Voters throughout Michigan chose Barack Obama over Mitt Romney for president, according to early results, and voted no on at least five of the six state proposals.
Michiganders also chose incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow over Republican challenger Pete Hoekstra for Senate, according to early results.
Voter turnout was reported to be high across the state. In 2008, 66.2 percent of Michigan's registered voters cast ballots, the highest number since 1968 when voter turnout was 66.8 percent. On Tuesday, many precincts were still taking ballots well after 8 p.m. to accommodate voters.
1:32 AM: U.S. Rep. John Dingell claimed victory and a record-breaking 30th term in Congress.
12:46 AM: Results are trickling in. Dexter Patch reports Gretchen Driskell has claimed victory in her bid for the 52nd district House seat in Michigan.
In Birmingham and Grosse Ile, only absentee ballots remain to be counted. But it could be a long wait in Trenton, where final results may not come unitl 2 or 2:30 a.m.
11 PM: Gary Peters claimed victory in the race for Michigan's 14th Congressional District seat.
“By bringing together a diverse coalition of supporters, we've won the race for the new 14th Congressional District and now it's time to begin a new chapter of partnership and cooperation throughout the Greater Detroit region,” Peters said in a release. “There's a lot more that unites us than divides us, and that's why I'm looking forward to bringing together leaders from across our community to develop solutions to the regional challenges all of us face. To everyone that came out and voted today, thank you for making your voice heard and let's get to work.”
10 PM: Democrat Debbie Stabenow gave her victory speech for another term in the Senate. Although not all precincts have reported results, the Associated Press called it for Stabenow.
9:25 PM: Media outlets such as NBC, ABC, CNN and NPR have projected Barack Obama as the winner in Michigan, but only a small percentage of precincts have reported results.
9:12 PM: The Detroit Free Press reports that all five state ballot proposals are headed to defeat.
8:24 PM: Results may come in quickly tonight in Oakland County thanks to some new technology.
Oakland is now the second county in the nation to use wireless technology to expedite election results, Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard told Huntington Woods-Berkley Patch.
8:06 PM: Former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard told WXYZ that President Obama worked with Gov. Rick Snyder on the new bridge to Canada.
8:01 PM: The polls are closed. Check back here on Patch for results and news throughout the night.
6:53 PM: Chesterfield Township Clerk Jan Uglis said there's been high voter turnout throughout the day, with some precincts seeing around 600 residents each well before polls close at 8 p.m.
Uglis said she expects registered voter turnout will be in the high 70th percentile, exceeding the last presidential election cycle. Absentee ballots comprise 18 percent of Chesterfield's registered voters this election.
The Democratic clerk, who is running for re-election against Republican Cindy Berry, said she's been too busy with election duties to dwell on her bid for office.
“I feel good, but it’s not up to me. The man upstairs is the one who’s going to tell me where I’m going to be," Uglis said. “I only hope that this township gets a good board that can work together."
6:47 PM: Workers at Chrysler did not have to worry about finding time to vote today: They had the day off.
The automaker gave all 55,000 U.S. employees the day off today, according to the Huffington Post Detroit.
6:43 PM: In Fenton, 77-year-old elections worker Stanley Young greets voters with a smile.
"I do it for the money," joked Young, who has been a election worker for 25 years. "They give me $8 an hour for 12 hours. Plus we get free donuts."
4:34 PM: The Oakland County GOP chair gets them, too. During an interview in his Bloomfield Hills office adorned with photos of vintage U.S. Air Force aircraft, Oakland Party Chairman Jim Thienel reluctantly picks up the phone on his desk that just won't stop ringing, and smiles. On the other end? A voice recording of GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, urging him for a vote.
"I can assure you, you have it!" Theinel quipped after putting the call on speaker. "If I got that call, it must have gone out to every number in the country."
3:36 P.M.: Precinct 23 and 24 Chairperson in Shelby Township tells Patch this is the highest voter turnout she's seen since working the polls for half a decade. Voters are reporting long lines all over the area.
2:10 PM: U.S. Rep John Dingell (D-15th District) paid a visit to Yack Arena in Wyandotte. Dingell is running against GOP challenger Cynthia Kallgren for a seat in the 12th District. Dingell is seeking his 30th term.
1:55 PM: Got a craving for something sweet? Voters in St. Clair Shores are passing their time in line with the sweet smells of baked goods. At members of the student council were holding a bake sale with Colette Dewandler, 10, of Eastpointe, reporting sales as "really good." At the St. Clair Shores Senior Activities Center, staff members were baking 100 apple pies to be sold to voters and raise funds for the senior meal program at the facility.
1:20 PM: Rochester Mills Beer Co. is offering two free sample pours of beer to customers who voted. Across town at Rockin' Cupcakes, the bakery is offering a buy-one-cupcake-get-one-free deal for voters.
1:05 PM: Caroline Schneemann, 18, of Farmington and Marisa Brauer, 20, of Farmington Hills cast their first votes today. Marisa described going to the polls as "pretty exhilarating." "I felt like my vote counted," she said. "I felt like an American."
12:35 PM: At Adams High School in Rochester Hills, the two candidates for 45th District state representative greeted voters about 20 feet apart from one another on Tuesday morning. Tom McMillin, the Republican incumbent, said he is encouraged by the voters he has met during his campaign and he has heard from residents who want to "keep the state turning around." Joanna VanRaaphorst, the Democratic challenger, said she has talked to many people on their way into the polls today who said they were planning to split their ticket. "I feel very encouraged by that," she said. The candidates made small talk with one another — mostly about the weather — while campaigning.
12:19 PM: A 91-year-old World War II veteran from Dexter voted in his 18th presidential election today. "Why should I vote absentee?" Bill Lowry said. "As long as I'm able to walk, I'll come to the polls myself."
11:57 AM: As if being caught up in Hurricane Sandy wasn't bad enough, some out-of-state Michigan residents, including Oakland County attorney Richard Bernstein, also are unable to vote this year because their absentee ballots didn't arrive to them in hurricane-ravaged towns on time.
11:46 AM: A Hartland voter has four words of advice for those heading to the polls today. Can you guess what they are?
11:19 AM: Students in West Bloomfield have the day off school for Election Day. Ealy Elementary School teacher Cynthia Kavieff said she hopes students use their day off to follow their parents or guardians to the poll.
11:11 AM: About 30 percent of voters in Trenton and Grosse Ile had cast their ballots before the polls even opened Tuesday morning.
10:55 AM: Dearborn City Clerk Kathy Buda said this election could mark a record for the number of absentee ballots issued in her city. Did you vote abstentee? Tell us why in the comments below.
9:31 AM: A commenter on the Lake Orion-Oakland Township Facebook page reports a wait of 1-2 hours at Musson Elementary School.
9:28 AM: Rochester Patch reports waits of one hour beginning at 6:50 a.m. at West Middle School in Rochester Hills.
9:17 AM: HuffPost Detroit has a liveblog all day to keep you up to the minute on the latest Election Day news.
8:57 AM: Hungry after you cast your vote? Then head to Tim Horton's for a free donut.
8:45 AM: Early reports suggest big voter turnout in places such as Bloomfield, Clawson and Macomb Township.
8:43 AM: How much money did the campaigns spend in Michigan this year? The Huffington Post Detroit takes a look.
8:34 AM: Lines were long Tuesday morning at Mason Elementary School. Poll workers said at least two residents were waiting for poll workers at 6 a.m., a full hour before voting began in Michigan.
Stay with Patch as we update this article all day with news and information from the polls and live election results after 8 p.m.
Take a deep breath, the strong will survive
The govt has tried to equate profit in the same mold as greed, bad move, as jobs are created and can only exist if there is profit to pay the bills, and taxes, and without the profit motive, investors will stand pat, or move to other countries that are not as greedy as the USA when it comes to taxation. Our corporate tax rate, 45%, is the highest in the world. A simple move to England cuts the tax bill in half, 22%. Why do jobs go overseas? Figure out the math.....
Well stated, as it turns out the bad guys are now the business owners and are being demonized and attacked by people who do not understand how to run a business and have never done it. The people commenting are living on paychecks and benefits that are not sustainable and once they become personally affected they will understand what the reality of the job market. Right now they are protected which gave them raises (step increases) and no participation in their generous benefit packages. As these entities go through failure this will all change drastically and they will continue to demonize the business owner as the bad guy. Uncertainty is now over; we all now know what the business environment will be for the next 4-6 years. Businesses have a planning cycle they conduct in late summer and finalize in the fall for the next year. I see that most businesses had 2 plans based on the 2 very different paths we as a country were choosing in the election. The people have spoken with the election and chose a path. It is clear that taxes will go up, costs will go up and sales will be affected. At best we will just repeat the last 4 years, which was dismal for the business community. Others fear we do not have more stimulus money to spend to keep the pace of the last 4 years and we will slip into a recession. Business is making plans to survive in the now certain chosen path; survival mode means no major investments that lead to jobs.
Really? From the Detroit News TODAY (http://goo.gl/WjPbt): Chrysler Group LLC announced nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in new investments Thursday and said it would add about 1,250 jobs at three of its Michigan plants to boost production of engines and pickup trucks. The Auburn Hills automaker confirmed previously reported plans to invest $198 million to add production of its Pentastar V-6 motor at its Mack I Engine Plant in Detroit — a move that is expected to create 250 new jobs at the factory. Chrysler also said it will add a third shift at its Warren Truck Assembly Plant in March of next year. That will mean the addition of about 1,000 new jobs at that factory, which produces the Ram 1500 pickup. Finally, the company said it would invest $40 million in its Trenton North Engine Plant to install a flexible assembly line capable of building both the Pentastar and four-cylinder Tigershark motor. Clearly the Chicken Little Club is filled with sufferers of Obama Derangement Syndrome. This evidence of significant future investment should shock them back into reality, but they shall not be moved.
Now you announce your plan to Walmart your workforce. Walmart jobs serve to keep members of our community in poverty. Wages averaging $8.81/hour add up to just $15,576/year for a full-time employee, but Walmart routinely keeps workers from getting enough hours during the week, and arbitrarily switches up available hours to prevent workers from seeking supplemental employment elsewhere. As a result, It has the largest number of employees who rely on public assistance, with no healthcare. Just why you would have to go that route is a mystery. President Obama cut taxes for small business owners 18 times and signed into law $200 billion in tax relief and incentives to encourage businesses to create jobs, invests, and grow. The Small Business Jobs Act made 4.5 million small businesses eligible for a larger tax break on new investments in equipment and machinery. Obamacare provided tax credits to small businesses to help cover the cost of their employees’ health care, saving an average small business with 10 workers up to $35,000 a year, which will increase to up to $50,000 when those tax credits expand in 2014. ...
Of course, if the GOP refuses to set up a state exchange, you might miss out on this benefit. So, Lee, whine on if you must, but understand all we have to offer in return is cheese. Your protests are based upon false analysis of the act, inaccurate depiction of its costs, and a politically motivated distortion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Those who live in the real world do and/or will understand that this is progress, and the nation will be better for it.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444230504577615232602107536.html Let me do the math for you again.... For every dollar I make in the USA, 45 cents goes to Uncle Sam. If I am based in Ireland, like Eaton Corp, only 11 cents goes to the govt. Seems like 4 times the savings to me, how is your math? Boiling, you are in the minority. Most folk don't have your sense of saving, initiative, and , since you are 15 yrs from SS, that means you are in your late 40s. My guess is that you had a job that allowed you freedom to run another sales operation of your own, perhaps something in govt that allowed you to retire early. Firefighting, Military? That is not the norm in our society, 70 hour weeks , part time will be the norm... Regarding education, more money is not the answer. Look at the results in Detroit. Wise spending is the answer. You mention other countries? They dropped the 'summer off for harvest ' concept decades ago. Our kids should be going to school year round, ,and yes, the teachers will have to work 12 months and pay their share of Obamacare like the rest of us.
FHvoice, regarding Chrysler , note that Chrysler is saving Fiat , not the other way around like Obama wanted, and that we should commend Chryler , while condemn GM (govt motors), as they are moving much of their operations to China. See link. http://newmediajournal.us/indx.php/item/6664 You can pretend that all is 'wonderful' in Obamaland, but there comes a time when the folk with money to risk will look at the odds, the higher taxes, the regulations, and simply say, It's not worth the risk anymore. Others, like Eaton Corp, will seek greener pastures . We will soon be under Biden anyway, when Obama is tossed out for his Obamagate coverup, which gets more convoluted everyday.
Of course you do not agree with me as you continue to hide behind a fake name, come out of hiding, this is America and we still have free speech. I see you both keep spewing the same insults at people who do list their names and try to demonize them. Come out of hiding and join in on an adult conversation. I am in the active business community and know what is going on and how businesses are making plans for the increased costs they are going to see starting in 2013. In business we have to live within a budget and reality, so we have to plan ahead, this is what we are doing. I just attended a conference on Venture Capitalist and Angle Investors to see how they are going to act in the new reality. The cost of investments just went up with higher taxes and capital gains increases limiting the investments to new companies creating innovative products. It is a math problem and these changes that are our "New Normal" has consequences and will cause less innovation due to the higher costs for risky investments. You can call me "Chicken Little" but I am assessing what the new reality is and the cost to do business in this environment. Higher costs mean less money for investment and jobs. Then this money goes to the government who is not known for spending money wisely without any accountability. But this is now our "New Normal" and business will find a way to survive in this environment. We are making plans to survive.
Read the post above and come out of hiding. Be a real person and have an adult intelligent conversation.
No one is whinning, we are stating the "New Normal" and how we are going to act as business in this new environment. Elections and decisions have consequences, this is what is going to happen so business can survive and find a way to thrive.
Times will be just like before WWII.when healthcare was offered as a benefit to offset frozen wages. Benetits are a choice, not a right. Instead of pensions, we now have 401Ks, again , choices by the employees. Regarding cutting taxes 18 times for business...look at the cuts, they are obscure. Don't apply to small business at all. Just talking points. Obamacare kills jobs, when you hit the magic 50 employee number, penalties kick in, a minimum of 40 grand. Guess where I and many other companies will target our growth to stop? Yep. 48 to 49 full time folk. Reward? No penalties, less paperwork. Of course, many companies will fire folk to get down to that number, but that is part of Obama's mysterious job creation plan. Firing means more jobs. Right!.... Try some Pappa John's pizza, Red lobster, Sears? all going part time.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/14/teacher-union-bigs-rake-in-dough-despite-budget-cuts-across-education-sector/ Actions speak louder than words. Time to work for Obamacare and let them pay me. Someone has to make the bandaids...
Let's see, Chrysler added 1000 jobs here, another 250 according to you there, and what is on the other side of the job balance sheet, a mere 18,500 jobs, gone via the demise of Hostess. It is a private company. They can close the doors if the economic feasibillty does not allow a profit. Freedom of Choice. The workers had the freedom to strike, and demand more money. The owner also had freedom of choice. The brands will be sold, and , who knows? Twinkies may be imported from China, they do last forever, right? The reality here is that the union overplayed its hand and has destroyed the jobs of all its members, because it refused to recognize economic facts. Again, actions do speak louder than words.
Someone's loss is someone's gain. For example, I will never eat Papa Johns or shop at Walmart ever again. "Freedom of choice". I will continue to eat pizza and shop, though. Just not at ultra right wing corporations which bully their employees. And I expect masses of consumers to do likewise.
Bottom line? You analysis is wrong. Again.
If you want a lower tax rate why DON'T you take your company to Ireland? I think that you realize that there are other benefits that you have by having your company in the US. Also, that low tax rate is not for all businesses and mostly benefits large multinational manufacturing firms, so good luck with that. BTW, you might want to check Ireland's credit rating with Moody's before you pack your bags.
I have seen nothing about blaming it on Obamacare. I think you are making that up.
Hostess was party to 372 separate collective bargaining agreements (CBAs"). The CBAs collectively mandated maintenance of 80 different health and welfare benefit plans, The unions have work rules that hamstring operations. For example, Hostess often provided both bread and cake products to an individual customer location. The existing work rules required that, on many routes, separate trucks must deliver the bread and cake products to that single customer location. The work rules also required that, in some bakeries and distribution centers, a separate individual must be used to load the trucks (competitors have drivers who load their own trucks) and separate people must load either bread or cake onto a truck. Finally, work rules require that, in some instances even when a route representative is already visiting a customer location, that representative may not move product within that location; rather, a separate employee must visit the customer location to move product from the back room to the shelf. Often, this so-called "pull-up" employee cannot move both bread and cake and, thus, two "pull-up" employees must make this same trip. This multiplies the number of individuals necessary to deliver product to customers and doubles the fuel and truck costs. Finally, the work rules prevent Hostess from implementing alternative distribution systems into new, currently unserved markets. Again, outmoded union rules killed Hostess.