tuesday Night, it appears Gretchen Whitmer and Bill Schutte will face off against each other in the Govenor’s race in November.

With 51% precincts reporting, Gretchen Whitmer has won the Democratic Governor’s race with 50.2% to Abdul El-Sayed’s 33.6% and Shri Thander’s 16.2%. Of the counties that have reported, Whitmer won every county except Kent and Grand Traverse counties which went to El-Sayed. All Manchester area precincts went for Whitmer.

With 54% of predicts reporting, Bill Schuette has won the in the GOP Governor’s race with Bill Schuette at 50%, Brian Calley at 24%, Patrick Colbeck at 14% and Jim Hines at 10%. Although not how the vote broke down state-wide, all Manchester area precincts went for Schuette, then Colebeck, then Calley with Hines in last. Colebeck nearly tied Schutte in Freedom Township with Schutte receiving 96 votes and Colebeck receiving 95 votes.

It appears John James has won the Republican US Senator primary and will face incumbent Debbie Stabenow in November. With 52% of the precincts reporting, John James has 56.9% and Sandy Pensler has 43.1%. Pensler won most northern lower peninsula counties and eastern upper peninsula counties while James won southern lower peninsula counties and western upper peninsula counties. John James won in every precinct in the Manchester area.

With 68% reporting, it seems Gretchen Driskell has won the Democratic primary for US Representative in the 7th District and will face incumbent, Tim Walberg in November with Gretchen Driskell’s 85.4% to Steven Friday’s 14.6%. In all Manchester area precincts Driskell won.

In the Republican State Senator Primary for the 22nd district, with 80% reporting, it appears Lana Theis has won with 75.05% to Joseph Converse Marinaro’s 24.95%. In all Manchester area precicints Theis won. Theis will face Democrat Adam Dreher who was uncontested in his primary in November.

In addition to the Democratic and Republican primaries, the Libertarian party held a primary to select their candidate for governor. With 64% of precincts reporting in the Libertarian Governor’s race, Bill Gelineau is ahead with 59% against John Tatar with 40%. 

With so few Libertarian voters participating, Manchester area precincts varied in their preferences. In Manchester Village Gelineau won 5 to 0. In Manchester Township they tied 3 to 3. In Sharon Township no votes were cast in the Libertarian primary. In Freedom Township Gelineau won 2 to 0. And in Bridgewater Township, Tartar won 1 to 0.

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.