History. It was the defining theme of the election season, from Hillary Clinton’s groundbreaking campaign, to Barack Obama’s historic nomination, to Sarah Palin’s arrival on the Republican ticket. And Tuesday, history was written again. America will have a black president for the first time.
U.S Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, retained his seat in the race for the 8th Congressional District over Democratic challenger Bob Alexander.
Off-campus routes are expected to stay the same after local voters approved a millage increase for Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA. The millage is for .787 mills per year on property owners over a five-year period, which, for a $100,000 home, equals $39.35 per year. According to CATA, the millage should bring in $4.75 million in 2008.
Michigan voters chose overwhelmingly to approve medical marijuana in the state Tuesday, but Proposal 2, which legalizes the use of human embryos in stem cell research, was approved by a slimmer margin.
Incumbent Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings won his fourth election since 1996 Tuesday evening. With about 68 percent of votes in, Dunnings had about 67 percent to Republican challenger Nicholas Bostic’s 33 percent as of press time. Dunnings credited his endorsements from United Auto Workers, Fraternal Order of Police, Greater Lansing Labor Council and Michigan Education Association in aiding his campaign.
Longtime East Lansing politician and incumbent state Rep. Mark Meadows will get two more years in the state House after leading challenger Frank Lambert for the 69th House of Representatives seat. Meadows, D-East Lansing, led Lambert with 54 precincts of out of 136, reporting as of press time. Meadows’ district includes most East Lansing residents and a small eastern portion of Lansing.
Thirty years and counting.Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., was re-elected for six more years in the U.S. Senate office after defeating Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, R-Kalamazoo, and seven other candidates. As of press time, Levin had obtained 74,437 votes to Hoogendyk’s 46,907, with 15 counties reporting.
Brad Dennis’ day began at 4 a.m. He packed his car with green and white signs emblazoned with his name and stuffed his backpack full of shiny hand outs. But his day ended in the late hours of the night with a defeat seven months after his race for Ingham County Commissioner began.
A barrage of high fives and cheers was the scene of 8th District Congressional candidate Bob Alexander’s campaign party room when it was announced that Barack Obama won the presidential election.
As Michigan followed trend and was declared a blue state shortly after 9 p.m., members of Michigan’s Republican Party attending the election party for U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers are not surprised.
Chicago — Tens of thousands of people are camped out in Chicago’s Grant Park to witness history as the presidential election is decided.
The Associated Press reported that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has won Michigan’s 17 electoral votes.
Election workers are still waiting for ballots at the East Lansing city clerk’s office, an hour after polls closed.
Although election inspectors at on-campus precincts said lines are expected to shrink as the night goes on, other polling locations are ready for an increase of voters as they head to the polls after work.
The MSU Democrats and Students for Barack Obama are putting in their last effort today to get students to cast their ballots before the polls close at 8 p.m.
Chicago — Universities in downtown are preparing to lock down for the night, as the city anticipates a flood of people for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s election night rally this evening in Grant Park.
By 1 p.m., the influx of students at the polls in Brody Hall increased after a slow period as students attended classes, bringing in a total of 784 votes, said election officials.
It has been a busy morning at the polling station at All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbot Rd. Election officials said at 9:30 a.m.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain can count the red states, gray states and light blue states, but it is unlikely he will overcome one of the more sizable election-eve gaps in the last quarter century, experts said.
When voters step into the booth today, they’ll see the names of nine MSU Board of Trustees candidates, each with a party affiliation next to his or her name. However, many board members said party politics dissolve once the election is over and they’re in the board room.