Two incumbent Democrats who currently represent neighboring U.S. House districts will go head-to-head in the 2022 primary with the approval of new political maps in Michigan.
U.S. Reps. Andy Levin, D-Bloomfield Township, and Haley Stevens, D-Rochester, announced their reelection campaigns shortly after Michigan’s independent redistricting commission approved new maps that will be used in the next decade of elections. The newly-drawn 11th District is considered a safe seat for Democrats set entirely within Oakland County, including communities of Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Pontiac and Farmington Hills.
(Can’t see the map? Click here)
Stevens recently moved to Waterford Township, located near the north border of the district boundary. Levin currently represents communities in Macomb County, but the new map places parts of his old district in the 10th District.
Both representatives were first elected in 2018 and earned a second two-year term in 2020. Their primary race will be a closely-watched race as the state lost one seat in Congress based on Michigan’s population in the 2020 census.
Stevens issued a statement within minutes of the final map’s approval, saying she is excited to continue representing Oakland County.
Levin announced his intention to run half an hour later, saying he will run for reelection “where I grew up and where I live.” The congressman highlighted his own experiences in the new district, shouting out his hometown of Berkley and noting family connections to Royal Oak.
The new map was approved Tuesday with eight votes from the 13-member panel. Two Democrats, two Republicans and two independent members of the commission voted to approve the “Chestnut” plan, one of several options considered by the panel.
Three commissioners favored an alternative map, labeled the “Birch” map in the commission’s organizational system. Two Republicans, Rhonda Lange and Erin Wagner, voted for an individual map submitted by Lange after expressing dissatisfaction for the other two maps.
Political analysts at FiveThirtyEight rated the new 11th District as +15 for Democrats, showing a strong advantage for blue candidates.
Here’s what the old congressional map looked like:
(Can’t see the map? Click here)
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