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Michigan, State Representative, District 78

Michigan House of Representatives District 78
Current incumbentBrad Paquette Republican Party
Population86,900
Gender51.0% Female, 49.0% Male
Race97.0% White, 6.7% Black, 3.0% Two or More Races, 2.1% Other, 1.4% Asian, 0.9% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander
Ethnicity94.8% Non-Hispanic, 5.3% Hispanic

Michigan's seventy-eighth state house district is held by Republican Representative Brad Paquette.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 86,900 civilians reside within Michigan's seventy-eighth state house district. Michigan state representatives represent an average of 89,851 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 90,349 residents.

About the office

Members of the Michigan House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits. Michigan legislators assume office the at noon on first day of January.

Qualifications

Section 7 of Article 4 of the Michigan Constitution states, "Each senator and representative must be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, and an elector of the district he represents. The removal of his domicile from the district shall be deemed a vacation of the office. No person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be eligible for either house of the legislature."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$71,685/year$10,800/year expense allowance for session and interim. Set by the compensation commission.

Term limits

The Michigan legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Michigan Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Michigan representatives are subject to term limits of no more than three two-year terms, or a total of six years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2002.

Vacancies

Whenever a vacancy occurs in the house, it is up to the Governor to call for a special election. A special election must be held during the next scheduled general election. If the vacancy happened after the statewide primary, leaders of the respective party organizations within the Senate district can submit a list of nominees to be voted on by party leadership. A vote must be held no later than 21 days after the vacancy.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Michigan House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 4, 2020. The filing deadline is April 21, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 78

Brad Paquette (R) defeated Dean Hill (D) in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 78 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Brad Paquette (R)
61.3
20,596

Dean Hill (D)
38.7
12,978

Total votes: 33,574
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 78

Dean Hill advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 78 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Dean Hill (D)
100
4,676

Total votes: 4,676
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 78

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 78 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Brad Paquette (R)
49.0
4,272

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

David Mann (R)
19.6
1,708

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Kelly Priede (R)
15.0
1,309

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Daniel Hinkle (R)
8.5
742

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Dana Daniels (R)
5.8
508

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Steve Bury (R)
2.0
176

Total votes: 8,715

2016

Elections for the Michigan House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 19, 2016.

Incumbent Dave Pagel defeated Dean Hill in the Michigan House of Representatives District 78 general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 78 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Dave Pagel Incumbent 67.51% 26,037
Democratic Dean Hill 32.49% 12,529
Total Votes 38,566
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

Dean Hill ran unopposed in the Michigan House of Representatives District 78 Democratic primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 78 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Dean Hill (unopposed)

Incumbent Dave Pagel ran unopposed in the Michigan House of Representatives District 78 Republican primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 78 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Dave Pagel Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

Elections for the Michigan House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 5, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 22, 2014. Cartier Shields was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Dave Pagel defeated Jim Walker in the Republican primary. Pagel defeated Shields in the general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 78 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDave Pagel Incumbent 67.2% 15,360
Democratic Cartier Shields 32.8% 7,488
Total Votes 22,848

Michigan House of Representatives, District 78 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngDave Pagel Incumbent 75.6% 4,348
Jim Walker 24.4% 1,407
Total Votes 5,755

2012

Elections for the office of Michigan House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 7, 2012 and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for major party candidates wishing to run in this election was May 15, 2012. The deadline for independent candidates was July 19, 2012. The deadline for write-in candidates was July 27, 2012. Dave Pagel (R) defeated Jack Arbanas (D) in the general election. Pagel defeated Brian Savage and David H. Mann in the Republican primary. Arbanas defeated Gerry Welling in the Democratic primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 78, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDave Pagel 61.1% 23,227
Democratic Jack Arbanas 38.9% 14,802
Total Votes 38,029

Michigan House of Representatives, District 78 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngDave Pagel 67.9% 5,776
Brian Savage 17.5% 1,487
David Mann 14.6% 1,242
Total Votes 8,505

Michigan House of Representatives, District 78 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJack Arbanas 54.7% 859
Gerry Welling 45.3% 712
Total Votes 1,571

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Michigan House of Representatives District 78 raised a total of $821,471. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $29,338 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Michigan House of Representatives District 78

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $24,072 2 $12,036
2014 $43,813 3 $14,604
2012 $26,743 4 $6,686
2010 $82,026 2 $41,013
2008 $376,167 5 $75,233
2006 $152,908 3 $50,969
2004 $67,780 3 $22,593
2002 $33,602 4 $8,401
2000 $14,360 2 $7,180
Total $821,471 28 $29,338