Michigan's fifteenth state senate district is held by Republican Senator Jim Runestad.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 294,797 civilians reside within Michigan's fifteenth state senate district. Michigan state senators represent an average of 260,096 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 261,538 residents.

About the office

Members of the Michigan State Senate serve four-year terms with term limits. Senators are elected at the same time as the governor and serve four-year terms concurrent with the governor's term of office. Senate elections are offset by two years from U.S. Presidential elections (e.g., Presidential elections were in 2000 and 2004, senate elections were in 2002 and 2006). 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

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 senators are subject to term limits of no more than two four-year terms, or a total of eight years. Senators who have not served more than half of someone else's Senate term are eligible for two full terms (i.e. - eight years). Michigan legislators assume office the at noon on first day of January.

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 senate, 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

2018

2014

Elections for the Michigan State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 5, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 22, 2014. Michael D. Smith defeated Tom Crawford in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Mike Kowall defeated Matt Maddock and Ron Molnar in the Republican primary. Kowall defeated Smith in the general election.

Michigan State Senate, District 15 General Election, 2014

Michigan State Senate, District 15 Democratic Primary, 2014

Michigan State Senate, District 15 Republican Primary, 2014

2010

Elections for the office of Michigan State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 3, 2010 and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for major party candidates wishing to run in this election was May 11, 2010. The deadline for independent candidates was July 15, 2010. Mike Kowall (R) defeated Pam Jackson (D) in the general election. Kowall defeated five others in the Republican primary. Jackson defeated Tom Crawford and Christopher Maloney in the Democratic primary.

Michigan State Senate, District 15, General Election, 2010

Michigan State Senate, District 15 Republican Primary, 2010

Michigan State Senate, District 15 Democratic Primary, 2010

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Michigan State Senate District 15 raised a total of $1,287,281. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $85,819 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Michigan State Senate District 15