Democratic state Rep. Emily Dievendorf led Republican Sally Jo Nelton and Libertarian Jennifer Long in Michigan’s 77th House District race Wednesday morning, according to Michigan’s unofficial election results.
As of the state’s 7 a.m. EST update Nov. 4, Dievendorf had 29,005 votes, or 65.01%, compared with Nelton’s 14,387 votes, or 32.25%. Long had 1,222 votes, or 2.74%.
These unofficial totals do not establish a winner. Vote totals may change as additional ballots are counted.
The district covers northern Lansing and parts of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties, according to the Library of Michigan and Dievendorf’s legislative biography.
Michigan House District 77 results
The following figures appeared in the state’s report updated at 7:00:48 a.m. EST Nov. 4:
Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
Emily Dievendorf, incumbent | Democratic | 29,005 | 65.01% |
Sally Jo Nelton | Republican | 14,387 | 32.25% |
Jennifer Long | Libertarian | 1,222 | 2.74% |
Total | 44,614 | 100.00% |
Dievendorf led Nelton by 14,618 votes in that update.
The state listed 81 of 83 counties as reporting statewide. That figure does not establish how much of District 77’s vote had been counted.
The candidates
Dievendorf is serving their second term, according to their legislative biography. They sit on the Agriculture and Regulatory Reform committees, according to the Library of Michigan.
Before joining the Legislature, they served as executive director for Equality Michigan and were federally appointed in 2015 to the Michigan Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. They co-founded a nonprofit bookstore in downtown Lansing and graduated from Michigan State University’s James Madison College, according to their legislative biography.
Nelton retired from the Grand Ledge library after 20 years. She became more active in Republican Party groups in Eaton County during Donald Trump’s first campaign in 2016, Lansing City Pulse reported.
Long holds a law degree from Western Michigan Cooley Law School and has worked for a decade in pharmaceutical sales, according to her campaign website. She has also worked in nonprofit outreach to people experiencing homelessness and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according to City Pulse.
What’s at stake
The race was one of 110 Michigan House contests on the ballot. Republicans entered the election with a 58-52 advantage, according to Bridge Michigan.
District 77 includes northern Lansing, DeWitt and Watertown Township, according to Dievendorf’s legislative biography.
How to track results
Readers can follow additional returns through the Michigan Secretary of State’s results page.
Vote totals remain unofficial until canvassing and certification are complete. This article will be updated as additional results become available.
