Redistricting in Michigan
The following timeline is a high-level overview outlining major redistricting events and activity in the state of Michigan over the last 10 years.
2010
Republicans won trifecta control of the state, meaning that Republicans won control of the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.
2011
Census data delivered to Michigan.
Republican-controlled legislature drew and approved new congressional and state legislative maps, both of which were challenged in court as gerrymandered maps.
Republican Governor Rick Snyder signed the new gerrymandered maps into law.
2012
President Barack Obama won Michigan with 54% of the vote and Senator Debbie Stabenow won re-election with 59% of the vote.
Despite these Democratic victories, the new gerrymandered maps helped Republicans gain control of 64% of the congressional delegation and 54% of the state House.
2014
Though Democrat Gary Peters won a U.S. Senate seat with 55% of the vote, the gerrymandered maps gave Republicans 71% of the state Senate.
2017
The League of Women Voters of Michigan filed a federal lawsuit alleging the 2011 congressional and state legislative maps are unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders that discriminate against Democratic voters in order to advantage Republicans. The case is pending.
2018
With the support of the NDRC, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer won the governor’s race by a 9-point margin with 53% of the vote.
Michigan voters also passed Proposal 2, a redistricting reform measure that will bring fair state legislative and congressional districts to the state, with a huge margin (70%). Democrats also flipped five seats in the Michigan state Senate and five seats in the Michigan state House.