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Michigan, State Representative, District 9

Michigan House of Representatives District 9
Current incumbentKaren Whitsett Democratic Party
Population69,020
Gender54.0% Female, 46.0% Male
Race91.3% Black, 6.0% White, 1.8% Two or More Races, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Other, 0.3% Asian
Ethnicity99.1% Non-Hispanic, 0.9% Hispanic

Michigan's ninth state house district is held by Democratic Representative Karen Whitsett.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 69,020 civilians reside within Michigan's ninth 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 9

Karen Whitsett (D) defeated James Stephens (R) in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 9 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Karen Whitsett (D)
95.1
20,783

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

James Stephens (R)
4.9
1,065

Total votes: 21,848
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 9

Karen Whitsett defeated Gary Pollard and Donald Stuckey II in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 9 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Karen Whitsett (D)
56.4
5,000

Gary Pollard (D)
34.6
3,069

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Donald Stuckey II (D)
8.9
791

Total votes: 8,860
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 9

James Stephens advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 9 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

James Stephens (R)
100
257

Total votes: 257

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 Harvey Santana (D) did not seek re-election because of term-limits.

Sylvia Santana defeated James Stephens in the Michigan House of Representatives District 9 general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 9 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Sylvia Santana 94.29% 27,560
Republican James Stephens 5.71% 1,668
Total Votes 29,228
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

The following candidates ran in the Michigan House of Representatives District 9 Democratic primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 9 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Sylvia Santana 49.33% 2,967
Democratic Annie Carter 2.51% 151
Democratic Tijuana Morris 3.19% 192
Democratic Alicia Murphy 4.01% 241
Democratic William Phillips 1.58% 95
Democratic Gary Pollard 30.49% 1,834
Democratic Regina Ross 8.89% 535
Total Votes 6,015

James Stephens ran unopposed in the Michigan House of Representatives District 9 Republican primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 9 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png James Stephens (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. Incumbent Harvey Santana defeated Hussein Berry in the Democratic primary. James Stephens was unopposed in the Republican primary. Santana defeated Stephens in the general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 9 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHarvey Santana Incumbent 95.5% 17,606
Republican James Stephens 4.5% 827
Total Votes 18,433

Michigan House of Representatives, District 9 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngHarvey Santana Incumbent 75.3% 4,953
Hussein Berry 24.7% 1,627
Total Votes 6,580

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 Harvey Santana (D) defeated Rene Simpson (R) in the general election. Santana defeated William Phillips and Hussein Berry in the Democratic primary. Simpson was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 9, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHarvey Santana Incumbent 95.3% 32,063
Republican Rene Simpson 4.7% 1,567
Total Votes 33,630

Michigan House of Representatives, District 9 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngHarvey Santana Incumbent 65.7% 4,875
Hussein Berry 17.2% 1,275
William Scott Phillips 17.1% 1,267
Total Votes 7,417

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Michigan House of Representatives District 9 raised a total of $482,712. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $9,465 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Michigan House of Representatives District 9

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $115,949 8 $14,494
2014 $28,962 3 $9,654
2012 $47,487 4 $11,872
2010 $60,415 12 $5,035
2008 $32,174 3 $10,725
2006 $39,406 8 $4,926
2004 $67,297 3 $22,432
2002 $61,072 8 $7,634
2000 $29,950 2 $14,975
Total $482,712 51 $9,465