2016 Michigan's 4th senate district special election

The Michigan's 4th senate district special election, 2016 was held on November 8, 2016, alongside elections to the 14 U.S. Representatives from the state of Michigan, one from each of the state's 14 congressional districts. The election coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The deadline for candidates to file for the August 2 primary election is April 19.[1]

2016 Michigan's 4th senate district special election
November 8, 2016
 
Nominee Ian Conyers Keith Franklin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 69,305 21,225
Percentage 76.6 23.5
State Senator before election

Virgil Smith
Democratic

 Elected State Senator

Ian Conyers
Democratic

Elections in Michigan

Background

Virgil Smith, Jr., a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives was elected to represent Michigan's 4th Senate District in 2010 and 2014. Smith was arrested on May 10, 2015, for allegedly shooting at his ex-wife's SUV, riddling it with bullets and totaling it and was charged with multiple felonies.[2] Two days later, Smith was removed from all of his committee posts, his leadership post and removed from the Senate Democratic caucus.[3] On February 11, 2016, Smith agreed to plead guilty to malicious destruction of personal property $20,000 or more. Per his plea agreement, Smith will serve 10 months in the Wayne County Jail, resign from the state Senate and serve five years of probation where he will not be allowed to hold public office.[4] At his March 14, 2016, sentencing, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Talon sentenced Smith but said it would be illegal for him to require Smith resign from office or not hold office during his probation. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said if Smith does not resign, her office would rescind Smith's plea agreement.[5] At a hearing on March 28, 2016, Talon refused a request from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office to rescind Smith's plea agreement and take the case to trial, seeing as he had yet resigned his Senate seat. Immediately after the hearing, Smith was taken into custody to begin serving his 10-month jail sentence.[6] On March 31, 2016, Smith submitted his resignation to Michigan Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, effective April 12, 2016.[7]

When Smith's resignation became official, Gov. Rick Snyder called a special election to fill the remaining portion of the term, with the special primary and general elections to take place on August 2 and November 8, alongside Michigan's regularly scheduled primary and general elections.[8]

Democratic primary

Candidates
  • James Cole Jr.
  • Ian Conyers
  • Fred Durhal, Jr.
  • Patricia A. Holmes
  • Vanessa Simpson Olive
  • Carron L. Pinkins
  • Ralph R. Rayner
  • H. Helena Scott
  • Howard Worthy

Results
Michigan state Senate 4th District special election 2016, Democratic Primary[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Ian Conyers 6,063 34.5 N/A
Democratic Fred Durhal Jr. 4,480 25.5 N/A
Democratic Patricia A. Holmes 1,362 7.8 N/A
Democratic James Cole Jr. 1,327 7.6 N/A
Democratic Carron L. Pinkins 1,103 6.3 N/A
Democratic Vanessa Simpson Olive 773 4.4 N/A
Democratic Ralph R. Rayner 602 3.4 N/A
Democratic Howard Worthy 581 3.3 N/A
Majority 1,583 9.0 N/A
Turnout 17,563

Republican primary

Candidates
  • Keith Franklin

Results
Michigan state Senate 4th District special election 2016, Republican Primary[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Keith Franklin 1,942 100 N/A

General Election
Michigan state Senate 4th District special election 2016[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Ian Conyers 69,305 76.6 N/A
Republican Keith Franklin 21,225 23.4 N/A
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References
  1. "SUMMARY CALENDAR FOR CANDIDATE AND PROPOSAL DEADLINES : August 2, 2016 Primary and November 8, 2016 General Election" (PDF). Michigan.gov. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  2. Gus Burns (May 11, 2015). "Sen. Virgil Smith of Detroit arrested after Sunday morning shooting incident". MLive. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  3. Jonathan Oosting (May 12, 2015). "Sen. Virgil Smith kicked from committees, leadership post following criminal charges". MLive. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  4. Elisha Anderson; Kathleen Gray (February 11, 2016). "State Sen. Virgil Smith to resign as part of plea deal". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  5. Elisha Anderson (March 14, 2016). "State Sen. Virgil Smith to serve 10 months in jail in gunfire incident". Detroit Free Press.
  6. Kathleen Gray; Elisha Anderson (March 28, 2016). "Sen. Virgil Smith goes directly to jail, collects $71K". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  7. Khalil AlHajal (March 31, 2016). "Jailed senator will resign, but prosecutor still wants plea thrown out". MLive.
  8. Kathleen Gray (April 12, 2016). "Gov. Snyder sets elections to fill Virgil Smith's Senate seat". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  9. "Special Election Results – Primary Election – August 2, 2016". Michigan Department of State. August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  10. "4th District State Senator Partial Term Ending 01/01/2019". Michigan Department of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
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