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Michigan, State Representative, District 51

Michigan House of Representatives District 51
Current incumbentMike Mueller Republican Party
Population107,061
Gender51.4% Female, 48.6% Male
Race89.9% White, 5.5% Black, 1.9% Two or More Races, 1.8% Asian, 0.5% Other, 0.4% Native American
Ethnicity97.5% Non-Hispanic, 2.5% Hispanic

Michigan's fifty-first state house district is held by Republican Representative Mike Mueller.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 107,061 civilians reside within Michigan's fifty-first state house district. Michigan state representatives represent an average of 89,851 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 90,349 residents.

About the office

Members of the Michigan House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits. Michigan legislators assume office the at noon on first day of January.

Qualifications

Section 7 of Article 4 of the Michigan Constitution states, "Each senator and representative must be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, and an elector of the district he represents. The removal of his domicile from the district shall be deemed a vacation of the office. No person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be eligible for either house of the legislature."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$71,685/year$10,800/year expense allowance for session and interim. Set by the compensation commission.

Term limits

The Michigan legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Michigan Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Michigan representatives are subject to term limits of no more than three two-year terms, or a total of six years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2002.

Vacancies

Whenever a vacancy occurs in the house, it is up to the Governor to call for a special election. A special election must be held during the next scheduled general election. If the vacancy happened after the statewide primary, leaders of the respective party organizations within the Senate district can submit a list of nominees to be voted on by party leadership. A vote must be held no later than 21 days after the vacancy.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Michigan House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 4, 2020. The filing deadline is April 21, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 51

Mike Mueller (R) defeated David Lossing (D) in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 51 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Mike Mueller (R)
59.9
26,870

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

David Lossing (D)
40.1
18,012

Total votes: 44,882
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 51

David Lossing advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 51 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

David Lossing (D)
100
8,199

Total votes: 8,199
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 51

Mike Mueller defeated Drew Shapiro, Ian Shetron, and Matthew Anderton in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 51 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Mike Mueller (R)
65.0
7,741

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Drew Shapiro (R)
17.9
2,134

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Ian Shetron (R)
10.6
1,262

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Matthew Anderton (R)
6.5
774

Total votes: 11,911

2016

Elections for the Michigan House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 19, 2016.

Incumbent Joseph Graves defeated Ryan Bladzik and Mark Sanborn in the Michigan House of Representatives District 51 general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 51 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joseph Graves Incumbent 60.70% 30,468
Democratic Ryan Bladzik 33.97% 17,050
Libertarian Mark Sanborn 5.33% 2,677
Total Votes 50,195
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

Ryan Bladzik ran unopposed in the Michigan House of Representatives District 51 Democratic primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 51 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Ryan Bladzik (unopposed)

Incumbent Joseph Graves defeated Katherine Houston and John Lauve in the Michigan House of Representatives District 51 Republican primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 51 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joseph Graves Incumbent 70.85% 4,832
Republican Katherine Houston 14.50% 989
Republican John Lauve 14.65% 999
Total Votes 6,820

2014

Elections for the Michigan House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 5, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 22, 2014. Ken Thomas was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Joseph Graves defeated Sheila Barr in the Republican primary. Graves defeated Thomas in the general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 51 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJoseph Graves Incumbent 57.9% 19,429
Democratic Ken Thomas 42.1% 14,111
Total Votes 33,540

Michigan House of Representatives, District 51 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJoseph Graves Incumbent 76.4% 4,688
Sheila Barr 23.6% 1,451
Total Votes 6,139

2012

Elections for the office of Michigan House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 7, 2012 and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for major party candidates wishing to run in this election was May 15, 2012. The deadline for independent candidates was July 19, 2012. The deadline for write-in candidates was July 27, 2012. Incumbent Joseph Graves (R) defeated Steven Losey (D) in the general election. Graves defeated John Lauve in the Republican primary. Losey defeated Ryan Starski in the Democratic primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 51, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJoseph Graves Incumbent 54.3% 26,170
Democratic Steven Losey 45.7% 22,001
Total Votes 48,171

Michigan House of Representatives, District 51 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJoseph Graves Incumbent 76.6% 5,778
John Lauve 23.4% 1,769
Total Votes 7,547

Michigan House of Representatives, District 51 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Losey 62.4% 2,656
Ryan Starski 37.6% 1,598
Total Votes 4,254

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Michigan House of Representatives District 51 raised a total of $2,025,722. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $59,580 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Michigan House of Representatives District 51

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $115,898 5 $23,180
2014 $152,018 3 $50,673
2012 $268,791 7 $38,399
2010 $162,506 3 $54,169
2008 $541,209 6 $90,202
2006 $199,755 2 $99,878
2004 $328,452 3 $109,484
2002 $224,180 3 $74,727
2000 $32,913 2 $16,457
Total $2,025,722 34 $59,580