| Elections in Michigan |
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The 1982 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Democrat James J. Blanchard defeated Republican Richard Headlee by 6.31% to become the first Democrat to win the governor’s mansion in Michigan since 1960.
Primary election
Michigan held primary elections on August 10, 1982.
Republican party
Incumbent Governor William Milliken decided to retire rather than seek a fourth full term as governor. Businessman Richard Headlee narrowly defeated lieutenant governor James Brickley and L. Brooks Patterson in a three-way race for the Republican nomination.
Candidates
- James H. Brickley, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
- Richard Headlee, businessman and anti-tax activist
- L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Prosecutor
- Jack Welborn, member of Michigan Senate
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard Headlee | 220,378 | 34.36% | |
| Republican | James H. Brickley | 194,429 | 30.31% | |
| Republican | L. Brooks Patterson | 180,065 | 28.07% | |
| Republican | Jack Welborn | 46,505 | 7.25% | |
| Republican | Scattering | 42 | 0.01% | |
| Total votes | 641,419 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic party
Congressman James J. Blanchard won the Democratic primary against six other candidates, including William B. Fitzgerald, the party's nominee for governor in the previous election.
Candidates
- James J. Blanchard, Representative from Michigan's 18th congressional district
- Zolton Ferency, member of Ingham County Board of Commissioners and Democratic nominee for governor in 1966
- William B. Fitzgerald, for member of Michigan Senate and Democratic nominee for governor in 1978
- Kerry Kammer, member of Michigan Senate[2][3]
- Edward H. Pierce, member of Michigan Senate[4][3]
- David A. Plaweki, member of Michigan Senate[5][3]
- John Safran, former member of Lapeer County Board of Commissioners[3]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James J. Blanchard | 406,941 | 50.22% | |
| Democratic | William B. Fitzgerald | 138,453 | 17.09% | |
| Democratic | David A. Plaweki | 95,805 | 11.82% | |
| Democratic | Zolton Ferency | 85,088 | 10.50% | |
| Democratic | Edward H. Pierce | 44,894 | 5.54% | |
| Democratic | Kerry Kammer | 32,221 | 3.98% | |
| Democratic | John Safran | 6,782 | 0.84% | |
| Democratic | Scattering | 60 | 0.01% | |
| Total votes | 810,244 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
Major party candidates
- Richard Headlee & Thomas E. Brennan, Republican
- James J. Blanchard & Martha Griffiths, Democratic
Other candidates
- Tim Craine & Elizabeth Ziers, Socialist Workers
- Dick Jacobs & Steven J. Furr, Libertarian
- Martin P. McLaughlin & Ruth Keedy, Workers League
- James Phillips & DeLoyd G. Hesselink, American Independent
- Robert Tisch & Clair White, Tisch Independent Citizens
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James J. Blanchard | 1,561,291 | 51.36% | +8.21% | |
| Republican | Richard Headlee | 1,369,582 | 45.05% | −11.74% | |
| Tisch Independent Citizens | Robert Tisch | 80,288 | 2.64% | ||
| Libertarian | Dick Jacobs | 15,603 | 0.51% | ||
| American Independent | James Phillips | 7,356 | 0.24% | ||
| Socialist Workers | Tim Craine | 3,682 | 0.12% | ||
| Workers League | Martin P. McLaughlin | 1,980 | 0.07% | ||
| Scattering | 226 | 0.01% | |||
| Majority | 191,709 | 6.31% | |||
| Total votes | 3,040,008 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | +19.95% | |||
Results by county
Luce County and Washtenaw County voted Democratic for the first time since 1914. Additionally, Alpena County and Saginaw County voted Democratic for the first time since 1932 and 1936, respectively.
| County[6] | James J. Blanchard Democratic |
Richard Headlee Republican |
Robert Tisch Independent |
Dick Jacobs Libertarian |
All Others Various |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Alcona | 1,852 | 45.03% | 2,153 | 52.35% | 74 | 1.80% | 10 | 0.24% | 24 | 0.58% | -301 | -7.32% | 4,113 |
| Alger | 1,993 | 57.95% | 1,372 | 39.90% | 46 | 1.34% | 12 | 0.35% | 16 | 0.47% | 621 | 18.06% | 3,439 |
| Allegan | 8,849 | 34.53% | 15,927 | 62.15% | 580 | 2.26% | 156 | 0.61% | 115 | 0.45% | -7,078 | -27.62% | 25,627 |
| Alpena | 5,744 | 49.94% | 5,516 | 47.96% | 124 | 1.08% | 43 | 0.37% | 75 | 0.65% | 228 | 1.98% | 11,502 |
| Antrim | 2,799 | 41.73% | 3,669 | 54.70% | 146 | 2.18% | 57 | 0.85% | 37 | 0.55% | -870 | -12.97% | 6,708 |
| Arenac | 2,502 | 50.15% | 2,237 | 44.84% | 211 | 4.23% | 15 | 0.30% | 24 | 0.48% | 265 | 5.31% | 4,989 |
| Baraga | 1,697 | 52.93% | 1,367 | 42.64% | 34 | 1.06% | 17 | 0.53% | 91 | 2.84% | 330 | 10.29% | 3,206 |
| Barry | 6,670 | 40.27% | 9,313 | 56.22% | 421 | 2.54% | 93 | 0.56% | 67 | 0.40% | -2,643 | -15.96% | 16,564 |
| Bay | 23,028 | 54.45% | 16,086 | 38.04% | 2,826 | 6.68% | 210 | 0.50% | 140 | 0.33% | 6,942 | 16.42% | 42,290 |
| Benzie | 1,980 | 43.94% | 2,345 | 52.04% | 103 | 2.29% | 47 | 1.04% | 31 | 0.69% | -365 | -8.10% | 4,506 |
| Berrien | 18,753 | 41.15% | 25,453 | 55.85% | 958 | 2.10% | 208 | 0.46% | 202 | 0.44% | -6,700 | -14.70% | 45,574 |
| Branch | 4,474 | 37.73% | 6,910 | 58.28% | 382 | 3.22% | 42 | 0.35% | 49 | 0.41% | -2,436 | -20.54% | 11,857 |
| Calhoun | 22,564 | 45.34% | 25,646 | 51.54% | 1,181 | 2.37% | 152 | 0.31% | 220 | 0.44% | -3,082 | -6.19% | 49,763 |
| Cass | 6,273 | 47.33% | 6,552 | 49.43% | 316 | 2.38% | 60 | 0.45% | 53 | 0.40% | -279 | -2.11% | 13,254 |
| Charlevoix | 3,600 | 45.58% | 4,062 | 51.43% | 127 | 1.61% | 59 | 0.75% | 50 | 0.63% | 462 | 5.85% | 7,898 |
| Cheboygan | 3,946 | 49.65% | 3,809 | 47.93% | 122 | 1.54% | 39 | 0.49% | 31 | 0.39% | 137 | 1.72% | 7,947 |
| Chippewa | 5,332 | 50.56% | 4,990 | 47.32% | 112 | 1.06% | 53 | 0.50% | 59 | 0.56% | 342 | 3.24% | 10,546 |
| Clare | 4,113 | 49.55% | 3,865 | 46.57% | 273 | 2.93% | 43 | 0.52% | 36 | 0.43% | 248 | 2.99% | 8,300 |
| Clinton | 7,569 | 37.97% | 11,267 | 56.53% | 873 | 4.38% | 114 | 0.57% | 109 | 0.55% | -3,698 | -18.55% | 19,932 |
| Crawford | 1,770 | 45.95% | 1,948 | 50.57% | 98 | 2.54% | 21 | 0.55% | 15 | 0.39% | -178 | -4.62% | 3,852 |
| Delta | 7,953 | 59.10% | 5,283 | 39.26% | 131 | 0.97% | 38 | 0.28% | 52 | 0.39% | 2,670 | 19.84% | 13,457 |
| Dickinson | 4,766 | 49.54% | 4,622 | 48.04% | 175 | 1.82% | 25 | 0.26% | 33 | 0.34% | 144 | 1.50% | 9,621 |
| Eaton | 12,767 | 40.64% | 17,330 | 55.16% | 953 | 3.03% | 223 | 0.71% | 145 | 0.46% | -4,563 | -14.52% | 31,418 |
| Emmet | 3,617 | 41.38% | 4,929 | 56.39% | 105 | 1.20% | 57 | 0.65% | 33 | 0.38% | -1,312 | -15.01% | 8,741 |
| Genesee | 81,331 | 57.71% | 50,268 | 35.67% | 7,732 | 5.49% | 1,013 | 0.72% | 578 | 0.41% | 31,063 | 22.04% | 140,922 |
| Gladwin | 3,546 | 51.99% | 2,982 | 43.72% | 237 | 3.47% | 32 | 0.47% | 24 | 0.35% | 564 | 8.27% | 6,821 |
| Gogebic | 4,730 | 66.30% | 2,323 | 32.56% | 43 | 0.60% | 12 | 0.17% | 26 | 0.36% | 2,407 | 33.74% | 7,134 |
| Grand Traverse | 7,081 | 35.65% | 12,188 | 61.37% | 307 | 1.55% | 198 | 1.00% | 87 | 0.44% | -5,107 | -25.71% | 19,861 |
| Gratiot | 4,963 | 42.65% | 6,186 | 53.16% | 383 | 3.29% | 58 | 0.50% | 47 | 0.40% | -1,223 | -10.51% | 11,637 |
| Hillsdale | 3,915 | 32.10% | 7,696 | 63.10% | 486 | 3.98% | 46 | 0.38% | 54 | 0.44% | -3,781 | -31.00% | 12,197 |
| Houghton | 6,598 | 53.12% | 5,582 | 44.94% | 112 | 0.90% | 67 | 0.54% | 61 | 0.49% | 1,016 | 8.18% | 12,420 |
| Huron | 4,589 | 37.48% | 7,309 | 59.69% | 245 | 2.00% | 40 | 0.33% | 62 | 0.51% | -2,720 | -22.21% | 12,245 |
| Ingham | 50,120 | 51.12% | 44,205 | 45.08% | 1,986 | 2.03% | 1,115 | 1.14% | 625 | 0.64% | 5,915 | 6.03% | 98,051 |
| Ionia | 6,789 | 41.61% | 8,794 | 53.89% | 450 | 2.76% | 190 | 1.16% | 94 | 0.58% | -2,005 | -12.29% | 16,317 |
| Iosco | 4,488 | 49.18% | 4,346 | 47.62% | 233 | 2.55% | 34 | 0.37% | 25 | 0.27% | 142 | 1.56% | 9,126 |
| Iron | 3,672 | 58.33% | 2,516 | 39.97% | 73 | 1.16% | 16 | 0.25% | 18 | 0.29% | 1,156 | 18.36% | 6,295 |
| Isabella | 6,318 | 44.47% | 7,350 | 51.74% | 318 | 2.24% | 137 | 0.96% | 83 | 0.58% | -1,032 | -7.26% | 14,206 |
| Jackson | 20,608 | 40.46% | 28,507 | 55.97% | 1,336 | 2.62% | 262 | 0.51% | 216 | 0.42% | -7,899 | -15.51% | 50,929 |
| Kalamazoo | 33,566 | 47.02% | 36,050 | 50.50% | 748 | 1.05% | 671 | 0.94% | 347 | 0.49% | -2,484 | -3.48% | 71,382 |
| Kalkaska | 1,725 | 43.51% | 2,073 | 52.28% | 101 | 2.55% | 29 | 0.73% | 37 | 0.93% | -348 | -8.78% | 3,965 |
| Kent | 69,327 | 42.66% | 88,760 | 54.62% | 3,011 | 1.85% | 673 | 0.41% | 740 | 0.46% | -19,433 | -11.96% | 162,511 |
| Keweenaw | 619 | 56.89% | 461 | 42.37% | 5 | 0.46% | 2 | 0.18% | 1 | 0.09% | 158 | 14.52% | 1,088 |
| Lake | 1,786 | 56.20% | 1,246 | 39.21% | 120 | 3.78% | 14 | 0.44% | 12 | 0.38% | 540 | 16.99% | 3,178 |
| Lapeer | 9,299 | 41.87% | 11,359 | 51.14% | 1,375 | 6.19% | 107 | 0.48% | 71 | 0.32% | -2,060 | -9.27% | 22,211 |
| Leelanau | 2,229 | 35.34% | 3,891 | 61.68% | 86 | 1.36% | 64 | 1.01% | 38 | 0.60% | -1,662 | -26.35% | 6,308 |
| Lenawee | 11,567 | 43.48% | 13,641 | 51.28% | 1,205 | 4.53% | 70 | 0.26% | 117 | 0.44% | -2,074 | -7.80% | 26,600 |
| Livingston | 11,888 | 35.22% | 20,326 | 60.22% | 1,258 | 3.73% | 182 | 0.54% | 97 | 0.29% | -8,438 | -25.00% | 33,751 |
| Luce | 1,165 | 52.22% | 1,024 | 45.90% | 15 | 0.67% | 11 | 0.49% | 16 | 0.72% | 141 | 6.32% | 2,231 |
| Mackinac | 2,261 | 49.75% | 2,190 | 48.18% | 49 | 1.08% | 23 | 0.51% | 22 | 0.48% | 71 | 1.56% | 4,545 |
| Macomb | 117,540 | 50.65% | 105,341 | 45.40% | 7,149 | 3.08% | 995 | 0.43% | 1,022 | 0.44% | 12,199 | 5.26% | 232,047 |
| Manistee | 4,312 | 49.98% | 4,052 | 46.97% | 188 | 2.18% | 25 | 0.29% | 50 | 0.58% | 260 | 3.01% | 8,627 |
| Marquette | 12,682 | 59.28% | 8,308 | 38.84% | 241 | 1.13% | 75 | 0.35% | 86 | 0.40% | 4,374 | 20.45% | 21,392 |
| Mason | 4,214 | 43.68% | 4,963 | 51.44% | 394 | 4.08% | 30 | 0.31% | 47 | 0.49% | -749 | -7.76% | 9,648 |
| Mecosta | 4,135 | 41.00% | 5,634 | 55.86% | 218 | 2.16% | 61 | 0.60% | 38 | 0.38% | -1,499 | -14.86% | 10,086 |
| Menominee | 4,164 | 52.76% | 3,367 | 42.66% | 312 | 3.95% | 22 | 0.28% | 28 | 0.35% | 797 | 10.10% | 7,893 |
| Midland | 12,326 | 44.65% | 14,297 | 51.79% | 577 | 2.09% | 277 | 1.00% | 128 | 0.46% | -1,971 | -7.14% | 27,605 |
| Missaukee | 1,515 | 35.30% | 2,624 | 61.14% | 114 | 2.66% | 24 | 0.56% | 15 | 0.35% | -1,109 | -25.84% | 4,292 |
| Monroe | 17,785 | 49.98% | 16,011 | 45.00% | 1,562 | 4.39% | 87 | 0.24% | 136 | 0.38% | 1,774 | 4.99% | 35,581 |
| Montcalm | 6,356 | 43.26% | 7,739 | 52.67% | 458 | 3.12% | 68 | 0.46% | 71 | 0.48% | -1,383 | -9.41% | 14,692 |
| Montmorency | 1,545 | 44.50% | 1,822 | 52.48% | 64 | 1.84% | 13 | 0.37% | 28 | 0.81% | -277 | -7.98% | 3,472 |
| Muskegon | 25,851 | 49.14% | 25,261 | 48.02% | 965 | 1.83% | 206 | 0.39% | 323 | 0.61% | 590 | 1.12% | 52,606 |
| Newaygo | 4,817 | 40.57% | 6,689 | 56.34% | 285 | 2.40% | 36 | 0.30% | 46 | 0.39% | -1,872 | -15.77% | 11,873 |
| Oakland | 167,687 | 45.78% | 184,123 | 50.26% | 10,927 | 2.98% | 2,013 | 0.55% | 1,555 | 0.42% | -16,436 | -4.49% | 366,305 |
| Oceana | 3,161 | 42.01% | 4,044 | 53.74% | 253 | 3.36% | 28 | 0.37% | 39 | 0.52% | -883 | -11.73% | 7,525 |
| Ogemaw | 3,558 | 54.11% | 2,722 | 41.40% | 244 | 3.71% | 22 | 0.33% | 29 | 0.44% | 836 | 12.71% | 6,575 |
| Ontonagon | 2,360 | 56.59% | 1,730 | 41.49% | 50 | 1.20% | 15 | 0.36% | 15 | 0.36% | 630 | 15.11% | 4,170 |
| Osceola | 2,561 | 37.76% | 3,923 | 57.84% | 204 | 3.01% | 45 | 0.66% | 49 | 0.72% | -1,362 | -20.08% | 6,782 |
| Oscoda | 1,278 | 46.17% | 1,372 | 49.57% | 70 | 2.53% | 29 | 1.05% | 19 | 0.69% | -94 | -3.40% | 2,768 |
| Otsego | 2,412 | 43.83% | 2,936 | 53.35% | 95 | 1.73% | 29 | 0.53% | 31 | 0.56% | -524 | -9.52% | 5,503 |
| Ottawa | 16,441 | 28.17% | 40,399 | 69.22% | 1,064 | 1.82% | 235 | 0.40% | 222 | 0.38% | -23,958 | -41.05% | 58,361 |
| Presque Isle | 2,761 | 48.74% | 2,747 | 48.49% | 102 | 1.80% | 32 | 0.56% | 23 | 0.41% | 14 | 0.25% | 5,665 |
| Roscommon | 4,046 | 50.00% | 3,729 | 46.08% | 249 | 3.08% | 34 | 0.42% | 34 | 0.42% | 317 | 3.92% | 8,092 |
| Saginaw | 41,003 | 53.98% | 32,380 | 42.63% | 2,010 | 2.65% | 354 | 0.47% | 214 | 0.28% | 8,623 | 11.35% | 75,961 |
| Sanilac | 5,070 | 36.33% | 8,357 | 59.88% | 443 | 3.17% | 40 | 0.29% | 46 | 0.33% | -3,287 | -23.55% | 13,956 |
| Schoolcraft | 1,964 | 57.34% | 1,400 | 40.88% | 44 | 1.28% | 6 | 0.18% | 11 | 0.32% | 564 | 16.47% | 3,425 |
| Shiawassee | 11,099 | 45.02% | 10,857 | 44.04% | 2,344 | 9.51% | 238 | 0.97% | 116 | 0.47% | 242 | 0.98% | 24,654 |
| St. Clair | 20,724 | 46.21% | 22,213 | 49.54% | 1,517 | 3.38% | 214 | 0.48% | 175 | 0.39% | -1,489 | -3.32% | 44,843 |
| St. Joseph | 6,306 | 40.30% | 8,983 | 57.40% | 215 | 1.37% | 75 | 0.48% | 70 | 0.45% | -2,677 | -17.11% | 15,649 |
| Tuscola | 7,638 | 45.13% | 8,539 | 50.45% | 610 | 3.60% | 56 | 0.33% | 83 | 0.49% | -901 | -6.32% | 16,926 |
| Van Buren | 8,847 | 44.20% | 10,611 | 53.01% | 322 | 1.61% | 119 | 0.59% | 119 | 0.59% | -1,764 | -8.81% | 20,018 |
| Washtenaw | 46,319 | 55.85% | 34,005 | 41.00% | 1,481 | 1.79% | 644 | 0.78% | 488 | 0.59% | 12,314 | 14.85% | 82,937 |
| Wayne | 466,088 | 66.56% | 215,986 | 30.84% | 13,038 | 1.86% | 2,535 | 0.36% | 2,643 | 0.38% | 250,102 | 35.71% | 700,290 |
| Wexford | 3,935 | 44.95% | 4,494 | 51.34% | 224 | 2.56% | 61 | 0.70% | 40 | 0.46% | -559 | -6.39% | 8,754 |
| Total | 1,561,291 | 51.36% | 1,369,582 | 45.05% | 80,288 | 2.64% | 15,603 | 0.51% | 13,244 | 0.44% | 191,709 | 6.31% | 3,040,008 |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
References
- 1 2 "Official Canvass of Votes, Primary Election, August 10, 1982". Michigan Manual 1983-84. Lansing: Michigan Department of Management and Budget. 1983. pp. 401–403.
- ↑ "Legislator Details". Library of Michigan. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Governor - Democrats". The Monroe Evening News. Monroe. August 6, 1982. p. 11A. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Legislator Details". Library of Michigan. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Legislator Details". Library of Michigan. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- 1 2 "Official Canvass of Votes, General Election, November 2, 1982". Michigan Manual 1983-84. Lansing: Michigan Department of Management and Budget. 1983. pp. 451–452.
