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Bill Schuette (Republican Party) was the Attorney General of Michigan. He assumed office in 2011. He left office on December 31, 2018.
Schuette (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Michigan. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Candidate Connection survey in 2018. .
He ran on a joint ticket with the lieutenant gubernatorial nominee, Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R).Schuette was the Republican attorney general of Michigan from 2011 to 2019. Previously, he was an attorney and a justice on the Michigan Fourth District Court of Appeals.
Schuette is a native of Midland, Michigan. His political career began when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1980s. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1990. Following his loss in that election, he was appointed Michigan Director of Agriculture. In 1994, he was elected to the Michigan State Senate. He was selected by George W. Bush to be a representative to Australia in May 2001 for the Australian-American Friendship week. Following his six years as a judge on Michigan's Court of Appeals, he worked for a private legal practice with the law firm of Warner, Norcross & Judd, where he served as senior counsel.
Schuette has also served in the following roles:
Schuette received the Public Servant of the Year Award (2008) from the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.
1. Abortions should always be legally available.
- No Answer
2. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer
3. Abortions should be legal only when pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X
4. Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer
5. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer
6. Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
- X
7. Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" abortion.
- X
8. Support "buffer zones" by requiring demonstrators to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways and driveways.
- No Answer
9. Other
- No Answer
10. Should Michigan government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?
- No
1. College and university admissions
- No
2. Public employment
- No
3. State contracting
- No
4. Other
- No Answer
1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- X
2. Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
- X
3. End parole for repeat violent felons.
- X
4. Support the use of the death penalty.
- X
5. Oppose the death penalty.
- No Answer
6. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X
7. Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- X
8. Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
- No Answer
9. Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer
10. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- X
11. Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
- X
12. Lower the blood-alcohol-content limit defining drunk driving.
- No Answer
13. Support penalties for drunk driving including vehicle confiscation.
- X
14. Support penalties for drunk driving including "scarlet letter" license plates.
- X
15. Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
- X
16. Allow courts to hold parents in contempt (or fine them) if they do not appear at their juvenile's hearing.
- X
17. Support mandatory sentences for juveniles possessing firearms while committing a felony.
- X
18. Implement the guidelines recommended by the 1997 Michigan Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
- X
19. Other
- No Answer
20. Should Michigan commit sexual predators to mental hospitals after serving their criminal sentence if they are considered a threat to society?
- Undecided
21. Should Michigan end mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related crimes, allowing judges flexibility in sentencing?
- No
1. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- X
2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- X
3. Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- X
4. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
- No Answer
5. Increase the number of tax-free Renaissance Zones in order to encourage economic development in economically-distressed areas.
- X
6. Other
- No Answer
7. Do you support expanding legalized gambling in Michigan?
- No
1. Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
- No Answer
2. Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
- X
3. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
- X
4. Favor charter schools where independent groups receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- X
5. Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
- X
6. Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
- No Answer
7. Increase state funds for school construction and facility maintenance.
- No Answer
8. Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
- No Answer
9. Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
- No Answer
10. Support the use of a state-wide achievement test (MEAP) in public schools.
- No Answer
11. Expel students who physically assault others on school grounds.
- X
12. Require public schools to begin classes after Labor Day.
- X
13. Other
- No Answer
1. Require the use of cleaner burning fuels in order to prevent pollution.
- No Answer
2. Support "self-audit" legislation, which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
- X
3. Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
- X
4. Require the state to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
- X
5. Provide funding for recycling programs in Michigan.
- No Answer
6. Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- No Answer
7. Suspend participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
- No Answer
8. Restructure the electric utility industry to allow consumers to choose their power company.
- No Answer
9. Other
- X
10. State environmental regulations should not be stricter than federal law.
- Yes
11. Federal government
- No Answer
12. State government
- No Answer
13. Local government
- No Answer
14. Land owners
- No Answer
15. Business owners
- No Answer
1. State Senators and Representatives
- Yes
2. Governor
- Yes
3. Individual
- No Answer
4. PAC
- No Answer
5. Corporate
- No Answer
6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes
7. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- No Answer
8. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- No Answer
9. Would you vote to ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring an annual balanced federal budget?
- Yes
10. Should candidates for Michigan's state legislature be required to sign an affidavit affirming that their commercials are truthful?
- Yes
11. Other
- No Answer
1. Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
- No Answer
2. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer
3. Maintain state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer
4. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer
5. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
- X
6. Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.
- No Answer
7. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
- No Answer
8. Other
- No Answer
1. Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
- X
2. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care when needed.
- No Answer
3. Support MI Child, a program to provide access to health insurance for uninsured children.
- X
4. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer
5. Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
- No Answer
6. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer
7. Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer
8. Other
- No Answer
1. Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
- No Answer
2. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- X
3. Increase state funds to provide child care to children in low-income working families.
- No Answer
4. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- No Answer
5. Favor banning smoking in public places.
- No Answer
6. Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
- No Answer
7. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- No Answer
8. Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth, such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
- No Answer
9. Allow child protective services workers to carry pepper spray.
- No Answer
10. Other
- No Answer
11. Do you believe that the Michigan government should include sexual orientation in Michigan's anti-discrimination laws?
- No
12. Do you believe that the Michigan government should recognize same-sex marriages?
- No
13. Should physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients be banned in Michigan?
- Yes
1. Agriculture
- Maintain Status
2. Education (K-12)
- Maintain Status
3. Education (Higher)
- Maintain Status
4. Environment
- Maintain Status
5. Health care
- Maintain Status
6. Law enforcement
- Maintain Status
7. Transportation
- Maintain Status
8. Welfare
- Maintain Status
9. Other
- No Answer
1. Alcohol Taxes
- No Answer
2. Capital gains taxes
- Greatly Decrease
3. Cigarette taxes
- No Answer
4. Corporate taxes
- Greatly Decrease
5. Gas taxes
- No Answer
6. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
- Greatly Decrease
7. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
- No Answer
8. Property taxes
- No Answer
9. Sales taxes
- No Answer
10. Other
- No Answer
11. Do you support a flat tax on businesses?
- Yes
12. Do you support a flat tax on individual incomes?
- Yes
Michigan citizens have consistently mentioned the condition of Michigan's roads and bridges as a major problem facing the state. On an attached page, in fifty words or less, explain what you will do as a state legislator to address this concern.
- I voted for the road rebuilding program in Michigan.
1. Require welfare recipients to sign a contract outlining steps they will take to become self-sufficient in order to receive benefits.
- X
2. Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- No Answer
3. Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
- No Answer
4. Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
- No Answer
5. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- No Answer
6. Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
- X
7. Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
- No Answer
8. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer
9. Require mandatory drug testing and treatment for welfare recipients in order to receive benefits.
- X
10. Provide a $50 clothing allowance for children whose parents are exempt from work requirements.
- No Answer
11. Other
- No Answer
12. Should Michigan pay welfare recipients to work in community service jobs when they are unable to find private-sector employment?
- Undecided
Please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.
- 1. Education Reform: Provide parents greater involvement and decision making in selecting which school their child attends.
2. Housing Reform: Provide residents of public housing the opportunity to own their own home.
Latest Action: 11/14/1990 Became Public Law No: 101-547.
Tracker:Latest Action: 11/16/1990 Became Public Law No: 101-604.
Tracker:Latest Action: 11/15/1990 Became Public Law No: 101-564.
Tracker:Evan Space, Angelo Brown, Larry Hutchinson, Robin Sanders, William Cobbs, Patrick O’Neal Burney, Raymond Hall, Lance Herman, Henry Lester, Clyde Lynch, Chaneika Ranell Penny, Francis Rowley, John Arthur Williams ran as write-in candidates.
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Michigan on November 6, 2018.
|
|
Gretchen Whitmer (D) |
53.3%
|
2,266,193 Votes✔ |
|
|
Bill Schuette (R) |
43.7%
|
1,859,534 Votes |
|
|
Bill Gelineau (L) |
1.3%
|
56,606 Votes |
|
|
Todd Schleiger (U.S. Taxpayers Party) |
0.7%
|
29,219 Votes |
|
|
Jennifer Kurland (G) |
0.7%
|
28,799 Votes |
|
|
Keith Butkovich (Natural Law Party) |
0.2%
|
10,202 Votes |
| Other/Write-in votes |
0.0%
|
32 Votes |
Total votes: 4,250,585
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Gretchen Whitmer defeated Abdul El-Sayed and Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
|
|
Gretchen Whitmer |
52.0%
|
588,436 Votes✔ |
|
|
Abdul El-Sayed |
30.2%
|
342,179 Votes |
|
|
Shri Thanedar |
17.7%
|
200,645 Votes |
Total votes: 1,131,260
Bill Schuette defeated Brian Calley, Patrick Colbeck, and Jim Hines in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
|
|
Bill Schuette |
50.7%
|
501,959 Votes✔ |
|
|
Brian Calley |
25.2%
|
249,185 Votes |
|
|
Patrick Colbeck |
13.1%
|
129,646 Votes |
|
|
Jim Hines |
11.0%
|
108,735 Votes |
Total votes: 989,525
Jennifer Kurland advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
|
|
Jennifer Kurland |
|
|
Bill Gelineau defeated John Tatar in the Libertarian primary for Governor of Michigan on August 7, 2018.
|
|
Bill Gelineau |
57.8%
|
4,034 Votes✔ |
|
|
John Tatar |
42.2%
|
2,941 Votes |
Total votes: 6,975
Attorney General of Michigan, 2014
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Bill Schuette Incumbent |
52.1% | 1,603,471 |
| Democratic | Mark Totten | 44.2% | 1,359,839 |
| Libertarian | Justin Altman | 1.9% | 57,345 |
| U.S. Taxpayers | Gerald T. Van Sickle | 1% | 30,762 |
| Green | John Anthony La Pietra | 0.8% | 25,747 |
| Total Votes | 3,077,164 | ||
| Election results via Michigan Department of State | |||
2010 Race for Attorney General - General Election
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party |  Bill Schuette
|
52.3% | |
| Democratic Party | David Leyton | 43.5% | |
| Libertarian Party | Daniel W. Grow | 2.3% | |
| U.S. Taxpayers | Gerald Van Sickle | 1.9% | |
| Total Votes | 3,136,224 | ||
1998 Race for State Senate, District 35 - General Election
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | Bill Schuette
|
70.4% | |
| Democratic Party | Brian Baldwin | 29.6% | |
| Total Votes | 87,410 | ||
Protestors at a pro-medical marijuana rally on September 7, 2011, called for the recall of Schuette because of his support for laws they believed would hurt the ability of patients to access marijuana. That same day, the Midland County Election Commission approved the recall language submitted by petitioner Richard C. Clement Sr., who said Schuette failed to uphold some provisions of the state Medical Marihuana Act. The law was passed by 63 percent of the voters in 2008. Clement had 180 days to gather 807,000 valid signatures in order to put a recall election on the ballot. All signatures had to be collected during a 90-day period. No signatures were turned in.
Schuette responded to the Obama administration's mandate that the majority of employers include birth control coverage in their health plans by calling it an attack on religious liberty. He made plans to sue the administration on February 10, 2012, and named himself leader in the nation's attorneys general efforts to file briefs in support of lawsuits filed by the group Becket Fund for Religious Liberty against the new insurance requirement.
On June 9, 2016, the Board of State Canvassers unanimously approved a recall petition against Attorney General Schuette. The petition, submitted by Calvin Hodges of Sterling Heights, stated the reason for recall as: "[Schuette] publicly announced that he had appointed attorney Todd Flood as special counsel to spearhead ... the Flint water crisis probe." The recall effort did not succeed in making it to the ballot. Schuette appointed Flood on January 25, 2016, along with a team of investigators under a $1.5 million contract. He was later criticized for the appointment due to contributions made by Flood to the political campaigns of both Schuette and Governor Rick Snyder (R). Hodges called the team of investigators "a waste of taxpayers' money," as the state employs its own investigators who Hodges asserted should have handled the case. Schuette had earlier cited the many civil lawsuits filed against various state agencies over the Flint water crisis as a conflict of interest for his investigators, so he therefore hired an outside agency. A spokeswoman for Schuette stated that the attorney general "believes strongly that it is his duty to protect the citizens of Michigan by thoroughly investigating what went wrong in Flint," and further stated that the "investigation will be without fear or favor." .
