By CHRIS JACKETT
Times-Herald Newspapers
Nov. 2 was a busy day for local politicians across the state as 3.23 million registered voters turned out to to select a new governor, local representatives of different government entities and decisions on local matters.
About 43.20 percent of Dearborn’s 59,263 registered voters came out to the polls, while 40.43 percent of Dearborn Heights’ 37,972 registered voters made the same trip.
In the gubernatorial race, Rick Snyder, R-Ann Arbor, took 51.47 percent of the vote to be named Michigan’s new governor, as opponent Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, earned 39.88 percent, a 590,301-vote difference. Local residents agreed with the choice, as 58.14 percent of Dearborn residents and 52.02 percent of Heights residents voted for Snyder.
Republican Ruth Johnson took 50.70 percent of the secretary of state vote, beating Democratic nominee Jocelyn Benson’s 45.19 percent. Unlike the gubernatorial race, however, local residents favored Benson. About 53.75 percent of Dearborn voters and 51.93 of Heights voters penciled in their ballot her favor.
The Republicans continued their winning streak, as Bill Schuette earned 52.50 percent of the vote to defeat Democrat David Leyton (43.45 percent). Schuette earned only 44.89 percent of the vote in Dearborn and 46.13 percent in Dearborn Heights. Leyton took 51.09 and 49.36 percent, respectively.