Michigan

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s Senate race between incumbent Democrat Gary Peters and Republican challenger John James was too early to call Wednesday morning, with many votes still uncounted. The contest may shape which party controls the Senate, where the GOP now has the majority. James is aiming to be the first Michigan Republican to win a U.S. Senate seat in a quarter-century. Peters is seeking a second term. He’s a former congressman, state senator, lottery commissioner and investment adviser.

Long-time Michigan Congressman Fred Upton won reelection in his race to retain his seat in Michigan's 6th District. He faced Democratic challenger, Jon Hoadley. Upton has won an 18th term representing the southwest Michigan area.

View live results for Michigan's 2020 presidential, governor, Senate and House races.

Loading...

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Police are investigating vandalism that left several headstones at a Jewish cemetery in Grand Rapids spray-painted with “TRUMP” and “MAGA” before President Donald Trump held his final campaign rally in the western Michigan city. Grand Rapids police spokesman Sgt. John Wittkowski says officers found six headstones spray-painted with “relatively new" red paint on Monday. “TRUMP” was spray-painted on the back of four headstones, and “MAGA” was spray-painted on two others.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Polls are open in Michigan, where Joe Biden is seeking to reclaim the once-reliably blue state for Democrats, while President Donald Trump is trying to again seize the key battleground. Tuesday's election also features the state's most competitive U.S. Senate race in 20 years, several closely watched U.S. House contests and a dogfight for control of the state House. Voters also are deciding the makeup of the Michigan Supreme Court. In the Senate race, Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is eyeing a second term.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Meals at Michigan restaurants came with a new side dish Monday: What's your name and phone number? The latest order kicked in from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's health department. Restaurants must be able to contact customers if there's a virus case linked to the business. The Michigan Restaurants & Lodging Association insists COVID-19 transmission doesn't occur much at restaurants. The group predicts job losses and more financial strife. Michigan's coronavirus cases have risen significantly, setting a new daily high Saturday at nearly 3,800.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Public safety officials say three family members are dead in southwestern Michigan after an early morning apartment fire. Officers with the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety responded to a fire at a duplex just before 5 a.m. Sunday. The second floor collapsed to the first floor and three members of a family were killed. The victims were a 30-year-old mother, 15-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter. The father is only survivor and was being treated for smoke inhalation. The names of the victims were not released.

Voting at polling precincts in Michigan begins Tuesday with some of the rules still being sorted out.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — More than 2.6 million Michigan voters have turned in their absentee ballots and the state is still waiting on almost 700,000 absentee ballots that had been sent out and yet to be returned with only days before Tuesday’s election. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is urging voters to drop off their ballots in-person to ensure mail delays don’t cause their ballots to not be counted, though voting in-person on Election Day remains an option.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan reported a single-day record of new confirmed coronavirus cases Saturday: 3,792. The state health department also said there were 31 additional deaths, including 20 that could have occurred days or weeks ago. They turned up in a records review. The number of people confirmed to have been infected since March stands at nearly 179,000. More than 121,000 have recovered. There have been at least 7,340 deaths related to COVID-19.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Gary Peters and Republican challenger John James are making their final cases to the electorate in the closing days of a $100 million-plus duel that will help shape whether the winner of the presidential race can enact his legislative agenda. Michigan, long a presidential battleground, is also a key Senate battleground. Peters is one of just two Senate Democrats running in a state Donald Trump won four years ago.

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Former President Barack Obama is campaigning in Michigan with Joe Biden, and he calls his former vice president his "brother." Obama also is accusing President Donald Trump of failing to take the coronavirus pandemic and his office seriously. Democrats are leaning on America's first Black president to energize Black voters in battleground Michigan on the final weekend of the 2020 campaign. Obama and Biden held drive-in rallies in Flint and Detroit. Turnout must be strong in those two predominantly Black cities to swing the state away from Trump.

Here's what's happening Saturday in Election 2020, three days until Election Day:

Today the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)  revised and extended its 

BREAKING: A Michigan judge has struck down Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s ban on the open carry of guns at polling places on Election Day. Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray issued the decision Tuesday. Unless it’s reversed by a higher court, it applies to voting places and absentee counting boards next Tuesday. The only exception would be churches and other places that are already allowed to forbid the open carry of guns. 

Judge Christopher Murray acted just a few hours after hearing a challenge from gun-rights groups. They said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, had exceeded her authority in banning people from openly carrying guns within 100 feet of polling places. Critics argued that Benson failed to go through a formal rule-making process as required under state law.

Michigan's Attorney General intends to appeal. 

A lawsuit filed with the Michigan Court of Claims challenges Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s Election Day instructions to some poll watchers. The lawsuit says Benson’s COVID-19 distancing rules will make it too hard for poll challengers to keep track of what’s happening.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A judge has rejected a challenge to Michigan’s online request system for absentee ballots. Critics claim the online option violates Michigan law, which requires a signed application. But Judge Cynthia Stephens says critics waited too long to seek an injunction and “merely theorize” that fraud might occur. The secretary of state started online absentee voter applications in June. Signatures on file for a driver's license or a state ID are good enough to get a ballot. More than 74,000 voters have submitted online applications for an absentee ballot.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan is reporting more than 3,000 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus — the highest yet during the pandemic — amid what a top health official calls “alarming increases” in infections around the state. The 3,338 new COVID-19 cases reported Saturday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services surpasses the state’s previous single-day record of 2,030 new cases set on Oct. 15. The state agency also reported Saturday 35 more deaths, raising Michigan’s pandemic toll to 7,182 deaths. Dr.

JACKSON, Mich. (AP) — A judge has slashed bond to $100,000 for a man accused of assisting in a scheme to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and commit other violence against state government. A defense attorney says Pete Musico's alleged role was overstated by prosecutors. Kareem Johnson says Musico was kicked out of the group because he was too "soft" and wouldn't commit to violence. Judge Michael Klaeren reduced Musico's bond, clearing the way for his release from jail. Authorities allege members of two anti-government paramilitary groups plotted to kidnap Whitmer.

DETROIT (AP) — A federal appeals court has suspended a decision that would allow groups to offer free or reduced price rides to polling places in Michigan. The court issued a stay to allow the Republican-controlled Legislature to appeal the ruling by a federal judge in Flint. Since 1895, Michigan has banned paying someone to transport a voter unless the voter can’t walk. It was aimed at preventing fraud or undue influence. But Judge Stephanie Dawkins Davis said the state law conflicted with federal law. Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, declined to appeal.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is warning that Michigan on average has more confirmed daily cases of the coronavirus than ever, noting a sharp increase since the state Supreme Court invalidated her sweeping orders earlier this month. Since the court decision on Oct. 2, the seven-day case average is up to 1,818 — nearly double. The governor says Michigan is at a "dangerous moment." She pleaded Wednesday for people to wear a mask and socially distance.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued an order to allow more in-person visits with people in nursing homes. The order applies to facilities in counties the state has identified as “low risk.”

DETROIT (AP) — Students at the University of Michigan must stay in place for two weeks after a surge of coronavirus cases driven by social gatherings on and off campus. The Washtenaw County health department says the surge is overwhelming its ability to confront the pandemic. More than 1,000 students have been infected since the start of the fall term, despite limits on the size of gatherings and classes that are mostly held online. Students can attend in-person classes and also leave their residence for exercise, work, food, medical appointments, voting and religious services.

Voter fraud is low in Michigan, but more than 10,000 people had their vote thrown out last election due to errors. Here are four common mistakes to avoid.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's top election official says 1.5 million people with absentee ballots still in hand should put them in a drop box or take them to their local clerk's office rather than use the mail with two weeks to go until the presidential election. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Tuesday hand delivering a ballot ensures it arrives by 8 p.m. on Election Night and is counted. She also urged people who still want an absentee ballot to request it in person instead of by mail. More than 3 million absentee ballots have been requested.

OWOSSO, Mich. (AP) — A lawyer says misdemeanor charges are being dropped against a Michigan barber who defied Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and reopened his shop during the coronavirus pandemic. Karl Manke says it's “definitely a weight” off his shoulders. Barbershops and salons were closed for months until June 15. But the 77-year-old Manke reopened in early May, declaring that “government is not my mother.” Attorney David Kallman says the Shiawassee County prosecutor is dropping the case because of a recent Michigan Supreme Court decision about the governor's powers.  

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Registered to vote in Michigan? Monday is the deadline to sign up online for the Nov. 3 election. Residents also can register by mail if the application is postmarked by Monday. If people miss Monday's deadline, they can still register through Election Day. But they must go to their local clerk's office with a document verifying their residency. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says officials are "seeing an incredible amount of enthusiasm" about the election. More than 1 million absentee ballots have been returned so far.