1982 Michigan gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1982 Michigan gubernatorial election Michigan presidential no 1978 Michigan gubernatorial election 1978 1986 Michigan gubernatorial election 1986 November 2, 1982 File:James Blanchard 1981 congressional photo.jpg 140x140px James J. Blanchard Democratic Party (United States) Martha Griffiths 1,561,291 51.36% 3x4.svg Richard Headlee Republican Party (United States) Thomas E. Brennan 1,369,582 45.05% 1982 Michigan gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 300px County resultsBlanchard: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Headlee: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Governor William Milliken Republican Party (United States) James J. Blanchard Democratic Party (United States) The 1982 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Democrat James J. Blanchard defeated Republican Richard Headlee by 6.31% to become the first Democrat to win the governor’s mansion in Michigan since 1960. Primary election Michigan held primary elections on August 10, 1982. Republican party Incumbent Governor William Milliken decided to retire rather than seek a fourth full term as governor. Businessman Richard Headlee narrowly defeated lieutenant governor James Brickley and L. Brooks Patterson in a three-way race for the Republican nomination. Candidates James H. Brickley, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan Richard Headlee, businessman and anti-tax activist L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Prosecutor Jack Welborn, member of Michigan Senate Results Republican primary resultsMichigan Manual 1983-84 1983 Michigan Department of Management and Budget Lansing 401-403 Official Canvass of Votes, Primary Election, August 10, 1982 Republican Party (United States) Richard Headlee 220,378 34.36% Republican Party (United States) James H. Brickley 194,429 30.31% Republican Party (United States) L. Brooks Patterson 180,065 28.07% Republican Party (United States) Jack Welborn 46,505 7.25% Republican Party (United States) Scattering 42 0.01% 641,419 100.00% Democratic party Congressman James J. Blanchard won the Democratic primary against six other candidates, including William B. Fitzgerald, the party's nominee for governor in the previous election. Candidates James J. Blanchard, Representative from Michigan's 18th congressional district Zolton Ferency, member of Ingham County Board of Commissioners and Democratic nominee for governor in 1966 William B. Fitzgerald, former Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate and Democratic nominee for governor in 1978 Kerry Kammer, member of Michigan SenateLegislator Details https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/4473 Library of Michigan 12 June 2026Governor - Democrats https://www.newspapers.com/image/1282339634/ 12 June 2026 The Monroe Evening News 6 August 1982 Monroe 11A Edward C. Pierce, member of Michigan SenateLegislator Details https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/2807 Library of Michigan 12 June 2026 David Plawecki, member of Michigan SenateLegislator Details https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/2204 Library of Michigan 12 June 2026 John Safran, former member of Lapeer County Board of Commissioners Results Democratic primary results Democratic Party (United States) James J. Blanchard 406,941 50.22% Democratic Party (United States) William B. Fitzgerald 138,453 17.09% Democratic Party (United States) David Plawecki 95,805 11.82% Democratic Party (United States) Zolton Ferency 85,088 10.50% Democratic Party (United States) Edward C. Pierce 44,894 5.54% Democratic Party (United States) Kerry Kammer 32,221 3.98% Democratic Party (United States) John Safran 6,782 0.84% Democratic Party (United States) Scattering 60 0.01% 810,244 100.00% General election Candidates Major party candidates Richard Headlee & Thomas E. Brennan, Republican James J. Blanchard & Martha Griffiths, Democratic Other candidates Tim Craine & Elizabeth Ziers, Socialist Workers Dick Jacobs & Steven J. Furr, Libertarian Martin P. McLaughlin & Ruth Keedy, Workers League James Phillips & DeLoyd G. Hesselink, American Independent Robert Tisch & Clair White, Tisch Independent Citizens Results 1982 Michigan gubernatorial electionMichigan Manual 1983-84 1983 Michigan Department of Management and Budget Lansing 451-452 Official Canvass of Votes, General Election, November 2, 1982 Democratic Party (United States) James J. Blanchard 1,561,291 51.36% +8.21% Republican Party (United States) Richard Headlee 1,369,582 45.05% -11.74% #DCDCDC Tisch Independent Citizens Robert Tisch 80,288 2.64% Libertarian Party (United States) Dick Jacobs 15,603 0.51% American Independent Party James Phillips 7,356 0.24% Socialist Workers Party (United States) Tim Craine 3,682 0.12% Workers League Party (United States) Martin P. McLaughlin 1,980 0.07% Scattering 226 0.01% 191,709 6.31% 3,040,008 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) +19.95% Results by county Luce County and Washtenaw County voted Democratic for the first time since 1914. Additionally, Alpena County and Saginaw County voted Democratic for the first time since 1932 and 1936, respectively. County James J. BlanchardDemocratic Richard HeadleeRepublican Robert TischIndependent Dick JacobsLibertarian All OthersVarious Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # % # %Alcona1,85245.03%2,15352.35%741.80%100.24%240.58%-301-7.32%4,113Alger1,99357.95%1,37239.90%461.34%120.35%160.47%62118.06%3,439Allegan8,84934.53%15,92762.15%5802.26%1560.61%1150.45%-7,078-27.62%25,627Alpena5,74449.94%5,51647.96%1241.08%430.37%750.65%2281.98%11,502Antrim2,79941.73%3,66954.70%1462.18%570.85%370.55%-870-12.97%6,708Arenac2,50250.15%2,23744.84%2114.23%150.30%240.48%2655.31%4,989Baraga1,69752.93%1,36742.64%341.06%170.53%912.84%33010.29%3,206Barry6,67040.27%9,31356.22%4212.54%930.56%670.40%-2,643-15.96%16,564Bay23,02854.45%16,08638.04%2,8266.68%2100.50%1400.33%6,94216.42%42,290Benzie1,98043.94%2,34552.04%1032.29%471.04%310.69%-365-8.10%4,506Berrien18,75341.15%25,45355.85%9582.10%2080.46%2020.44%-6,700-14.70%45,574Branch4,47437.73%6,91058.28%3823.22%420.35%490.41%-2,436-20.54%11,857Calhoun22,56445.34%25,64651.54%1,1812.37%1520.31%2200.44%-3,082-6.19%49,763Cass6,27347.33%6,55249.43%3162.38%600.45%530.40%-279-2.11%13,254Charlevoix3,60045.58%4,06251.43%1271.61%590.75%500.63%4625.85%7,898Cheboygan3,94649.65%3,80947.93%1221.54%390.49%310.39%1371.72%7,947Chippewa5,33250.56%4,99047.32%1121.06%530.50%590.56%3423.24%10,546Clare4,11349.55%3,86546.57%2732.93%430.52%360.43%2482.99%8,300Clinton7,56937.97%11,26756.53%8734.38%1140.57%1090.55%-3,698-18.55%19,932Crawford1,77045.95%1,94850.57%982.54%210.55%150.39%-178-4.62%3,852Delta7,95359.10%5,28339.26%1310.97%380.28%520.39%2,67019.84%13,457Dickinson4,76649.54%4,62248.04%1751.82%250.26%330.34%1441.50%9,621Eaton12,76740.64%17,33055.16%9533.03%2230.71%1450.46%-4,563-14.52%31,418Emmet3,61741.38%4,92956.39%1051.20%570.65%330.38%-1,312-15.01%8,741Genesee81,33157.71%50,26835.67%7,7325.49%1,0130.72%5780.41%31,06322.04%140,922Gladwin3,54651.99%2,98243.72%2373.47%320.47%240.35%5648.27%6,821Gogebic4,73066.30%2,32332.56%430.60%120.17%260.36%2,40733.74%7,134Grand Traverse7,08135.65%12,18861.37%3071.55%1981.00%870.44%-5,107-25.71%19,861Gratiot4,96342.65%6,18653.16%3833.29%580.50%470.40%-1,223-10.51%11,637Hillsdale3,91532.10%7,69663.10%4863.98%460.38%540.44%-3,781-31.00%12,197Houghton6,59853.12%5,58244.94%1120.90%670.54%610.49%1,0168.18%12,420Huron4,58937.48%7,30959.69%2452.00%400.33%620.51%-2,720-22.21%12,245Ingham50,12051.12%44,20545.08%1,9862.03%1,1151.14%6250.64%5,9156.03%98,051Ionia6,78941.61%8,79453.89%4502.76%1901.16%940.58%-2,005-12.29%16,317Iosco4,48849.18%4,34647.62%2332.55%340.37%250.27%1421.56%9,126Iron3,67258.33%2,51639.97%731.16%160.25%180.29%1,15618.36%6,295Isabella6,31844.47%7,35051.74%3182.24%1370.96%830.58%-1,032-7.26%14,206Jackson20,60840.46%28,50755.97%1,3362.62%2620.51%2160.42%-7,899-15.51%50,929Kalamazoo33,56647.02%36,05050.50%7481.05%6710.94%3470.49%-2,484-3.48%71,382Kalkaska1,72543.51%2,07352.28%1012.55%290.73%370.93%-348-8.78%3,965Kent69,32742.66%88,76054.62%3,0111.85%6730.41%7400.46%-19,433-11.96%162,511Keweenaw61956.89%46142.37%50.46%20.18%10.09%15814.52%1,088Lake1,78656.20%1,24639.21%1203.78%140.44%120.38%54016.99%3,178Lapeer9,29941.87%11,35951.14%1,3756.19%1070.48%710.32%-2,060-9.27%22,211Leelanau2,22935.34%3,89161.68%861.36%641.01%380.60%-1,662-26.35%6,308Lenawee11,56743.48%13,64151.28%1,2054.53%700.26%1170.44%-2,074-7.80%26,600Livingston11,88835.22%20,32660.22%1,2583.73%1820.54%970.29%-8,438-25.00%33,751Luce1,16552.22%1,02445.90%150.67%110.49%160.72%1416.32%2,231Mackinac2,26149.75%2,19048.18%491.08%230.51%220.48%711.56%4,545Macomb117,54050.65%105,34145.40%7,1493.08%9950.43%1,0220.44%12,1995.26%232,047Manistee4,31249.98%4,05246.97%1882.18%250.29%500.58%2603.01%8,627Marquette12,68259.28%8,30838.84%2411.13%750.35%860.40%4,37420.45%21,392Mason4,21443.68%4,96351.44%3944.08%300.31%470.49%-749-7.76%9,648Mecosta4,13541.00%5,63455.86%2182.16%610.60%380.38%-1,499-14.86%10,086Menominee4,16452.76%3,36742.66%3123.95%220.28%280.35%79710.10%7,893Midland12,32644.65%14,29751.79%5772.09%2771.00%1280.46%-1,971-7.14%27,605Missaukee1,51535.30%2,62461.14%1142.66%240.56%150.35%-1,109-25.84%4,292Monroe17,78549.98%16,01145.00%1,5624.39%870.24%1360.38%1,7744.99%35,581Montcalm6,35643.26%7,73952.67%4583.12%680.46%710.48%-1,383-9.41%14,692Montmorency1,54544.50%1,82252.48%641.84%130.37%280.81%-277-7.98%3,472Muskegon25,85149.14%25,26148.02%9651.83%2060.39%3230.61%5901.12%52,606Newaygo4,81740.57%6,68956.34%2852.40%360.30%460.39%-1,872-15.77%11,873Oakland167,68745.78%184,12350.26%10,9272.98%2,0130.55%1,5550.42%-16,436-4.49%366,305Oceana3,16142.01%4,04453.74%2533.36%280.37%390.52%-883-11.73%7,525Ogemaw3,55854.11%2,72241.40%2443.71%220.33%290.44%83612.71%6,575Ontonagon2,36056.59%1,73041.49%501.20%150.36%150.36%63015.11%4,170Osceola2,56137.76%3,92357.84%2043.01%450.66%490.72%-1,362-20.08%6,782Oscoda1,27846.17%1,37249.57%702.53%291.05%190.69%-94-3.40%2,768Otsego2,41243.83%2,93653.35%951.73%290.53%310.56%-524-9.52%5,503Ottawa16,44128.17%40,39969.22%1,0641.82%2350.40%2220.38%-23,958-41.05%58,361Presque Isle2,76148.74%2,74748.49%1021.80%320.56%230.41%140.25%5,665Roscommon4,04650.00%3,72946.08%2493.08%340.42%340.42%3173.92%8,092Saginaw41,00353.98%32,38042.63%2,0102.65%3540.47%2140.28%8,62311.35%75,961Sanilac5,07036.33%8,35759.88%4433.17%400.29%460.33%-3,287-23.55%13,956Schoolcraft1,96457.34%1,40040.88%441.28%60.18%110.32%56416.47%3,425Shiawassee11,09945.02%10,85744.04%2,3449.51%2380.97%1160.47%2420.98%24,654St. Clair20,72446.21%22,21349.54%1,5173.38%2140.48%1750.39%-1,489-3.32%44,843St. Joseph6,30640.30%8,98357.40%2151.37%750.48%700.45%-2,677-17.11%15,649Tuscola7,63845.13%8,53950.45%6103.60%560.33%830.49%-901-6.32%16,926Van Buren8,84744.20%10,61153.01%3221.61%1190.59%1190.59%-1,764-8.81%20,018Washtenaw46,31955.85%34,00541.00%1,4811.79%6440.78%4880.59%12,31414.85%82,937Wayne466,08866.56%215,98630.84%13,0381.86%2,5350.36%2,6430.38%250,10235.71%700,290Wexford3,93544.95%4,49451.34%2242.56%610.70%400.46%-559-6.39%8,754Total1,561,29151.36%1,369,58245.05%80,2882.64%15,6030.51%13,2440.44%191,7096.31%3,040,008 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Alpena Cheboygan Chippewa Genesee Houghton Ingham Iosco Luce Mackinac Macomb Manistee Monroe Muskegon Saginaw Shiawassee Washtenaw Wayne Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Alcona Kalkaska Missaukee Montmorency Oscoda References 1982 Governor Michigan