Share on WeChat
https://www.powervoter.us:443/office
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.

Michigan, State Representative, District 8

Michigan House of Representatives District 8
Current incumbentSherry Gay-Dagnogo Democratic Party
Population71,791
Gender55.1% Female, 44.9% Male
Race96.8% Black, 1.6% Two or More Races, 1.0% White, 0.2% Other, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian
Ethnicity99.3% Non-Hispanic, 0.7% Hispanic

Michigan's eighth state house district is held by Democratic Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 71,791 civilians reside within Michigan's eighth 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 8

Incumbent Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D) defeated Valerie Parker (R) in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 8 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D)
96.4
26,995

Valerie Parker (R)
3.6
1,022

Total votes: 28,017
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Sherry Gay-Dagnogo defeated Jasmine Henry, George Etheridge, LaSonya Beaver, and Seydi Sarr in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 8 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D)
62.5
7,892

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Jasmine Henry (D)
12.9
1,624

George Etheridge (D)
10.6
1,333

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

LaSonya Beaver (D)
8.1
1,026

Seydi Sarr (D)
6.0
755

Total votes: 12,630
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 8

Valerie Parker advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 8 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Valerie Parker (R)
100
228

Total votes: 228

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 Sherry Gay-Dagnogo defeated Jennifer Rynicki in the Michigan House of Representatives District 8 general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 8 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Sherry Gay-Dagnogo Incumbent 95.77% 33,270
Republican Jennifer Rynicki 4.23% 1,470
Total Votes 34,740
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

Incumbent Sherry Gay-Dagnogo ran unopposed in the Michigan House of Representatives District 8 Democratic primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Sherry Gay-Dagnogo Incumbent (unopposed)

Jennifer Rynicki ran unopposed in the Michigan House of Representatives District 8 Republican primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 8 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jennifer Rynicki (unopposed)

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. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo defeated five other challengers in the Democratic primary. Christopher Ewald was unopposed in the Republican primary. Gay-Dagnogo defeated Ewald in the general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 8 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSherry Gay-Dagnogo 96.8% 23,008
Republican Christopher Ewald 3.2% 770
Total Votes 23,778

Michigan House of Representatives, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngSherry Gay-Dagnogo 45.5% 4,318
Stacy Pugh 28.2% 2,674
Muhsin Muhammad 8.4% 793
Nichole Hampton 8% 760
Mia Grillier 7.3% 696
Cyrus Wheeler 2.7% 254
Total Votes 9,495

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 David Nathan (D) defeated David Porter (R) in the general election. Nathan defeated Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, Taryn Jones and Mia Grillier in the Democratic primary. Porter was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 8, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Nathan Incumbent 96.9% 38,792
Republican David Porter 3.1% 1,231
Total Votes 40,023

Michigan House of Representatives, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Nathan Incumbent 44.9% 4,790
Sherry Gay-Dagnogo 34.2% 3,646
Mia Grillier 10.9% 1,162
Taryn Jones 10% 1,064
Total Votes 10,662

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Michigan House of Representatives District 8 raised a total of $650,966. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $9,573 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Michigan House of Representatives District 8

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $43,721 2 $21,861
2014 $69,025 7 $9,861
2012 $103,222 5 $20,644
2010 $75,909 14 $5,422
2008 $82,713 6 $13,786
2006 $49,018 9 $5,446
2004 $97,013 11 $8,819
2002 $75,591 12 $6,299
2000 $54,754 2 $27,377
Total $650,966 68 $9,573