Republican Rick Snyder, the governor-elect of Michigan, gives his acceptance speech and celebrates with supporters at his watch-party at the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, at 1114 Washington Blvd.
Detroit — A self-labeled “nerd” and political outsider, Republican Rick Snyder overwhelmingly defeated Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero on Tuesday to become Michigan’s next governor.
At 11 p.m., Snyder announced to a cheering crowd in Detroit that Bernero, the Democratic candidate, had conceded defeat.
From his celebration party at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, Snyder promised gathered staff, supporters and notaries that he would reinvent Michigan, and lead it out of the economic recession and into the future.
“I have a bold vision for Michigan’s future,” Snyder said. “It is time for a new era. It is time for the era of innovation.”
Snyder will succeed current Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who has served in the position for the last eight years.
Nearly a half hour before Snyder delivered his victory speech, Granholm released a statement commending Snyder on his win.
“My administration stands ready to do everything necessary to ensure that Governor-elect Snyder and his team receive full cooperation and the administrative and technical support necessary to take up the mantle of governance starting Jan. 1,” Granholm said.
After spending about $6 million of his own money to defeat four other Republican challengers in the August primary election, Snyder took an early lead on Bernero in general election polls, one that he never lost.
As of press time, Snyder had about 59 percent of the vote, easily surpassing Bernero’s 39 percent.
Snyder’s victory caps an improbable political ascent that hinged on his status as a political newcomer. The former COO of Gateway Inc. and co-founder of Ann Arbor microtechnology firm Ardesta, Snyder never had run for public office. But using his deep pockets and a catchy slogan, “One Tough Nerd,” Snyder gained momentum leading up to the August primary, eventually securing the party’s nomination. His momentum continued, keeping him ahead of Bernero in almost all polls leading up to election night.
Bernero’s concession ended an improbable race of his own. Throughout his campaign he championed the working class and vowed to stand up to Wall Street business policies that he said had hurt the state’s economy. About an hour before Snyder announced his victory Tuesday night, Bernero conceded the race, but rallied his supporters, telling them although no one believed they would make it as far as they had, it was a fight worth fighting.
“Well, we’ve come a long way, haven’t we?” Bernero asked the crowd. “We shocked them all. You were undaunted. You fought like hell.”
Holding up the hands of his wife, Teri, and his running mate, Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, to the crowd’s applause, Bernero said he had called Snyder minutes before to congratulate him on his election. About 200 supporters gathered closely around the stage to hear the concession speech.
Although Bernero offered his full support of Snyder as he transitions into office, he warned that Michigan citizens will be watching.
“I will partner with Rick Snyder and I will call on you to work with him as well, but if that doesn’t happen, you and I will be watching, won’t we?” Bernero said.
Snyder’s lieutenant governor-elect, state Rep. Brian Calley, R-Portland, echoed Bernero’s endorsement of a bipartisan approach to governing.
“We’re going throw aside class warfare, racial and ethnic divides, and yes, even Republican and Democrat,” Calley said. “We need 10 million people pulling in the same direction.”
In his victory speech, Snyder did not tout his Republican background, but rather his ability to work with all citizens to move the state forward.
“It is time for us to come together as Michiganders, to stand together, to say, ‘Here is a vision for Michigan,’” Snyder said. “We will create more and better jobs, we will keep our young people here and we will be a great state again.”
Amidst Bernero’s supporting crowd were nine members of the MSU College Democrats.
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Joe Duffy, a social relations and policy junior and the group’s president, said members have been campaigning for Democrats for the past several months. Duffy said he hoped for some surprise Democratic victories for other races. Education and job creation are the most important issues moving forward, he said.
During his speech, Snyder addressed the problem of the brain drain in Michigan, pledging to do more to keep graduates in the state.
“Our young people are leaving the state at an alarming rate,” Snyder said. “And we have got to create an environment where they not only want to stay, but can stay and have a family and a career.”
Snyder thanked his supporters and his campaign team and said Michigan voters made clear their vision for the state.
“And now we’re at a milestone; the citizens of the state of Michigan have spoken,” Snyder said. “It is time to reinvent Michigan.”
