Elections & Politics

Counties move to GOP despite Obama victory

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By BECKY McKENDRY
Capital News Service
LANSING — Although Barack Obama won Michigan with about 53 percent of the vote, many counties shifted towards the Republican Party compared to the 2008 presidential election. Analysts often determine party preference by analyzing state Board of Education results. Because citizens tend to know less about those candidates, votes are often based on party label, indicating the voters’ own leanings. Distinctly Democratic and Republican counties can be defined as those where more than 52 percent voted for their respective parties’ Board of Education nominees. By that measure, there were 21 distinctly Democratic counties in 2008.

Environment

Counties with wind farms overwhelmingly opposed renewable energy plan

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By ZACHARY PEÑA
Capital News Service
LANSING — Environmental groups are preparing their next move after voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment to require 25 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources. Statewide, more than 62 percent opposed the renewable energy plan, based on unofficial returns collected by the Secretary of State. The only county where it passed was Washtenaw, where nearly 52 percent voted yes. Three of the four counties with the greatest percentage of voters rejecting the proposals have wind farms: Missaukee (79 percent), Huron (77.5 percent) and Osceola (74 percent). John Sarver, executive director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, gave two theories for the Election Day failure.

Elections & Politics

Stabenow outpaces Obama in most Michigan counties, analysis shows

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By R.J. WOLCOTT
Capital News Service
LANSING — Newly re-elected Sen. U.S. Debbie Stabenow not only defeated Republican rival Peter Hoekstra, but she also outpaced President Barack Obama in nearly every Michigan county. Stabenow, D-Lansing, secured 58 percent of the vote to Hoekstra’s 38 percent in her campaign for a third term. She won 61 of 83 counties, according to the Secretary of State’s unofficial election results. Obama won 20 counties. Hoekstra is a former member of the U.S. House from Holland who lost an earlier race for governor.