Michigan's sixty-fifth state house district is held by Republican Representative Sarah Lightner.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 89,787 civilians reside within Michigan's sixty-fifth 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

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.

2016 pivot county

This district is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersects with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.

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

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 Brett Roberts defeated Bonnie Johnson and Ronald Muszynski in the Michigan House of Representatives District 65 general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 65 General Election, 2016

Bonnie Johnson defeated Val Cochran Toops in the Michigan House of Representatives District 65 Democratic primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 65 Democratic Primary, 2016

Incumbent Brett Roberts defeated Robert Commet in the Michigan House of Representatives District 65 Republican primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 65 Republican Primary, 2016

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. Bonnie Johnson defeated Ed Peterson in the Democratic primary. Six challengers ran in the Republican primary; Brett Roberts came in first with John Calhoun following. Roberts defeated Johnson and Ronald Muszynski (L) in the general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 65 General Election, 2014

Michigan House of Representatives, District 65 Democratic Primary, 2014

Michigan House of Representatives, District 65 Republican Primary, 2014

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 Mike Shirkey (R) defeated Bonnie Johnson (D) in the general election. Shirkey defeated Dan Fulara in the Republican primary. Johnson defeated Steve Grace in the Democratic primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 65, General Election, 2012

Michigan House of Representatives, District 65 Republican Primary, 2012

Michigan House of Representatives, District 65 Democratic Primary, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Michigan House of Representatives District 65 raised a total of $2,563,596. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $77,685 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Michigan House of Representatives District 65