Michigan's 6th Congressional District

Michigan's 6th Congressional District

Incumbent

Debbie Dingell

Assumed office: January 3, 2023

Michigan's 6th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Debbie Dingell (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Michigan representatives represented an average of 775,726 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 707,973 residents.

Elections

2024

See also: Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2024

Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Democratic primary)

Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Republican primary)

General election

The primary will occur on August 6, 2024. The general election will occur on November 5, 2024. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Clyde Shabazz is running in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Clyde Shabazz (G)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Incumbent Debbie Dingell is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate
		Debbie Dingell

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Heather Smiley is running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate
		Heather Smiley

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Incumbent Debbie Dingell defeated Whittney Williams in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debbie Dingell (D)	65.9	241,759
		Whittney Williams (R)	34.1	125,167
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	1

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 366,927
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Incumbent Debbie Dingell advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debbie Dingell	100.0	102,859

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 102,859
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Whittney Williams defeated Hima Kolanagireddy in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Whittney Williams	53.7	30,564
		Hima Kolanagireddy	46.3	26,371

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 56,935
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jon Rocha (R)
• Gina Johnsen (R)

2020

See also: Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Incumbent Fred Upton defeated Jon Hoadley, Jeff DePoy, John Lawrence, and Jerry Solis in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Fred Upton (R)	55.8	211,496
		Jon Hoadley (D)	40.1	152,085
		Jeff DePoy (L)	2.7	10,399
		John Lawrence (G)	1.2	4,440
		Jerry Solis (Independent) (Write-in)	0.1	560

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 378,980
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Andrew Tidwell (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Jon Hoadley defeated Jen Richardson in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jon Hoadley	52.2	33,976
		Jen Richardson	47.8	31,061

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 65,037
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Aida Gray (D)
• Angelica Pastor-Diaz (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Incumbent Fred Upton defeated Elena Oelke in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Fred Upton	62.7	53,495
		Elena Oelke	37.3	31,884

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 85,379
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Green convention

Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 6

John Lawrence advanced from the Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on June 20, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		John Lawrence (G)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Jeff DePoy advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on July 18, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Jeff DePoy (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Incumbent Fred Upton defeated Matt Longjohn and Stephen J. Young in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Fred Upton (R)	50.2	147,436
		Matt Longjohn (D)	45.7	134,082
		Stephen J. Young (U.S. Taxpayers Party)	4.1	11,920

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 293,438
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Matt Longjohn defeated George Franklin, David Benac, and Rich Eichholz in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matt Longjohn	37.1	22,412
		George Franklin	28.9	17,493
		David Benac	21.3	12,867
		Rich Eichholz	12.8	7,719

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 60,491
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Paul Clements (D)
• Eponine Garrod (D)
• Aida Gray (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6

Incumbent Fred Upton advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 6 on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Fred Upton	100.0	64,512

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 64,512
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Fred Upton (R) defeated Paul Clements (D) and Lorence Wenke (L) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Neither candidate faced a primary opponent in August.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton Incumbent	58.6%	193,259
	Democratic	Paul Clements	36.4%	119,980
	Libertarian	Lorence Wenke	4.9%	16,248
	N/A	Write-in	0%	78
Total Votes				329,565
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

2014

See also: Michigan's 6th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 6th Congressional District of Michigan held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Fred Upton (R) defeated challengers Paul Clements (D), Erwin J. Haas (L) and John Lawrence (G) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton Incumbent	55.9%	116,801
	Democratic	Paul Clements	40.4%	84,391
	Libertarian	Erwin Haas	2.6%	5,530
	Green	John Lawrence	1.1%	2,254
Total Votes				208,976
Source: Michigan Secretary of State Vote totals above are unofficial and will be updated once official totals are made available.

General election candidates

• Fred Upton - Incumbent a
• Paul Clements
• Erwin J. Haas
• John Lawrence
  

August 5, 2014, primary results

Republican Primary

• Fred Upton - Incumbenta
• Jim Bussler

Democratic Primary

• Paul Clements - Professor a

2012

See also: Michigan's 6th Congressional District elections, 2012

The 6th Congressional District of Michigan held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Fred Upton won re-election in the district.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mike O'Brien	42.6%	136,563
	Republican	Fred Upton Incumbent	54.6%	174,955
	Libertarian	Christie Gelineau	2%	6,366
	UST	Jason Gatties	0.8%	2,591
Total Votes				320,475
Source: Michigan Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

Primary results

Republican Primary

Michigan's 5th Congressional District Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Fred Upton Incumbent	66.3%	34,581
Jack Hoogendyk	33.7%	17,561
Total Votes		52,142

2010
On November 2, 2010, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Don Cooney (D), Melvin Valkner (U.S. Taxpayers), Fred Strand (L) and Pat Foster (G) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	62%	123,142
	Democratic	Don Cooney	33.6%	66,729
	U.S. Taxpayers	Melvin Valkner	1.8%	3,672
	Libertarian	Fred Strand	1.7%	3,369
	Green	Pat Foster	0.9%	1,784
Total Votes				198,696

2008
On November 4, 2008, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Don Cooney (D), Greg Merle (L) and Edward Pinkney (G) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	58.9%	188,157
	Democratic	Don Cooney	38.6%	123,257
	Libertarian	Greg Merle	1.5%	4,720
	Green	Edward Pinkney	1.1%	3,512
Total Votes				319,646

2006
On November 7, 2006, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Kim Clark (D) and Kenneth Howe (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	60.6%	142,125
	Democratic	Kim Clark	37.9%	88,978
	Libertarian	Kenneth Howe	1.5%	3,480
Total Votes				234,583

2004
On November 2, 2004, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Scott Elliott (D), Randall MacPhee (G), Erwin Haas (L) and W. Dennis FitzSimons (U.S. Taxpayers) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	65.3%	197,425
	Democratic	Scott Elliott	32.4%	97,978
	Green	Randall MacPhee	0.8%	2,311
	Libertarian	Erwin Haas	0.8%	2,275
	U.S. Taxpayers	W. Dennis FitzSimons	0.7%	2,169
Total Votes				302,158

2002
On November 5, 2002, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Gary Giguere Jr. (D) and Richard Overton (Reform) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	69.2%	126,936
	Democratic	Gary Giguere Jr.	29.3%	53,793
	Reform	Richard Overton	1.5%	2,788
Total Votes				183,517

2000
On November 7, 2000, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated James Bupp (D), William Bradley (L), Richard Overton (Reform) and C. Dennis James (U.S. Taxpayers) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	67.9%	159,373
	Democratic	James Bupp	29.2%	68,532
	Libertarian	William Bradley	1.5%	3,573
	Reform	Richard Overton	0.8%	1,872
	U.S. Taxpayers	C. Dennis James	0.5%	1,290
Total Votes				234,640

1998
On November 3, 1998, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Clarence Annen (D), Glenn Douglas Whitt, Jr. (L) and Ken Asmus (Natural Law) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 1998
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	70.1%	113,292
	Democratic	Clarence Annen	28.1%	45,358
	Libertarian	Glenn Douglas Whitt, Jr.	1.1%	1,833
	Natural Law	Ken Asmus	0.7%	1,091
	N/A	Write-in	0%	53
Total Votes				161,627

1996
On November 5, 1996, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Clarence Annen (D) and Scott Beavers (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 1996
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	67.7%	146,170
	Democratic	Clarence Annen	30.7%	66,243
	Libertarian	Scott Beavers	1.6%	3,370
	N/A	Write-in	0%	51
Total Votes				215,834

1994
On November 8, 1994, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated David Taylor (D) and E. A. Berker (Natural Law) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 1994
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	73.5%	121,923
	Democratic	David Taylor	25.5%	42,348
	Natural Law	E. A. Berker	1%	1,667
	N/A	Scattering	0%	28
Total Votes				165,966

1992
On November 3, 1992, Fred Upton won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Andy Davis (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 1992
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Fred Upton incumbent	61.8%	144,083
	Democratic	Andy Davis	38.2%	89,020
	N/A	Write-in	0%	9
Total Votes				233,112

1990
On November 6, 1990, Bob Carr won re-election to the United States House. He ran unopposed in the general election.

U.S. House, Michigan District 6 General Election, 1990
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bob Carr incumbent	99.8%	97,547
	N/A	Write-in	0.2%	244
Total Votes				97,791

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Michigan after the 2020 census

Michigan’s congressional district boundaries became law on March 26, 2022, 60 days after the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) published its report on the redistricting plans with the secretary of state. On December 28, 2021, the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) approved what was named the "Chestnut" map by a vote of 8-5. Two Democrats, two Republicans, and four nonpartisan members voted to approve the plan with the five remaining commissioners in favor of other plans. As required, "at least two commissioners who affiliate with each major party, and at least two commissioners who do not affiliate with either major party" voted in favor of the adopted map.

The MICRC was established after voters approved a 2018 constitutional amendment that transferred the power to draw the state's congressional and legislative districts from the state legislature to an independent redistricting commission. Under the terms of the amendment, "Within 30 days after adopting a plan, the commission shall publish the plan and the material reports, reference materials, and data used in drawing it, including any programming information used to produce and test the plan." The adopted plan becomes law 60 days after the MICRC publishes that report.

Beth LeBlanc of The Detroit News wrote that, “Unlike other congressional maps the commission had to choose from, Chestnut was set apart by its inclusion of Grand Rapids and Muskegon in the same district, its grouping of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo and its ability to keep Jackson County whole, instead of breaking off part of the county into an Ann Arbor area district.” According to Clara Hendrickson and Todd Spangler of the Detroit Free Press, "According to three measures of partisan fairness based on statewide election data from the past decade, the map favors Republicans. But those measures also show a significant reduction in the Republican bias compared to the map drawn a decade ago by a Republican legislature, deemed one of the most politically biased maps in the country. One of the partisan fairness measures used by the commission indicates Democratic candidates would have an advantage under the new map." This map took effect for Michigan’s 2022 congressional elections.

How does redistricting in Michigan work? In Michigan, a non-politician commission is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district plans. The commission comprises 13 members, including four Democrats, four Republicans, and five unaffiliated voters or members of minor parties. In order for a map to be enacted, at least seven members must vote for it, including at least two Democrats, two Republicans, and two members not affiliated with either major party.

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission prepared this document specifically explaining the redistricting process after the 2020 census.

Michigan District 6
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Michigan District 6
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

2010-2011

This is the 6th Congressional District of Michigan after the 2001 redistricting process. The current district is displayed in the infobox at the top of the page.

See also: Redistricting in Michigan after the 2010 census

In 2011, the Michigan State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+11. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 11 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Michigan's 6th the 124th most Democratic district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 62.7% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 36.0%.

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+4. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 4 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Michigan's 6th Congressional District the 200th most Republican nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.06. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.06 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in Michigan
• Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2024
• Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2022
• Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2020
• Michigan's 6th Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 6

Footnotes

[show]

Michigan's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Gary Peters (D)

Debbie Stabenow (D)

Representatives

District 1

Jack Bergman (R)

District 2

John Moolenaar (R)

District 3

Hillary Scholten (D)

District 4

Bill Huizenga (R)

District 5

Tim Walberg (R)

District 6

Debbie Dingell (D)

District 7

Elissa Slotkin (D)

District 8

Dan Kildee (D)

District 9

Lisa McClain (R)

District 10

John James (R)

District 11

Haley Stevens (D)

District 12

Rashida Tlaib (D)

District 13

Shri Thanedar (D)

Democratic Party (9)

Republican Party (6)