Getty Republican John James (left) and Democratic Incumbent Gary Peters.
John James and Gary Peters are locked in a near-dead heat for the Senate race in Michigan. By 9 p.m. on Wednesday, with more than 99% of precincts reporting, Peters was projected to win, with a lead of 49.6% to James’ 48.5%. This close Senate race mimics the presidential race in Michigan, with Biden projected to win with a 2-point lead over Trump and more than 99% of precincts reporting.
Throughout the day, Trump has been tweeting unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud and election tampering. In the afternoon, he directed his suspicions toward the Michigan Senate race, right when Peters seemed to overtake James.
Trump tweeted, “Wow! It looks like Michigan has now found the ballots necessary to keep a wonderful young man, John James, out of the U.S. Senate. What a terrible thing is happening!”
James, 39, is a Republican businessman and military veteran who first ran for Senate in 2018 and was defeated by then-incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow. Peters, 61, is a Democrat who has served as the junior U.S. senator for Michigan since 2015.
James hoped to be the state’s first Black U.S. senator, as well as the state’s first Republican senator since 2000, per The Detroit News.
Here’s what you need to know:
Live Results & Map for the Senate Race in Michigan Between James & Peters
Heavy has partnered with Decision Desk HQ to provide live updates to the Michigan Senate race, below:
Michigan’s Senate race between James and Peters was one of the most expensive of this year, according to the Detroit Free Press. The two candidates spent a combined $71 million by October 15, the publication reported, compared to the cumulative $30 million spent by James and Stabenow in 2018.
Todd Spangler wrote for the Detroit Free Press:
The campaign has been a nasty one, too, with TV viewers bombarded with ads and claims being made by the candidates against one another. James, in particular, has been aggressive with arguments questioning Peters’ effectiveness as a senator, even though he has quietly been one of the most effective Democrats to hold office while Republicans have been in the majority.
Peters and his allies, meanwhile, have argued that James has continued to avoid answers to questions about how he would protect insurance for people with preexisting medical conditions if the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, were repealed. James has said he would protect that coverage but that he would listen to other experts in terms of how to do it before putting forward a plan.
Get Live Election Results for All the U.S. Senate Races
Democrats had hoped to flip the Senate in their favor, but the chances of that looked less likely by late afternoon on the day after the November 3 election, though there were still a few undecided races. Republicans had a strong showing, retaining seats against many Democratic challengers and even flipping one seat.
Live results for all of the Senate races are below thanks to Heavy’s partnership with Decision Desk HQ:
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